Karsen Dorwart to represent Flyers at NHLPA Rookie Showcase

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of hockey season truly approaching. The first instance of the NHL calendar starting to turn to a page where actual things happen occurred on Tuesday morning when the list of rookies who will represent their respective teams at the upcoming NHLPA Rookie Showcase was released. And, well, the Flyers prospect that was given this job is a little bit interesting.

Karsen Dorwart, the 22-year-old center who the Flyers signed as a college free agent after he wrapped up his time with the Michigan State Spartans, has been designated as the representative for Philadelphia.

The event will take place on Sept. 3 in Virginia and is basically an opportunity for one, single rookie from each team to all get together and be available for pictures, quotes for some stories on the NHLPA’s website, and just generally hang out on the ice together wearing their jerseys.

Last year, it was Matvei Michkov and Ivan Fedotov chosen to be in this role. It was a time of extreme excitement as we got our first massive glimpse at Michkov wearing a full Flyers uniform while skating around on the ice. Something we will hopefully see for the next couple of decades, and it was the very first time. You always remember your first time.

Anyways, Dorwart was signed by the Flyers late last year and managed to play in five games in the NHL, earning zero points, two penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating. Barring any extreme performances at training camp — good from Dorwart, or poor from other centers — Dorwart will most likely start the season with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He isn’t seen as some blue-chip prospect or even someone who has a consistent NHL future, but he sure will be wearing Orange and Black in Virginia next month.

Could there have been other Flyers rookies just not available? Jett Luchanko is the first player that comes to mind, but considering that he missed the World Junior Summer Showcase due to injury, the last thing the Flyers want is for him to get tangled up amongst his rookie buddies while on the ice down south. Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey will probably be better off spending their time recovering from a Memorial Cup victory, and Nikita Grebenkin is probably still overseas.

We’re not even sure if it’s the Flyers’ decision on who goes to this thing, but comparing Dorwart, an undrafted college free agent, among some of the best young talents in the world like Flames prospect Zayne Parekh or Capitals’ Ryan Leonard, it’s going to be a good time.

Honestly, if it is the Flyers’ call on who goes, we love that they don’t even want their key prospects involved in this glorified photoshoot.