According to the NHL Media site, former University of Connecticut forward Nick Capone is now a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, at least temporarily.
Capone, 22, is a former sixth-round pick (157th overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020, whose signing rights expired earlier in the offseason. The NHL Media site lists Capone as an “In the system” player, not someone on the Flyers’ main roster, indicating that he is likely to participate in the Rookie Series against the New York Rangers later this week.
In 118 NCAA games for UConn, Capone scored only 18 goals, 24 assists, and 42 points while racking up 116 penalty minutes. The East Haven, Ct., native was more productive in his draft year when he scored seven goals, 12 assists, and 19 points in 34 USHL games for the Tri-City Storm.
A 2020 scouting report from Neutral Zone tells us that Capone is, “. . . at his best when he keeps it simple and plays a direct north and south game. He has good straight-line speed that he uses to be disruptive on the forecheck, create turnovers, and put defenders through the end boards,” and that “. . . as an NHLer, his future is as a hard-to-play against bottom six guy who can impact the game in other ways. That is not a negative or a knock. It is a compliment. Nick is a horse who has good hands and vision.”
Barrie Colts goalie Sam Hillebrandt and Portland Winterhawks forward Josh Zakreski are two other prospects the Flyers have invited to play in the Rookie Series, which takes place on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14 in Allentown, Pa.
Perhaps, with some further development, Capone can earn himself an entry-level contract and become an NHL player in the mold of Garnet Hathaway, who signed a two-year contract extension on July 1 but turns 33 years old on Nov. 23.
