Prospect Watch: Alexis Gendron

On July 25, the Flyers signed 2022 seventh-round pick Alexis Gendron to a three-year entry level contract. The contract is eligible to slide to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 2023-24, which would defer its first season until 2024-25, assuming that the 19-year-old Gendron does not earn an NHL roster spot. The much likelier scenario is one more year of QMJHL seasoning.

A late-year birthday player born on Dec. 30, 2003, Gendron was selected by the Flyers with their final pick of the 2022 NHL Draft. The son of Flyers Quebec-based scout and former NHL player Martin Gendron had a breakout offensive season at the QMJHL level in 2022-23, especially after a midseason trade from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armand (29 GP, 22 goals, 12 assists, 34 points) to the Gatineau Olympiques.

After the transfer to Gatineau, Gendron racked up 33 goals 14 assists, and 47 points in 34 regular season games and then 14 more goals among 19 points in 13 playoff games. All totaled, Gendron compiled 69 goals and 100 points in 76 regular season and playoff games.

Despite his gaudy goal-scoring stats in the Q, Gendron likely has further overall development ahead of him before he's ready for the pro game. Ineligible to play in the American Hockey League in 2023-23 due the AHL's age rules for CHL-affiliated players, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward is eligible for a draft-plus-two season in the Quebec League.

During his Draft-eligible 2021-22 season in the QMJHL, Alexis posted a 30-goal season. Flyers Quebec-based amateur scout Martin Gendron, himself a former NHL player, recused himself from assessing whether the Flyers should consider taking his son if he were available in the latter rounds of the Draft.

Based on the recommendation of fellow QMJHL-based scout Todd Hearty and the observances of Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr, Philadelphia selected Alexis in the seventh round (220th overall) in the 2022 Draft. In terms of pre-Draft national rankings, the player was ranked No. 141 by Central Scouting among North American skaters, while McKeen's ranked Gendron 71st overall among all draft-eligible players.

"Alexis is a really competitive kid. He's grown a huge amount. The pick in that spot was a no-brainer for us," Flahr said after the completion of the 2022 Draft.

For his part, the younger Gendron was thrilled when the Flyers called his name. He went unselected in the Draft in his first year of eligibility but took a big leap in his development in 2021-22.