Meet the Four Newest Flyers

On Saturday, the Philadelphia Flyers signed 22-year-old Swedish defenseman Linus Högberg to a two-year entry-level contract. Högberg became the fourth prospect -- three draftees, one free agent -- the organization has signed since the NHL pause. All contracts kick in for the 2020-21 season.

In addition to the signings of forwards Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison and Linus Sandin as well as defenseman Högberg, 23-year-old defense prospect Wyatt Kalynuk (2017 seventh round pick, 196th overall) recently declared his intent to forego his senior season at Wisconsin to turn pro. The Flyers have a 30-day window to sign him before the player has the option of unrestricted free agency.

On Monday, the organization relinquished the exclusive NHL negotiating rights to Swedish defenseman David Bernhardt; a seventh-round pick in 2016). He is now an unrestricted free agent.

"The Flyers will not be offering defenseman David Bernhardt a contract at this time but we will continue to monitor his progress," said Flyers vice president an assistant general manager Brent Flahr.

Here's a look at each of the four most recent signees.

Tanner Laczynski (age 22, C/W)

The Flyers signed Laczynski, a graduating Ohio State University senior, to a two-year entry-level contract on March 23, 2020.

Drafted by the Flyers in the sixth round (199th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Laczynski played four collegiate seasons at Ohio State University before the NCAA recently called off the 2020 regional tournaments and the Frozen Four.

Able to play center or wing, Laczynski has skated on the Buckeyes' top forward line each of the last two seasons but projects at the pro level as more of a versatile role player who can see spot duty higher in the lineup as needed. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Illinois native is heavy on the puck and plays a responsible 200-foot game.

"He plays a mature two-way game, he's a proven leader, and we see him as a versatile forward for the Flyers organization going forward," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said on March 23.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Laczynski already plays a "pro-style" game. He will battle for pucks, takes good forechecking routes and does not cheat early out of the defensive zone.

During his freshman season at Ohio State, Laczynski beat out some more highly touted prospects to earn a roster spot on Team USA's gold-medal-winning squad at the 2016-17 World Junior Championships. His ability to adapt to a fourth-line role helped him win the job.

Overall at the NCAA level, Laczynski appeared in 138 games and posted 143 points (48g, 95a) over his four seasons. The Buckeyes reached the Frozen Four in March 28. Laczynski was selected as a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten in 2017-18. This season, as a senior, he led his team in scoring after ranking second in his junior year.

Wade Allison (age 22, RW)

On March 27, the Flyers signed the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Allison to a two-year entry-level deal. The organization selected Allison with the third (58th overall) of its three second-round picks in the 2016 NHL Draft. Allison subsequently spent four seasons at Western Michigan.

"We are very happy to have Wade under contract. He possesses a great package of size, speed, and skill and we strongly believe he'll be an NHL power forward moving forward," Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said in a statement at the time of his signing.

Midway through his sophomore collegiate season, Allison appeared to be a on a fast track to sign an NHL contract with the Flyers. He was among the leading goal scorers nationally (15 goals, 30 points in 22 games) and already possessed a physically mature frame. Then he suffered a complete ACL tear.

Although Allison returned for a portion of his junior season (eight goals, 15 points in 22 games), it took him roughly 18 months from the time of the initial injury to feel close to 100 percent again. As a senior, Allison dealt with some unrelated injuries but, in the second half of the season, was back in top form. He rattled off a seven-game point streak (seven goals, six assists, 13 points), including a run of scoring a goal in five consecutive matches.

Overall in 106 career NCAA games, Allison posted 97 points (45g, 52a). The Myrtle, Manitoba native boasts an explosive shot, a nose for the net and a gritty style of play as well as being a plus skater when at top speed.

Linus Sandin (age 24, RW)

With the renewal on Tuesday of the NHL's transfer agreement with Svenska Ishockey Förbundet (the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation), the Flyers signed the now-former HV71 Jönköping right winger Linus Sandin to a one-year, $925,000 NHL contract ($832,500 base salary, $92,500 signing bonus) for 2020-21.

Sandin, who will turn 24 on May 19, emerged as one of the one top goal-scorers in the SHL this season tying for third in the league with 19 goals in 51 games played this season. His 36 points tied for 16th in the league.

A big-framed forward, the 6-foot-1, 210 pound Swede was originally a center but has found success on right wing. He is a versatile player with special teams upside -- he played both penalty kill and power play for HV71 -- who is strong in the trenches and around the net. Sandin isn't a speedster but has improved his skating and takes good routes to get from point A to point B. He is a good forechecker and works hard to get the puck if he doesn't have it.

Sandin is not as naturally talented of a player as Oskar Lindblom, but there are some similarities to their games in terms of their tenacity and ability to get to the net. Michael Raffl is another comparative player in terms of Sandin's potential to be plugged into different spots as needed but whose likely home-base is the bottom six. A right-handed shooter, Sandin is the older brother of young Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin.

Linus Sandin knows Flyers defenseman Robert Hägg very well. Both hail from Uppsala and both developed through the Modo system in Örnsköldsvik. They also train together in the off-season.

Linus Högberg (age 22, D)

On May 30, the Flyers signed Högberg. He was originally selected by the Flyers in the fifth round (139th overall of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Högberg made his SHL debut for the Växjö Lakers at age 17. Prior to reaching the SHL, he spent two seasons sharing time between the parent club's J20 and J18 teams. He previously did the same on the junior and youth teams of Huddinge IK, a club based south of Stockholm.One of the youngest players available in the 2016 Draft (he was born 11 days before the age eligibility cutoff), he became a semi-regular in the SHL team's lineup the next year.

Högberg served as the 7th defenseman for Team Sweden at the 2017-18 World Junior Championships, dressing in seven games but playing sparingly. That same season, with Växjö, he won the SHL championship as a member of a league powerhouse club.

By 2018-19, Högberg started to see his ice time increase for Växjö. He posted a career high 14 points (5g, 9a) in 50 games this season in the final year of his contract with the team.

Högberg is an above-average skater and positionally savvy defender with a quick stick. Generally, he plays a low-risk game. There have been hints of nascent offensive ability, but that has never become a regular facet of his game.

Högberg's rate of progress over the four seasons since he was drafted has been notable more for his cumulative subtle improvements rather than a quantum leap he took in one particular season. For that reason, he may not jump out as much as other prospects in small sample size viewings but his game grows on observers over time.

Back in January of this year, Flyers assistant general manager Brent Flahr said that the organization was weighing the decision on offering Högberg an entry level contract. The eventual signing came in just under the wire.

"He has good self-awareness as a player. He knows what works for him, and his game doesn't change much from night to night. He skates well, moves the puck and keeps things fairly simple out there. One thing that we've been looking for from Högberg is for him to add strength, which has taken awhile, to be equipped to handle the physical game he'd be up against over here. He has some skill but he's not very aggressive in his approach. But he's been a pretty consistently responsible player, works hard and he is an established young pro over there at this point," Flahr said.

Högberg will turn 23 on Sept 4.