Flyers sign former Ohio State center Riley Thompson to entry-level contract
The 6-foot-4, 222-pound centerman, who certainly fits the Flyers' archetype at the position, tallied 13 goals and 27 points in 37 games this season for the Buckeyes.
The Flyers have made no secret about their ongoing search for centers, and they added another to the fold Thursday by signing undrafted college free agent Riley Thompson to a one-year, entry-level contract.
Thompson, 23, played the last two seasons at Ohio State, having previously spent a season at Alaska-Anchorage. This season as a junior, the Ontario native tallied 13 goals and 27 points in 37 games while serving as an alternate captain. He had 17 goals and 33 points last season in 40 games for the Buckeyes on the way to earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.
At 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, Thompson certainly fits the profile of the type of centers the Flyers have targeted in recent years. The Flyers have selected six centers over the last two drafts, with four of them standing over 6-2, including 2025 first-rounder Jack Nesbitt, who is 6-5. The Flyers also signed 6-1, 195-pound center Karsen Dorwart last year out of Michigan State as an undrafted college free agent.
A sturdy power forward type who excels on the walls and in front of the net, Thompson, despite possessing some offensive skills, is more meat and potatoes than flash. He is a responsible 200-foot player and has shown good scoring touch, especially on the power play, where he had 12 goals over the last two seasons as OSU’s net-front presence.
As with many of the Flyers’ other centers, skating is the biggest question mark in Thompson’s game and will likely be the biggest determinant in whether he carves out a consistent bottom-six role in the NHL.
While the center’s entry-level deal does not begin until next season, Thompson will begin his career with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on a professional tryout through the rest of the season. The Flyers recently signed draft picks Cole Knuble (Notre Dame) and Noah Powell (Arizona State), both of whom have joined the Phantoms.
Breakaways
The Flyers said Thursday that winger Nikita Grebenkin would be out for seven to 10 days with an upper-body injury. Grebenkin, who has four goals and 14 points in 55 games this season, has missed the last two games.