Spencer Gill signs ELC with Flyers

2024 third-round selection Spencer Gill has signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Spencer Gill inks ELC with Philadelphia Flyers

OFFICIAL: We have signed defenseman Spencer Gill to a three-year entry-level contract. #LetsGoFlyers https://t.co/A0IyjCW064

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) September 27, 2024

This won’t impede the Flyers from sending Spencer Gill back to juniors, which they’ve already done. He’ll likely spend both this and the next season in the QMJHL. At that point, he’ll have a real opportunity to show he could begin his professional career as an NHL’er rather than in the AHL.

In the sense that it has no immediate impact on where Gill plays hockey, signing the ELC is somewhat superficial. But it’s far from meaningless.

Signing an ELC this early is a vote of confidence from the organization. It’s the Flyers saying that they know Spencer Gill will be a professional player in the future. The timetable is variable, but the destination is not: professional hockey. And likely, NHL hockey.

Jett Luchanko received that vote of confidence by the time he was done with development camp.

After a sum of impressive showings from development camp all the way through to Flyers training camp, Gill earned the same commendations.

His poise with the puck and ability to make plays up ice as a defenseman stood out throughout camp. He has skill and composure, even if his body has not at all caught up with his mind. John Tortorella described him as a, “big, tall… 5 year old who needs to grow into his body.”

And that was exactly right. Gill simply doesn’t have the body required to play professional hockey right now. With added strength, his skating will improve, too.

Gill is an exciting pick. One of my favorites of the recent Flyers drafts (excluding first rounders), because there is a very real chance of him becoming an impact defenseman in Philly’s Top-4 down the line.

And signing an ELC is a small indication that the Flyers as an organization have a similar assessment.

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