Isaac Ratcliffe vacuumed the puck inside his own blueline and spun up ice. No herk. No jerk. In one fluid motion, the Flyers' 6-foot-6 prospect spun towards the neutral zone, accelerating to the top speed that excited the Flyers brass so much when they traded up to get him with the 35th pick of the 2017 draft.
"I talked to [Flyers general manager Ron Hextall] a ton about that," he was saying after the Flyers 3-1 exhibition game victory over the Islanders Monday night. "As well as the development guys. To use my speed and not be afraid along the wall.