The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that they have signed defensive prospect Ronnie Attard to an entry-level contract, according to Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher. It is a two-year contract that runs though 2023. It was not a well kept secret as all signs pointed towards him being signed yesterday, thanks in large part to Wade Allison’s Instagram story.
Ronnie Attard is now the second collegiate prospect the Flyers have signed to an entry-level deal in the last three days with Noah Cates signing his contract on Sunday. Attard was drafted in the third round (72nd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, in what was Chuck Fletcher’s first draft with the Flyers. Also apart of that draft class are current college players Bobby Brink and Bryce Brodzinski as well as Cam York, who was drafted in the first round.
Attard spent 3 years, including his draft year, with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm, where he jumped from 5 points in 46 games to 15 points in 50 games the following season, and then truly exploded in his final year with 30 goals and 65 points in only 48 games. Following his draft year he has spent the last 3 seasons with Western Michigan University, where he also steadily increased his point totals every season from 14 to 22 to 36 in 39 games this year.
Attard stands at 6’3″ and weighs in at 208 pounds, is a right-hand shooting defenseman and is primed to make his NHL debut this season after his college season concluded with his Western Michigan Broncos falling to the University of Minnesota. The Flyers’ roster has become very young in short order as players like Morgan Frost and Cam York were in the process of becoming staples in the lineup, but now it seems like the Flyers are fully committed to the youth insurgence, at least for the final month of the season. Attard will join players like Hayden Hodgson, Max Willman, and Noah Cates as the Flyers are excited to see what they have in the pipeline.
Keith Yandle will seemingly remain in the lineup until season’s end as he approaches 1,000 consecutive games with his iron-man streak. He currently sits at 988 consecutive games and after everything that has happened this season, not only for him but the Flyers as well, it would be shocking if he found his way into the press box. His play has warranted a scratch but the streak seems more important. Attard will look to take over the 6th and final spot, which has been pre-occupied by Nick Seeler and Kevin Connauton for most of the season. Attard will most likely make his NHL debut either during Saturday’s home game when they host the the Toronto Maple Leafs or on the road Sunday against the New York Rangers.
