According to the NHL media site, the Philadelphia Flyers have signed two promising young players – goalie Sam Hillebrandt and forward Josh Zakreski – ahead of their rookie camp and upcoming Rookie Series against the New York Rangers.

A source confirmed Philly Hockey now that both players will participate in rookie camp and neither of them is currently under contract with the Flyers.

Zakreski, 18, spent the last two seasons in the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks alongside teammate and Flyers talent Carter Sotheran, a defenseman drafted 135th overall in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 5’10” undrafted forward participated as a guest in the Flyers’ annual development camp, which ran from July 2-6. Zakreski is currently the only guest of the development camp, returning to the Flyers’ rookie camp next month.

Zakreski is coming off a strong second WHL season, scoring 21 goals, 28 assists and 49 points in 68 games for Portland, while posting a plus-minus rating of plus-24.

Attentive Flyers fans may recall that Hillebrandt, 19, was part of the U.S. team’s roster for the 2024 World Junior Championship, ranked as the third goalie behind Montreal Canadiens’ promising prospect Jacob Fowler and Detroit Red Wings’ highly-rated prospect Trey Augustine.

By extension, this also means that Hillebrandt was a teammate of former Flyers talent Cutter Gauthier.

The Barrie Colts goalie played for Team USA in Gothenburg last winter, but didn’t put up impressive numbers during the 2023-24 OHL regular season. Hillebrandt posted a 16-15-2 record in 36 games played, with his results backed up by a 3.67 goals-against average and .899 save percentage.

However, there is more to Hillebrandt’s game than meets the eye, and both the Flyers and Team USA have recognized this. Although his Colts were eliminated by the Oshawa Generals in six games in the first round of the OHL playoffs, Hillebrandt’s performances in his five playoff appearances have been world class.

Overall, the 19-year-old posted a postseason record of 2-2-1, a 2.48 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, which was backed up by a 47-save shutout in Game 5. Hillebrandt also stopped 52 of 56 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 4.

When the lights were at their brightest, Hillebrandt increased his performance by several notches.

If they impress at Flyers Rookie Camp and beyond, he and Zakreski may be able to find a new home with the Flyers.