Multiple European sources are reporting that the Flyers have signed 20-year old Swedish speedster Mario Kempe to an AHL try out. Although not considered a top prospect in the system, Kempe is high on the Flyers’ radar and has thrilled in the few training camps he attended.
Reminding many NHL scouts as a young Mikael Renberg, Kempe is one of the quickest players on the Flyers’ farm and plays a downhill style. Despite good size (6-foot-0, 180 lbs), decent hands and adept passing skills, Kempe is notoriously inconsistent, which is keeping him from being a serious player in the Flyers’ system. Matched with Claude Giroux in prospect camp, Kempe needs to improve his two-way game if he wants to be in consideration of any future call up to the big club, something Phantoms coach John Paddock may be able to help with.
Kempe, a fifth round pick in 2007, played two seasons in Canadian juniors before going back to Sweden to further his development. Playing for Rogle Angelholm in the low scoring Swedish Elite League, he scored two goals and eight assists in 30 games.
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