Flyers sign two prospects

THE FLYERS signed two prospects, forwards Derek Mathers and Andrew Johnston, to entry-level deals on Monday.

Mathers, 18, was the Flyers' last draft pick in 2011, 206th overall in the sixth round. He was monitored closely this season by Flyers scouts, including visits with former Flyer Ian Laperriere to his Peterborough Petes games in the Ontario Hockey League.

Mathers collected an astounding 348 penalty minutes over the last two seasons with Peterborough, including 49 fighting majors. The 6-3 bruiser added two more fights in nine games with the AHL's Phantoms this spring on an amateur tryout contract once his OHL season was finished.

Mathers is not eligible to play in the AHL full time next season because of the league's junior agreement, so his contract is expected to slide and not count against the Flyers' contract limit until 2013-14.

Johnston, 21, was a surprise, undrafted addition to the Flyers. He collected 81 points in 58 games this season with the Humboldt Broncos, of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, one of Canada's minor junior leagues. He also played two seasons for the Flin Flon (Manitoba) Bombers, the same program that produced famous Flyers Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach.

The Flyers have until June 1 before losing the exclusive rights to draft picks Ricard Blidstrand and Brendan Ranford.

Both Blidstrand, a defenseman, and Ranford, a forward, were seventh-round picks in 2010.

Ranford, the nephew of Stanley-Cup winning goalie Bill Ranford, posted 270 points in 275 junior games with the Kamloops Blazers, of the Western Hockey League major junior league.

Contact Frank Seravalli at seravaf@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DNFlyers.