In a time not that long ago, this upcoming week would be an important one for the Flyers in building their prospect base for the following season. The regular season of college hockey is over and teams that either didn’t qualify for their conference playoffs or were bounced in the first round will start getting calls about their free agent-eligible players.

Back when then-general manager Paul Holmgren ran out of high-end draft picks acquiring Chris Pronger, then again a few years later trying to replace him, the Flyers would be very interested in college free agents. These days, the prospect cupboard is stocked and even those whose rights they own may not end up getting contracts.

The spotlight this week will be on players like Princeton’s Max Véronneau, Clarkson’s Nico Sturm, Ohio State’s Mason Jobst and Michigan State’s Taro Hirose, who leads the nation in scoring. For the first time in a while, the Flyers may not have much space for any of them and even if they are interested, the lack of opportunity may scare those players off.

Between an expected expensive run in free agency in July, junior players Morgan Frost, Isaac Ratcliffe, Matthew Strome and Maksim Sushko all expected to start their entry-level contracts next season and a couple of their own college players like Tanner Laczynski and Wade Allison expected to turn pro, spots in the NHL and AHL are almost all spoken for already.

The biggest home run the Flyers hit in college free agency was Matt Read, who had two 20-goal seasons with the Flyers and had 11 goals in the lockout-shortened 2013 season. Late bloomers like Read end up getting an opportunity a little later than most because they’ve had more time to develop.

While the Flyers may not be interested in those nearing the finish line as free agents this season, they have a few more college players in the pipeline.

With so much interest in the team’s prospect group, the Courier-Post will check in on the promising young players each week. Here’s the latest progress report with insights from Bernie Corbett, a national college hockey analyst on SiriusXM Radio and broadcaster at Boston University for 34 years.

* all statistics through Friday, March 8.

Joel Farabee, right wing, Boston University (Hockey East)

Age: 19

Height/weight: 6-foot-1, 170 pounds

Acquired: first-round pick in 2018 (14th overall)

This season: 33 games, 13 goals, 18 assists

The skinny: Ever since returning from the World Junior Championship, Farabee has been stellar for the Terriers. The freshman has 11 points in his last 10 games entering Saturday’s regular-season finale against Maine. He came out flying to start the season but couldn’t finish on many chances. Recently, he has. While Farabee told the Courier-Post in January he’d be open to going pro after this season, the Flyers want to see him stay for his sophomore season.

Corbett’s take: “I think he had that learning curve and the way he played the second half has been very impactful. His skillset has certainly risen right to the top. I think he’s absolutely as dangerous every time he’s on the ice now. He’s really highly skilled. His hands are just…I mean you put him at the absolute top of the scale in terms of his hands and his ability to make plays, his ability to create plays out of nothing sometimes. He got an absolute highlight-reel goal last Saturday against Merrimack. Go online and watch that. It’s like an ESPN play of the day.

“If anything, I think part of the educational process for him will be to shoot the puck more when he has opportunity. Sometimes he’s trying to make ESPN or make a highlight-reel play or make a pass to somebody or do something a little crazy in terms of his ability to beat a guy or put the puck between his legs or toe drags.”

Jay O’Brien, center/right wing, Providence College (Hockey East)

Age: 19

Height/weight: 6-feet, 174 pounds

Acquired: first-round pick in 2018 (19th overall)

This season: 25 games, 2 goals, 3 assists

The skinny: It’s been a rough freshman season for O’Brien, whose season has been riddled with injuries and hits to the head. He missed a lot of time early in the season and was hit again Thursday against Boston College in the first period. He returned and played through the second period but was held out in the third as a precaution according to reports. O’Brien showed enough to make the World Junior squad but didn’t get a big role with the team and his development path will definitely take a little longer because he wasn’t able to accomplish much this season.

Corbett’s take: “He really hasn’t been healthy. I think if you graded him with more of an ‘incomplete’ he’d probably be the first one to say that, that it’s been really incomplete for him this year. Injury-wise, it’s just been kind of a snakebit year for him. He hasn’t been able to get any kind of groove or continuity with his game and that’s hurt him. It’s funny, I think Providence is a very dangerous team and a team that, Nate (Leaman) has done a great job with that program and I think once again they’re geared up this time of year. Second half of the year they’re 5-0 against the other three teams that are likely to get home ice. It’s funny because Jack Dugan (a freshman from Pittsburgh) his expectations were pretty high also but I think Dugan has exceeded expectations and O’Brien has been well below them but for circumstances beyond his control.”

Noah Cates, left wing, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)

Age: 20

Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds

Acquired: fifth-round pick in 2017 (137th overall)

This season: 31 games, 9 goals, 12 assists

The skinny: Having the experience of staying an extra year in the USHL, Cates is a little more developed and one year older than most freshmen. He’s seeing the payoff as he’s proven himself to take a big role with the defending national champions. He’s moved up the lineup from a third-liner to a top-liner and this week was named the rookie of the week in his conference. His full season in the USHL was a little inconsistent, former Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said last season, which was unlike Cates’ resume to that point. Some familiarity playing with his brother, Jackson, may have helped him put more pieces together. He’s had a much more consistent season effort-wise and it’s starting to show in his statistics.

Corbett’s take: “It makes a world of difference to have that opportunity (of playing in World Juniors and being an older freshman). I think you’re seeing it, you’re absolutely seeing it. This is far from an exact science. When I talk to people, they’re not as familiar with college hockey and the dynamic. You start to tell them, ‘Guys can be 18 and routinely playing against 23 and 24-year-olds.’

“You look at a guy like him and his background, he had a couple of years in the USHL and obviously that’s become a real solid proving ground. If you can make it there on your way to Division I hockey, it’s not the route for everybody but it’s a pretty popular one. He’s been a contributor and he’s been a complimentary piece on a team that’s pretty deep. That helps as far as a guy you’re not hoping for too much out of.”

Dave Isaac; @davegisaac; 856-486-2479; disaac@gannett.com