If all goes according to plan, the Flyers may very well have top prospects Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, and Matt Read on the big club for the 2012 season. This might be a promising sign for the Flyers but it certainly impacts the depth of their AHL affiliate Adirondack Phantoms. Without Schenn and Read (Couturier is too young to play in the AHL), the Phantoms would be paper thing down the middle and lacking on offense. Certainly, the Phantoms are off to a promising start with a 6-3 win in their season opener but this is also a team that …
Q&A with Tim McManus on which Phantoms may contribute
Tim McManus covers the Adirondack Phantoms for The Post-Star in Glens Falls, NY. Follow his blog The Phantoms Forum here. Also make sure to follow Tim on Twitter @PSPhantoms. Which Phantoms do you think are NHL ready at this point and have the potential of winning a job with the big club? I think the two obvious candidates are Ben Holmstrom and Erik Gustafsson. Holmstrom is the guy I feel could help most immediately. He’s strong on faceoffs, reliable on the penalty kill, and his offense has been coming along, although he’ll probably never score a ton of goals at the NHL level guy. Just …
Hypothetically speaking: 2012 Phantoms edition
The Phantoms roster could look something like this next season: Read – Schenn – Testwuide Wellwood – Pither Couturier – Holmstrom Zolnierczyk Ranford – Kalinski – Akeson Rowe – Sestito – Rinaldo Marshall – Gustafsson Bourdon – Lauridsen Manning – Jancevski Bobrovsky Leighton Backlund Q: Are you crazy? What’s up with that fourth line? Where’s player X? I love player X! A: This is just a premature, quick and dirty concept to illustrate the newfound depth in the organization. I’m not actually advocating these should be the lines or the roster at this point. Step back from the edge. Everything will be …
Is Paul Holmgren still the right man for the job?
Paul Holmgren is a bold man, sure of what he wants and unflinching in his actions. He is willing to pay extra to beat the surge of activity to get his man. As a result, he’s built a team capable — in theory and in his own mind — of competing for the Stanley Cup. However, these actions are adding up and taking an increasing toll on a team that put its eggs in one basket for the 2011 season. That ultimately-failed course has been run, and the team did not win the Cup, yet again, and it is now …
Prospect Profiles: Marc-Andre Bourdon
Photo Courtesy of theahl.com Position: Defenseman Shoots: Left Height: 6.0? Weight: 225 Birthdate: September 17, 1989 Age: 21 Hometown: St. Hyacinthe, QC Acquired: 2008 3rd round pick – 67th overall “Bourdon is a big man, who also plays a very physical game. He has a lot of offensive skill, but it’s going to take some time for him to cultivate it and round into a better all-around player.” – Former Phantoms coach Kjell Samuelsson Bourdon began his junior career during the 2006-2007 season. The promising rookie finished the year with 2 goals and 26 over 63 games. He also had …
North American Prospect Weekly Report (4/11 – 4/17)
The North American Prospect Report follows the weekly progress of Flyers prospects playing in the various leagues throughout North America. This week’s edition of the weekly report will be brief with the regular season coming to an end. Stay tuned for our new prospect feature starting next week. Playoff update: Tyler Brown and the Plymouth Whalers were eliminated in the 2nd round of the OHL playoffs this past week. Tyler Brown did not register any points in games 3 and 4. Tye McGinn’s Gatineau Olympique’s came back and won four straight after going down 0-2 to start the series. McGinn …
North American Prospect Weekly Report (4/4 – 4/10)
The North American Prospect Report follows the weekly progress of Flyers prospects playing in the various leagues throughout North America. Forwards: Jason Akeson and the Kitchener Rangers played a game seven versus Tyler Brown and the Plymouth Whalers earlier this week. Akeson assisted on both of the Rangers’ goals, but it was not enough for Kitchener to move on. Brown scored a goal and assisted on another to help his team advance to round two. Brown assisted on all three of Plymouth’s goals in the opening match of round two, but his team fell short. He was held pointless in …
North American Prospect Weekly Report (3/28 – 4/3)
The North American Prospect Report follows the weekly progress of Flyers prospects playing in the various leagues throughout North America. Forwards: Jason Akeson scored a hat trick and was named the first star in a 6-4 win in game five of the first round. He also finished with an assist in game six. Tyler Brown assisted on the game winning goal in overtime during game four. He also had a 4 assist game in game five. The series between will be going to game seven. Tye McGinn and Dave Labrecque will both be moving to the second round of the …
North American Prospect Weekly Report (3/21 – 3/27)
The North American Prospect Report follows the weekly progress of Flyers prospects playing in the various leagues throughout North America. Forwards: The playoffs begun for the kids in juniors this week. Tyler Brown’s Plymouth Whalers are matched up against Jason Akeson’s Kitchener Rangers in round one of the OHL playoffs so only one will be advancing. Brown scored the game winner in over time of game one. He also assisted on two other goals in game one. Jason Akeson had a pair of assists in the same game. Brown scored a shorthanded goal in game two while Akeson finished with …
North American Prospect Weekly Report (3/14 – 3/20)
The North American Prospect Report follows the weekly progress of Flyers prospects playing in the various leagues throughout North America. Forwards: The Canadian junior leagues closed out their regular season this past week. Dave Labcreque and Tye McGinn each got to play a game before getting a rest before the playoffs. Labrecque had a goal and 2 assists in his final game, but somehow managed to be a -2. McGinn scored a goal in his final game. Jason Akeson assisted on two goals during his final game of the regular season. Akeson’s team also made the playoffs. Tyler Brown did …