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 …