Prospect Info: 2014-15 (pt. 2): Phantoms (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), NCAA, Juniors, Int'l, etc.

[deadhead]

Playoffs are the key at both the junior and AHL level, most of your future NHL players keep their game at the regular season level or even pick it up, the suspects fall off when they play better competition night after night in the playoffs and can't pad their statistics.

That was the worst thing about the AHL struggles for the Phantoms, they weren't giving prospects 10-20 playoff games to get comfortable with NHL type competition (i.e., no nights off). Even in college, you knew Ghost was for real when he became the best college player in the playoffs, taking his game a notch above everyone else.

 

[Tripod]

Yep, I was watching every game in the beginning, but lately I've kind of lost interest since Hagg isn't really a flashy/exciting player and Ghost/Laughton are gone. I can't wait for him to get healthy again so I have a reason to watch Phantoms games, plus he's going to be a massive boost for that team in getting to the playoffs and hopefully making an impact when they're there.

Plus....they should be able to send Laughton back down if I am not mistaken. Am I right in thinking that?

 

[Striiker]

Plus....they should be able to send Laughton back down if I am not mistaken. Am I right in thinking that?

I don't know, but I doubt that would happen. I'd be all for it, but I think when he get's healthy he'll probably just pop right back into the spot he was in when he left.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

If Hextall is a part of the WC's for Team Canada again he may try to get Laughton on the team. I think that's more of an option than him sending Laughton down a level again to play in the playoffs for the Phantoms.

 

[Tripod]

I don't think Laughton would be hurt in any way playing in the playoffs for the Phantoms for a potential playoff run. It would also allow him to be "the guy" for offense and leadership.

Plus, it creates more time with the other kids on D as well to build more chemistry which can only help going forward.

Just my thoughts.

 

[tymed]

NAK has 15g/15a in 17 gp since a game into December. I never check him out on HS but I may have to after checking out his game log. Hopefully he's taken a step, he's been on fire for a cpl months.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Yeah, he's not above playing in the AHL again and Canada can probably find someone better than Laughton to fill out their roster. Even if they do want him, the WCs don't start until May. I don't anticipate the Phantoms going on a long run.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

I don't think Laughton would be hurt in any way playing in the playoffs for the Phantoms for a potential playoff run. It would also allow him to be "the guy" for offense and leadership.

Plus, it creates more time with the other kids on D as well to build more chemistry which can only help going forward.

Just my thoughts.

Laughton very likely wouldn't want to & I can't really see the Flyers caring enough to put up a fight.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Laughton very likely wouldn't want to & I can't really see the Flyers caring enough to put up a fight.

What has Laughton done in the NHL to call his own shots?

Jamie Benn played 82 NHL games his rookie year, scored 22 goals, and when his season was over he was sent down to play in the AHL and played 24 more games through the Calder Cup finals.

Laughton's a rookie he does what the organization tells him to.

 

[Tripod]

Laughton very likely wouldn't want to & I can't really see the Flyers caring enough to put up a fight.

Could be true on both counts. But it's not unusual for non playoff teams to send back rookies to the AHL for a playoff run.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

What has Laughton done in the NHL to call his own shots?

Jamie Benn played 82 NHL games his rookie year, scored 22 goals, and when his season was over he was sent down to play in the AHL and played 24 more games through the Calder Cup finals.

Laughton's a rookie he does what the organization tells him to.

Teams ask kids every year if they want to go to WJC's. I don't think its unheard of to think they may ask his opinion on the situation.

Ultimately time will tell but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't get sent down.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Teams ask kids every year if they want to go to WJC's. I don't think its unheard of to think they may ask his opinion on the situation.

Not a comparable situation IMO. Whether a kid plays in the WJC or NHL he's still playing. In this case it would be continue playing or enjoy the offseason. They may ask him how he feels physically, but other than that the team is going to make the decision for him. Especially if he is out an extended period of time with this concussion, they are going to want him to try and make up for lost games.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

What happened actually to Fredric "The Mustache" Larsson? There was a time some people were very high on him. Is he still Flyers property?

 

[flyershockey]

What happened actually to Fredric "The Mustache" Larsson? There was a time some people were very high on him. Is he still Flyers property?

No. He came over to NA, played a couple of years in the USHL, and then didn't get any scholarship offers to play in the NCAA. I'm not even sure he's playing hockey anywhere.

 

[Appleyard]

What happened actually to Fredric "The Mustache" Larsson? There was a time some people were very high on him. Is he still Flyers property?

He just never developed as his physical tools gave him room to. He had the potential to be a big, nasty #5 I thought... but the IQ seemingly was not there.

He came over to the USHL and was a non-factor.

He is back in Sweden now playing in the third tier as a 3rd pairing D man. He actually played for a bit with our old friend Ricard Blindstrand on a pair for a few games I gathered.

Larsson may get a shot in the Allsvenskan if his game grows more (which it should/could do) but likely never makes the SHL. I think he spends the next 5-15 years knocking around in the Swedish 3rd tier or Allsvenskan if he really wants to play hockey for a semi-decent living. But he may well be out of hockey by the time he is 25... just depends if he wants to or not.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

No. He came over to NA, played a couple of years in the USHL, and then didn't get any scholarship offers to play in the NCAA. I'm not even sure he's playing hockey anywhere.

Hmmm, ok. Thanks for the quick response. Anyway, we have some other young Swedes on D to get excited about.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

He just never developed as his physical tools gave him room to. He had the potential to be a big, nasty #5 I thought... but the IQ seemingly was not there.

He came over to the USHL and was a non-factor.

He is back in Sweden now playing in the third tier as a 3rd pairing D man. He actually played for a bit with our old friend Ricard Blindstrand on a pair for a few games I gathered.

Larsson may get a shot in the Allsvenskan if his game grows more (which it should/could do) but likely never makes the SHL.

Dude, you're unreal. Thanks for the update.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Not a comparable situation IMO. Whether a kid plays in the WJC or NHL he's still playing. In this case it would be continue playing or enjoy the offseason. They may ask him how he feels physically, but other than that the team is going to make the decision for him. Especially if he is out an extended period of time with this concussion, they are going to want him to try and make up for lost games.

I guess time will tell. The schedule's line up to where the Phantoms play four regular season games after the conclusion of the Flyers season. The Phantoms are currently four points out of the last playoff spot so they need to pick it up.

He just never developed as his physical tools gave him room to. He had the potential to be a big, nasty #5 I thought... but the IQ seemingly was not there.

He came over to the USHL and was a non-factor.

He is back in Sweden now playing in the third tier as a 3rd pairing D man. He actually played for a bit with our old friend Ricard Blindstrand on a pair for a few games I gathered.

Larsson may get a shot in the Allsvenskan if his game grows more (which it should/could do) but likely never makes the SHL. I think he spends the next 5-15 years knocking around in the Swedish 3rd tier or Allsvenskan if he really wants to play hockey for a semi-decent living. But he may well be out of hockey by the time he is 25... just depends if he wants to or not.

He had some type of food allergy that made it tough to put muscle/weight on that I don't think helped matters. He was pretty slim & was always getting hurt with his style of play.

 

[Tankadelphia]

If I remember right, Fredric Larsson had multiple major food allergies that prevented him from eating a lot of different foods, which made it so he couldn't gain much weight. I might be thinking about someone else, but I'm pretty sure it was him

 

[Appleyard]

http://www.nj.com/flyers/index.ssf/...e_at_20_due_to_bad_knees_food_allegories.html

Article on him from summer.

Food allergies and both knees injured.

Pretty rough deal for him.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Speaking of the AHL they're finally expanding out west. The Kings, Ducks, Sharks, Flames, & Oilers will all get their farm teams out there.

 

[flyershockey]

Speaking of the AHL they're finally expanding out west. The Kings, Ducks, Sharks, Flames, & Oilers will all get their farm teams out there.

Yeah, the Ducks just bought their AHL affiliate here in Norfolk. I'm not all that upset about it, but the plan is to move their AHL team out to San Diego and an ECHL team would come in to Norfolk to fill the void left behind.

It didn't really make much sense to have all of the Pacific teams with their AHL teams in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic. But they kind of got stuck out there until they could get move commitments from everyone because of the AHL travel restrictions.

It does suck for hockey in Norfolk though. Three years ago they were watching one the best teams in AHL history. Now they're just hoping some ECHL team comes to town.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Yeah, the Ducks just bought their AHL affiliate here in Norfolk. I'm not all that upset about it, but the plan is to move their AHL team out to San Diego and an ECHL team would come in to Norfolk to fill the void left behind.

It didn't really make much sense to have all of the Pacific teams with their AHL teams in the Northeast/Mid Atlantic. But they kind of got stuck out there until they could get move commitments from everyone because of the AHL travel restrictions.

It does suck for hockey in Norfolk though. Three years ago they were watching one the best teams in AHL history. Now they're just hoping some ECHL team comes to town.

I believe the Kings did the samething or at least their current AHL team is going to be replaced with an ECHL team under the same name & location.

Yeah it sucks for the fans but those GM's are happy as hell they don't have scramble with players on the other side of the country every time a situation comes up abruptly.

The Flyers didn't like being a 2 hour or so drive away from Adirondack imagine being a 6-8 hour plane ride away.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I guess Richards will be closer to LA than expected.

 

[OrangeAndBlackMetal]

I believe the Kings did the samething or at least their current AHL team is going to be replaced with an ECHL team under the same name & location.

Yeah it sucks for the fans but those GM's are happy as hell they don't have scramble with players on the other side of the country every time a situation comes up abruptly.

The Flyers didn't like being a 2 hour or so drive away from Adirondack imagine being a 6-8 hour plane ride away.

Philly to Glens Falls is about 5 hours.