2023-24 #2: Phantoms (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), NCAA, Jrs., Int'l, etc.

[Jersey Fan 12]

Bump has 16 points in 22 games as a freshman in one of the top leagues in college hockey. How is that "discouraging"?

Sotheran is interesting, having a solid D+1 season, 6'3 198 RHD when drafted.
Gendron was a little over his head in the AHL, but tearing up the Q on his return, he's not really overage, just turned 20 in December.
McLaughlin score 1.09 PPG at 20 for Notre Dame, 6'0 161 when drafted so time to fill out
Mann, the 6'6 229 D-men they drafted, isn't playing badly, long-term project but not a complete stiff
McDonald, overage 6'4 205 LHD, now 21, top college defensive defenseman
Sulku, after a year off, scoring in Mestis
Avon, UDFA, Samson 6th rd, holding up in the AHL

Given the odds of a picks past #100 making to the NHL and sticking is like 20:1, not a bad job

In fact, the middle rounds are more discouraging, players like Kaplan, Bump, Knuble, Wisdom, Millman, Zanetti, Murchison haven't shown much.

 

[deadhead]

Bump has 16 points in 22 games as a freshman in one of the top leagues in college hockey. How is that "discouraging"?

He's an old freshman at 20, so graded on a different scale.

 

[VladDrag]

@Magua -- Watch Rizzo and McLaughin tonight with me and @BigToe ....Or more likely record it and let me know what you think.

 

[Magua]

@Magua -- Watch Rizzo and McLaughin tonight with me and @BigToe ....Or more likely record it and let me know what you think.

I've watched Buium twice, and I paid attention to Rizzo too. I agree with your opinion.

 

[mr4tno]

Saturday night you can watch the Phantom for free on AHLTV

 

[deadhead]

I'm not a skating expert, but it seems fine. He has decent lateral movement, lacks top end speed, but isn't slow. Acceleration is just okay. I don't think it will skating that prevents him from being an NHL player, but he'll need to play with urgency. He's clearly playing well enough at the college level, but I just wonder will he be able to process at the NHL level.

The fact that most highlights come on the PP is also somewhat concerning, but full disclosure - I don't know his splits of PP vs ES scoring. It could be one of those incorrect gut feelings I have... I also think he'll be converted to a winger at first. We'll see.

Rizzo was listed at 5'11 174 at EP, but that's probably his 18 year old measurements.
Denver has him listed at 5'11 185.
So I can see him playing NHL at 190-195, which is more than big enough.

Wheeler had him as #14 among Carolina prospects last January, his new lists should be out shortly.

Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur is the Pioneers forward that gets the most attention and buzz, but Rizzo quietly capped off an excellent freshman season last year with points in both of the Frozen Four games (on Mazur’s line) to help them to a national championship and he has returned to become the team’s leading points producer as a sophomore (albeit a 21-year-old one) due to the pandemic and time spent marinating in the BCHL. He’s an incredibly smart player who understands how to facilitate and use spacing when the puck’s on his stick and where to go without the puck. He’s also a decent skater, a competitor and a diligent two-way player considering his average(ish) size. The Pioneers are better when he’s out there this year and while I’m not sure if he’s got NHL upside, he should get signed out of college and become a good AHL player at minimum. Not bad for the second-last pick of the 2019 draft!

 

[VladDrag]

Rizzo was listed at 5'11 174 at EP, but that's probably his 18 year old measurements.
Denver has him listed at 5'11 185.
So I can see him playing NHL at 190-195, which is more than big enough.

Wheeler had him as #14 among Carolina prospects last January, his new lists should be out shortly.

Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur is the Pioneers forward that gets the most attention and buzz, but Rizzo quietly capped off an excellent freshman season last year with points in both of the Frozen Four games (on Mazur’s line) to help them to a national championship and he has returned to become the team’s leading points producer as a sophomore (albeit a 21-year-old one) due to the pandemic and time spent marinating in the BCHL. He’s an incredibly smart player who understands how to facilitate and use spacing when the puck’s on his stick and where to go without the puck. He’s also a decent skater, a competitor and a diligent two-way player considering his average(ish) size. The Pioneers are better when he’s out there this year and while I’m not sure if he’s got NHL upside, he should get signed out of college and become a good AHL player at minimum. Not bad for the second-last pick of the 2019 draft!

That’s basically how I feel now. There’s no doubt his vision and passing is NHL-ready, but I don’t know if the rest of his game will round out. Just put him in the AHL and see how he does.

 

[tnfrs]

they didnt let brink have his number in lehigh because of that big shot evan polei so hes wearing 23

 

[mr4tno]

Phantoms are on the NHL network and boy are they awful. You think the Flyers can't skate...wow

 

[macleish1974]

Saturday night you can watch the Phantom for free on AHLTV

You can watch them really suck on NHL Network NOW.

Down 2-0 already with an ugly defense and slow forwards. Is it the players or the system?
Hard to tell. They are worse than 2 years ago when I lived in Allentown and saw the games on
Service Electric.

oh yeah....crappy goaltending Nervous Nelly Sandstrom . Goes down quicker than a 2 dollar hooker.

 

[Magua]

@Magua -- Watch Rizzo and McLaughin tonight with me and @BigToe ....Or more likely record it and let me know what you think.

I walked right into this trap.

 

[tnfrs]

You can watch them really suck on NHL Network NOW.

Down 2-0 already with an ugly defense and slow forwards. Is it the players or the system?
Hard to tell. They are worse than 2 years ago when I lived in Allentown and saw the games on
Service Electric.

oh yeah....crappy goaltending Nervous Nelly Sandstrom . Goes down quicker than

nice goal by brink, i dont think samu touched the puck along the wall but he did a good job getting his body in the way of the defender so bob could take it for a walk

 

[VladDrag]

I walked right into this trap.

Yeah. That’s a big downside! I have it recording.

 

[tnfrs]

meanwhile in drummondville... gendron scored with 50 seconds left to tie the game then scored again 13 seconds into overtime to win it. he shouldnt be playing in juniors and theres no reason why a good coach couldnt use him on the phantoms

 

[GKJ]

 

[Magua]

That’s basically how I feel now. There’s no doubt his vision and passing is NHL-ready, but I don’t know if the rest of his game will round out. Just put him in the AHL and see how he does.

I've watched half the game *dry heaving* and now I am freed from my college hockey burden!

I've seen them before, but the issue with McLaughlin is he looks like a textbook tweener. He needs space, he's got okay quickness but he's not terribly elusive, and he isn't very good/comfortable in tight spaces -- he's slight but that's a skill too. You take the production you can get out of a 7th rounder, but I'm not holding my breath he's an NHLer.

Rizzo's size isn't a problem; he has the stocky center of gravity. His biggest issue is he doesn't have first step quickness; he takes a lot of pitter patter short strides. But he's quite a good small space player with his vision and skill, and he's low panic. At a higher pace, I don't know because as you've said, pace isn't a strong suit now. I feel pretty confident he'll be a good AHLer because the playmaking is real. Like you said, he's a sign 'em and see what happens type. He's also the same age as Brink -- I'm not out here pencilling him into Flyers lineups either.

 

[mr4tno]

Saturday night you can watch the Phantom for free on AHLTV

You can watch them really suck on NHL Network NOW.

Down 2-0 already with an ugly defense and slow forwards. Is it the players or the system?
Hard to tell. They are worse than 2 years ago when I lived in Allentown and saw the games on
Service Electric.

oh yeah....crappy goaltending Nervous Nelly Sandstrom . Goes down quicker than a 2 dollar hooker.

And they re on NHL network again next Wednesday.

I think a lot of the "skating" issues might be the system. They looked much more aggressive (faster) in the 2nd and 3rd. It took a whole 20 minutes for the stone head coach to figure out that WBS was deploying a player behind their D. I mean the announcers must have pointed it out about 50.

IP loves that dump and chase. They have a handful of players that can carry it into the zone (Brink ST, Avon, Desnoyers (maybe) and Gendron when he was here, but all IP knows is the Flyers way... times.

Of course, their goaltending still sucks, badly.

 

[deadhead]

First period Sandstrom really sucked, a couple goals he should have stopped, then played better the rest of the game.

I can see why they gave Gardner a "look see," doesn't have NHL jets, but NHL body and smarts, AHL plus type that they probably wanted to see if he can be that call up guy for short periods.

Phantoms missed Brooks, injured most of the season, brings speed and experience.

Got to grade them on a curve this game, no Laczynski, Belpedio, Allison, Wilson injured in the 2nd period, basically Brooks and Mete the only experienced AHL veteran types against a team with a number of 1st rd picks and AHL veterans. Still, Phantoms dominated the second half of the game.

Brink was the best player on the Phantoms, as he should be. Andrae showed why he's still in the AHL, just didn't jump out at you, nothing bad, but not enough good. Avon has great jets and can handle the puck, just disappears for stretches, same with Tuomaala, but they're 20-21, give them time. Avon caught out of position on the game winning goal, experience matters. Samson was up and down but another 20 year old.

Attard can play in the NHL right now offensively, didn't make any egregious errors but you'd have to pair him with a defensively responsible LHD, he's best used as a "rover." But Shaw worked wonders with Risto, another project for him.

Grans flashed skill, he just may be one of those D-men who needs time in the AHL to marinate and compensate for lack of instincts with enough game experience to do the right thing without thinking.

Ginning is in the Seeler mode, has just enough size and skill for the NHL, but will need a lot of time to polish his game to overcome his limitations.

Desnoyers regressed this year but showed a lot of grit in the corners, may just need to physically mature to fill a bottom six role, not the biggest guy, has some skill but not enough to win a top 9 role.

Wisdom is a sad story, guess those injuries took a toll because he doesn't look like the same player.

Played guys like Furry, Polei., try hard but really ECHL types called up due to injury.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

He's only got 1 PP goal (out of 10 total) but site doesn't list PP assists.

I scraped his Assists since you and @VladDrag were interested:

16 5v5
12 PP (including 5v3)
3 4v4
1 3v3

I don’t know how that compares to other players. I’m just trying to give you guys a rough idea.

 

[deadhead]

So 9 goals and 20 assists at ES (including 4v4). Not bad, 1-12 on the PP.
He's not padding his stats on the PP, which is a good sign.

It's not that scoring on the PP is a bad thing, but to me, when projecting to higher levels, the extra space and time on the PP may not translate, whereas ES scoring seems a better predictor.

 

[mr4tno]

What is it with the Phantoms. They refuse to play in the 1st period.
Also, Andrae sucks. Another 2nd round disappointment in a long line of them. He should fit right in with York and Drysdale

 

[Mickey the mouse]

What is it with the Phantoms. They refuse to play in the 1st period.
Also, Andrae sucks. Another 2nd round disappointment in a long line of them. He should fit right in with York and Drysdale

Don’t forget about Atard !!!!

He’s a below average AHL defender

 

[Curufinwe]

Hey this game is on WFMZ Tv (515 on FIOS)

 

[wankstifier]

They're practically phantoms on ice with those all-white unis.

 

[deadhead]

Phantoms played a decent first period, putrid second period, then woke up and played great the rest of the way.

Ginning looked better, he's actually a fluid skater for a guy his size and a decent passer, but isn't a great puck handler and lacks offensive vision. Problem is he just turned 24, should be polished by now. Same with Attard, whohas a bad slap shot with a big windup that won't work at the next level. But made some nice plays as well.

Andrae had another meh game except a great pass to Allison for the game tying goal. Flyers were right to send him down, he needs time to develop, but doesn't turn 22 until next month Easy to forget Grans is still 21. Samson only 20.

Brink again was the best player, Avon (20) flashed his speed again, Desnoyers (just turned 22) worked hard in dirty areas but is just a little off offensively. Tuomaala flashed at times (just turned 21). Allison looked better than last time I saw him, maybe he's getting healthy, but can he stay healthy?

Phantoms are too young where they are skilled, and too unskilled where they are experienced. And their goalies are an adventure, to put it kindly.