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

[BigToe]

Tuomaala flashed at times (just turned 21).

What were the flashes? Any playmaking?

 

[tnfrs]

What were the flashes? Any playmaking?

samu doesnt make plays. hes not a great passer and hes a worse puck handler, all he has is speed and a shot but unless hes the shooter in the cycle hes often times not doing anything at all. he just kind floats around, he almost never has his stick on the ice in front of the net, hes never offering a target for deflections or one timers, its a problem. he just doesnt know how to get open or battle for position. his reaction time and hand eye coordination are not elite, he's not good at finding rebounds or loose pucks and he doesnt ever use body positioning to win battles. his assists have mostly come from rebounds and occassionally he gets a secondary assist but I cant remember a time where Samu made an elite pass or a noteworthy play beyond PP goals and rebound assists. in the defensive zone you might as well replace him with a cardboard cutout from a table top hockey game, they run the same route. he's not a dynamic player, but he can shoot the puck and skate.

 

[mr4tno]

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.

After watching the last 2 games......

• It seems like other teams vet-trans are previous established NHL players, whereas the Phantoms are career AHL (Wilson, previously O'Reilly)
• Desnoyers is being mis-cast as he plays with grinders (may be the only option right now and might be good for him)
• I really think the system is holding back some of the players and they seem to get off to awfully slow starts, so let's just say Coaching

What do people think about that Snowden guy? He seems "with it"....

 

[deadhead]

samu doesnt make plays. hes not a great passer and hes a worse puck handler, all he has is speed and a shot but unless hes the shooter in the cycle hes often times not doing anything at all. he just kind floats around, he almost never has his stick on the ice in front of the net, hes never offering a target for deflections or one timers, its a problem. he just doesnt know how to get open or battle for position. his reaction time and hand eye coordination are not elite, he's not good at finding rebounds or loose pucks and he doesnt ever use body positioning to win battles. his assists have mostly come from rebounds and occassionally he gets a secondary assist but I cant remember a time where Samu made an elite pass or a noteworthy play beyond PP goals and rebound assists. in the defensive zone you might as well replace him with a cardboard cutout from a table top hockey game, they run the same route. he's not a dynamic player, but he can shoot the puck and skate.

Given that he basically missed a season, and spent last year in a league probably below the ECHL, I'd say he's made good progress this season - but he'll need at least one more AHL season. I think his upside would be a top bottom six player if he commits to learning defensive fundamentals and to forecheck with intensity, his shot and speed would allow him to force turnovers and get opportunistic goals.

 

[tnfrs]

Given that he basically missed a season, and spent last year in a league probably below the ECHL, I'd say he's made good progress this season - but he'll need at least one more AHL season. I think his upside would be a top bottom six player if he commits to learning defensive fundamentals and to forecheck with intensity, his shot and speed would allow him to force turnovers and get opportunistic goals.

if he ever gets strong enough he can probably be an NHLer, but he needs to learn to ignore the puck sometimes. hes trying to get a stick on a loose puck when his first instinct should be to tie the closest guy up, he needs to put his ass into him and grind like its an ice cube music video to win position. also lappy shouldnt have a right shot in the bumper if he's going to have brink on the left wall though, thats not on samu but he was useless there until the play was below the goal line

 

[wasup]

I have seen enough Phantom game this year to say their goaltending flat out sucks . Sandstrom play's 1 good game 1 bad game , Peterson plays 1 good game 2 shit games . LV has the worst goalie stats in the entire AHL .

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

I have seen enough Phantom game this year to say their goaltending flat out sucks . Sandstrom play's 1 good game 1 bad game , Peterson plays 1 good game 2 shit games . LV has the worst goalie stats in the entire AHL .

It’s all Bobby Brink’s fault

 

[wasup]

It’s all Bobby Brink’s fault

Nope , Frost's fault .

 

[mr4tno]

How many games/days can Lycksell stay up before he has to pass through waivers again? Unless I missed it, it is interesting he was not sent down for the AS break.....

 

[FLYguy3911]

He's waiver exempt.

 

[mr4tno]

He's waiver exempt.

Thanks. I did not realize that

 

[deadhead]

If he keeps playing like this, he's not going back down, they need LWs, and Lycskell looks much better than last season. He's fighting for pucks, getting back on the back check, trying to make plays happen around the net. He doesn't have top 6 offensive talent like Brink (watching them both in the AHL, the difference is obvious), so Lycksell had to be more physical to avoid a "tweener" label.

 

[GKJ]

Royals are 12th in the conference

 

[deadhead]

Bonk's been on a crazy tear - last 10 games 11-9 20 +12.
We'll see if that continues.

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

Royals are 12th in the conference

Hopefully Laperriere is next.

 

[Solution]

Hopefully Laperriere is next.

The Royals got swept over the weekend by the Nailers. The second game was 8-2. So unless, WBS or Hershey stomp the Phantoms that bad, I doubt the move will be made.

 

[Curufinwe]

Phantoms are 7th in their 8 team division

2023-24 American Hockey League [AHL] standings at hockeydb.com

The standings of the teams in the American Hockey League for the 2023-24 season

www.hockeydb.com

 

[gertbfrobe16]

Phantoms Bears on NHL network Wed.

 

[wasup]

The Royals got swept over the weekend by the Nailers. The second game was 8-2. So unless, WBS or Hershey stomp the Phantoms that bad, I doubt the move will be made.

Hershey is defending champs and are the run away the best team in the AHL . LV has to play Hershey 14 times and i think this Wed is #13 but they have not played Bridgeport the worst team in their division yet . They only play Birdgeport 4 times , i'm not sure who the heck makes the schedule up but it sure is wacked .

 

[Curufinwe]

All to keep travel costs low, I imagine

 

[deadhead]

Will watch certain guys tonight:

Desnoyers is having an off year, but he really wasn't an offensive player to start with, though part of that falloff is he's not on the PP this season. I think he was always a bottom six guy but would like to see more, that is, is he a 3rd line guy or strictly 4th line forechecker?

Avon - reminds me of Poehling, decent but not great skill set, but really fast (fastest player in OHL two years running), smart, plays 200 foot game, 20 years old so needs time. Was listed at 6'0 174 at EP, so also needs to fill out.

Attard - just put back on PP, most of his scoring at ES where he's second on the team, the key is his defense, his NHL role will be a defensive first big RHD who sneaks up the weak side on offense for one timers. So less concerned with his scoring than whether he's playing "the right way." Like the "new and improved" Risto.

Andrae - needs to start taking over games, should be dominating AHL the way Brink has since he returned, though to be fair, only had 92 SHL before he came over, and only 44 AHL games so far. So maybe being a little too demanding of him right now.

Toumaala - off the puck is the key, he can skate and shoot, he's never going to be a top playmaker, but his key to success is making things happen with his legs without the puck on the forecheck, and getting back on defense. But grade on a curve, this is his first high level competition at 20.

Brink - it's all about off the puck play for him, he's too good for the AHL, he's really there just to work on defensive fundamentals and playing a more complete game. The open spot next year will be on the 3rd line with Tippett, TK, Farabee, Foerster ahead of him at wing.

Ginning - he has improved his skating and passing, but still not good enough, but if they trade Seeler, there is an opening for a big, physical LHD at #6/#7 if he shows he can handle that role.

 

[wasup]

All to keep travel costs low, I imagine

Bridgeport is 150 miles away from Allentown so it ain't that .

 

[deadhead]

As far as Bonk, last season v this season gives you an idea of his radical improvement:

2022-23: 67g 7-12 19 +16 ES, 2-15 17 PP
2023-24: 38g 4-16 20 +8 ES, 12-15 27 PP

And Barkey
2022-23: 67g 15-28 43 +17 ES, 5-8 13 PP
2023-24: 42g 15-22 37 +30 ES, 4-18 22 PP, 6 SH goals

 

[BritainStix]

Are we allowed to be excited about Barkley yet?

Who does he think he is scoring like that?

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

Are we allowed to be excited about Barkley yet?

Who does he think he is scoring like that?

I'm very optimistic about Barkey. He's got a lot of good things going for him. He's in a great junior program in London. He plays a full 200 foot game and he's just as deadly on the PK as he is on the PP. He's got serious wheels with the hands to go with them. He plays in the dirty areas. He's versatile. He's tough. He's tenacious and more important, he just wants to win. Maybe it's me, but I love players like Barkey. I still couldn't believe that he wasn't selected for the Canadian WJC team. Absolutely baffles me.