2024-25: Phantoms (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), NCAA, Jrs., Int'l, etc.

[Appleyard]

Appleyard:

Now is that because the winning experience was important or the players were that good for the AHL? I am at work and too lazy to look up the rosters. Thank you.

It is almost certainly that having an AHL team with NHL ready players and talent means that you can load up the team in the coming years with guys on RFA deals so build a more talented roster than otherwise.

 

[Deadpool8812]

Meanwhile, our AHL team doesn't even run the same system

 

[CerpinTaxt]

Meanwhile, our AHL team doesn't even run the same system

Run by Mr hockey-puck-face. Nothing against lappy as a person but g dangit they shouldn't have made him a coach.

 

[Strawberry Fields]

This is Hershey's 20th year as Washington's affiliate. In that time, the Bears have missed the playoffs twice, had one losing season, and won five Calder Cups. Agree with Appleyard that having a competent farm system is crucial in developing your talent beyond your core. None of Washington's top talent besides Carlson or Holtby (unless you count McMichael and Protas) spent significant time here but they've supplied plenty of their complementary pieces and depth over the past two decades.

Meanwhile the Phantoms have made the playoffs six times in the last 20 years and, save for the 2018 Conference Finals run, have been largely mediocre at best since leaving Philadelphia in 2009.

I know they get poo-pooed here but having a good veteran core is important in the AHL too. Unfortunately the Flyers haven't targeted the best ones in recent years.

 

[Solution]

This is Hershey's 20th year as Washington's affiliate. In that time, the Bears have missed the playoffs twice, had one losing season, and won five Calder Cups. Agree with Appleyard that having a competent farm system is crucial in developing your developing beyond your core. None of Washington's top talent besides Carlson or Holtby (unless you count McMichael and Protas) spent significant time here but they've supplied plenty of their complementary pieces and depth over the past two decades.

Meanwhile the Phantoms have made the playoffs six times in the last 20 years and, save for the 2018 Conference Finals run, have been largely mediocre at best since leaving Philadelphia in 2009.

I know they get poo-pooed here but having a good veteran core is important in the AHL too. Unfortunately the Flyers haven't targeted the best ones in recent years.

Very envious of the Hershey/Capitals affiliation. It is the standard that all teams should be looking for.

 

[BernieParent]

It is almost certainly that having an AHL team with NHL ready players and talent means that you can load up the team in the coming years with guys on RFA deals so build a more talented roster than otherwise.

Isn't that counterintuitive, though? Perennial Cup contenders will be drafting near the end of the rounds and often are trading away their picks to load up for the playoffs. On one hand, they have more of a justification for keeping prospects on their affiliates longer, but could it also be that they are more likely to get the tweeners who star in the AHL but wouldn't get more than bottom line/pairing minutes in the NHL?

 

[Appleyard]

Isn't that counterintuitive, though? Perennial Cup contenders will be drafting near the end of the rounds and often are trading away their picks to load up for the playoffs. On one hand, they have more of a justification for keeping prospects on their affiliates longer, but could it also be that they are more likely to get the tweeners who star in the AHL but wouldn't get more than bottom line/pairing minutes in the NHL?

I think it is in part a reflection of drafting, developing and signing well tbh.

As:

1. Top talent rarely spends much time in the AHL.
2. The time from drafting your top talent to competing is usually like ~4-6 years.
3. Depth players who are good NHL depth guys are usually great AHL players... so having 4-5 such players on an AHL team usually elevates them to AHL contenders.
4. Younger guys doing well in AHL/able to play NHL can also be used as add-ins in trades to improve team.
5. Those guys they keep then a few years down the line can slot in on NHL team.

But yeh, I also think top to bottom good management means that a FO is also able to build a good AHL team alongside starting to get NHL team ready to win.

For example take Tampa... they had their AHL constantly be good, and lost in AHL finals in 2013 and 2017.

2013 team had: Johnson, Palat, Killorn

But also had Connolly, Namestnikov, Gudas, Brown, Panik, Sustr

2017 team had: Gourde, Erne, Cirelli, Stephens

and a few other guys who became NHLers on other teams.

None ever became real "right at the top of a line-up" guys... but were all on deals signed before age 27 when they won first cup.

 

[BernieParent]

I think it is in part a reflection of drafting, developing and signing well tbh.

As:

1. Top talent rarely spends much time in the AHL.
2. The time from drafting your top talent to competing is usually like ~4-6 years.
3. Depth players who are good NHL depth guys are usually great AHL players... so having 4-5 such players on an AHL team usually elevates them to AHL contenders.
4. Younger guys doing well in AHL/able to play NHL can also be used as add-ins in trades to improve team.
5. Those guys they keep then a few years down the line can slot in on NHL team.

But yeh, I also think top to bottom good management means that a FO is also able to build a good AHL team alongside starting to get NHL team ready to win.

For example take Tampa... they had their AHL constantly be good, and lost in AHL finals in 2013 and 2017.

2013 team had: Johnson, Palat, Killorn

But also had Connolly, Namestnikov, Gudas, Brown, Panik, Sustr

2017 team had: Gourde, Erne, Cirelli, Stephens

and a few other guys who became NHLers on other teams.

None ever became real "right at the top of a line-up" guys... but were all on deals signed before age 27 when they won first cup.

"Grok, please simplify Appleyard's response."

"The Flyers are doing everything wrong."

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

 

[BernieParent]