A few years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to former Flyers forward and then-current Phantoms head coach John Paddock. I asked him what is the biggest thing that set NHL-caliber hockey apart from the AHL game. Is it the pace of play?
"Yeah, the NHL game is a little bit faster," he said. "But there's a lot more teaching of the game in the AHL. I'd also say the average defenseman in the NHL is a little better and quicker in the way he makes decisions."
The Manitoba native is better qualified than most to speak authoritatively on the subject. As a player, he spent the majority of his playing career in the American Hockey League. As a coach, he spent more time behind the bench in the AHL than he spent as an NHL coach in Winnipeg and Ottawa.
If you ever want to get a sense of just how tough it is to make it in the NHL, just take a look at how many NHL role players were once scorers in the AHL. Current Flyers rookie Harry Zolnierczyk is a good example.
Over the All-Star break, the Flyers sent the fourth liner back down to the Phantoms to get in a little extra practice time and game action. He tallied a goal in the team's 6-2 loss last night to Bridgeport.
In 12 games in the AHL this season, Harry Z now has six goals and 10 points (he has three goals and five points in 38 games for the Flyers). Tom Sestito also scored for Adirondack last night. It was his 9th goal in 33 games this season.
At the AHL level, Zolnierczyk's speed gives opposing teams fits. He also has good hands, but perhaps needs an extra split second to finish scoring chances. There's a little more time and space in the American League.
That's how someone like Harry Z can play effectively on a scoring line in the AHL. It's also how former NHLers such as Shjon Podein (30 goals in his best full AHL season) or even Donald Brashear (38 goals, 66 points, 250 penalty minutes in 62 AHL games in 1993-94) could be highly effective AHL offensive players before becoming NHL role players who never came close to a 20-goal season.
Zolnierczyk is a fine forechecker who is already a good energy player for the Flyers. With his natural talent and work ethic, he has the makings of someone who can eventually be a double-digit goal scorer in the NHL. He still has work to do on the defensive side of the puck, but I think he's got a real good chance at being in the NHL more or less to stay.
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In tonight's Skills Competition at the NHL's All-Star weekend, it will be interesting to see how Matt Read fares in the fastest skater competition.
Conversely, the greatest assets of Sean Couturier's game are largely unmeasurable in a Skills Competition format. He has world class hands and excellent skills (minus his skating), but his biggest advantage -- the one that will keep in the NHL for a long, long time if he stays healthy -- is his off-the-charts hockey sense.
With Couturier, you are surprised when he makes a mistake. He's almost always in the right position, almost always makes the best possible play with the puck and is calmer and more poised than some 10-year veterans.
While the Flyers may be willing to deal one of their talented young forwards for some defensive help, it would be shocking if Couturier was available. I'd say that he's the team's most untouchable forward after only Claude Giroux.
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