TRIAL ON THE ISLE
Today is the annual Trial on the Isle in Stone Harbor, NJ as Flyers prospects take a break from on-ice activities during Development Camp. The events are already underway as I write this, but the full schedule is as follows:
8:15 AM – Team Warm-Up, Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Co., 96th St. and 2nd Avenue
8:45 AM – Team Run & Activities, 96th St. Beach
10:30 AM – Water Challenge at Stone Harbor Yacht Club, 9001 Sunset Dr
12:45 PM - Youth Hockey Clinic with Guest Coaches (select Flyers Prospects) at Stone Harbor Elementary School, 275 93rd St.
1:15 PM – Meet and Greet Autograph Session, Stone Harbor Elementary School
($10 admission for fans benefits Flyers Charities)
3:15 PM – 2nd Annual Flyers Beach Volleyball Blast, 96th St. Beach
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF DEVELOPMENT CAMP?
This year's Development Camp has been conducted a bit differently than past editions. There has been more use of technology, such as the speed burst test that was done on the second day. For those who have been unable to attend, the
daily rundowns of camp drills and activities by The Hockey Writers' Shawn Resnick have provided a good overview of what player development coach Kjell Samuelsson and company have focused on over the course of camp.
Keep one thing in mind about a Development Camp, however: These camps tell you a lot more about a player's focus and dedication than it does his abilities in actual game situations. There is very little that can be surmised about a player's potential to the make an NHL roster based on an isolated test or drill in a Development Camp environment.
One mantra that Flyers assistant coach Ian Laperriere used to repeat over and over when he was running Development Camp was "we don't expect -- or want -- you to peak in July." Development camp is first and foremost about three things:
1) It's an opportunity to receive information and constructive feedback on ways to better train oneself on and off the ice, so as to improve's one chances of being able to compete at the professional level.
2) It's an opportunity to ask questions of former NHL players, experienced coaches and even fellow camp attendees who have played games at the professional level. If one wants to get a real sense of the impression a player is leaving, ask one of the camp instructors which attendees are taking initiative to ask questions because they genuinely want to learn.
3) It's a networking opportunity to meet and socialize with fellow prospects who hope to become part of the organization in years to come.
The specific results on tests is just a working baseline to see who can use help in certain areas. Likewise, seeing which player may have excelled or fumbled away a puck or two in certain drills really doesn't say very much about he might fare in a game scenario. Maybe the ice is bad in the outside July temperatures. Maybe he's just having a bad day in an area that's usually a strength. It happens.
Laperriere used to tell the prospects every year that there are no contracts to be won or lost at development camp (although it was tough for undrafted players to do anything but try to compete for an invite to regular training camp). I'm sure that Samuelsson has attempted to drill home the same message this year.
The best thing about Development Camp is this: These young players can't fool seasoned pros like Lappy or Kjell. They can tell who is really hungry to learn and work to improve and who is just going through the motions and feigning interest.
A young player who thinks he knows more than instructors with decades of pro experience is setting himself up for a rude awakening later in life. The camp is for their benefit as much as it is for the organization to assess these players.
MONDAY QUICK HITS
* Today in Flyers history: On this date in 1992, the Flyers came to terms with heralded rookie Eric Lindros on a six-year contract at $3.7 million per season.
* Alumni Birthdays: Former defenseman and later assistant coach Kevin McCarthy turns 57 today. Center Mark Freer turns 46.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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