I just liked the idea of getting some of the young guys some NHL time after it seemed clear the playoffs weren't in the cards.

I'd equate it to getting a great internship before your senior year of college. Then getting a job at that same company after you graduate. You're going to feel much more comfortable and hit the ground running rather than feeling things out.

It would also give the team a chance to evaluate some of them before the offseason. As it stands now, they're all pretty much question marks for next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't think the AHL playoffs are as useless as you do. While I agree that the NHL is a higher level of competition, I don't think that a handful of games down the stretch is going to make them more ready, and would rather have them playing meaningful games at the AHL level.

I agree that 25-30 games would have been a different story as to their development, but still feel that the AHL was the way to go for this year.

Well Hagg just completed his third pro North American year, so I don't know how much longer he needs to stay in the AHL. Morin now has 2 under him. Sanheim, honestly, I think may get traded for a forward, but only has 1 pro year. Myers is the wild card.

I don't think they'll put one on the roster to make him the 7D.
- jmatchett383

I sure hope not. I think he is up to 6'4 and adding good weight, can score, learned a bit of the pro game this year and has been solid IMO.
I really want to see this kid succeed as a Flyer!

I just liked the idea of getting some of the young guys some NHL time after it seemed clear the playoffs weren't in the cards.

I'd equate it to getting a great internship before your senior year of college. Then getting a job at that same company after you graduate. You're going to feel much more comfortable and hit the ground running rather than feeling things out.

It would also give the team a chance to evaluate some of them before the offseason. As it stands now, they're all pretty much question marks for next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

I like the idea of it also, but I think remaining in the AHL for a playoff run trumps that right now. The team knows where those players stand now. An internship lasts for a significant amount of time. The equivalent would be interning for a week, and thinking that gives some great head start. If it was earlier in the season, and a player is ready to come up, then make the room. Not now, in this situation with the Flyers pretty much eliminated.

Good to see you fighting the good fight, PSG. You against the world! I stand with you in solidarity. Except I'll just let you handle it.

I just liked the idea of getting some of the young guys some NHL time after it seemed clear the playoffs weren't in the cards.

I'd equate it to getting a great internship before your senior year of college. Then getting a job at that same company after you graduate. You're going to feel much more comfortable and hit the ground running rather than feeling things out.

It would also give the team a chance to evaluate some of them before the offseason. As it stands now, they're all pretty much question marks for next year.
- PhillySportsGuy

So what happens if they bring them up for this road trip? The Flyers could lose all 4 of these games and if any of it is on the rookies, how does that help their development? I thought they should have come up a while ago...I just think at this point that ship has sailed...there is more risk at hurting them than giving them a shot...and I think hexy sees that.

Agreed on VDV, but I don't think time spent working on his game in the AHL would make him more ready for the NHL. But I think all but 1 person on here wants him replaced 2 years ago.
- jmatchett383

Shoots EDM didn't even think AHL would help VDV.

Like people have said.

If Hextall feels they are ready to be everyday NHL players. They won't need to sign anyone from FA if they(the Flyers) feel guys are ready to absorb those roles.
- J35Bacher

That is putting the cart before the horse. The players will be signed...then it is up to the prospects to beat them for spots on the team

That is putting the cart before the horse. The players will be signed...then it is up to the prospects to beat them for spots on the team
- YuenglingJagr

It's dicey. If you go into camp with 5 "vets" and none of the kids look like they're good to handle a full NHL season, what do you do? Put them in knowing they're not ready yet?

I'd like to sign 2 guys that can be waived/kept as 7th that won't kill you if they're needed.

So what happens if they bring them up for this road trip? The Flyers could lose all 4 of these games and if any of it is on the rookies, how does that help their development? I thought they should have come up a while ago...I just think at this point that ship has sailed...there is more risk at hurting them than giving them a shot...and I think hexy sees that.
- JW98FlyerFan

Haha if making a play that loses a game hurts their development, they are (frank)ed from the start

Yeah, Doughty and Kopitar played for some real juggernauts in the early seasons in LA.

Porovov and Konecny are our equivalents for playing in the NHL at a young age.

But LA had many more prospects who spent a lot of time in the AHL or college before becoming NHL regulars. Martinez, Muzzin, Voynov, Dowd, Forbort, Shore.

https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/phantoms-profile-sanheim-rounding-out-his-game-in-allentown--philadelphia-flyers/c-287902944
- nastyflyergirl

Great read about this kid. I'm really hoping he is another strong pillar in our young D core.

Porovov and Konecny are our equivalents for playing in the NHL at a young age.

But LA had many more prospects who spent a lot of time in the AHL or college before becoming NHL regulars. Martinez, Muzzin, Voynov, Dowd, Forbort, Shore.
- Feanor

I hope Sanheim can become Voynov minus all of the domestic abuse stuff.

I hope Sanheim can become Voynov minus all of the domestic abuse stuff.
- jmatchett383

I'll take Josi without all the concussions.

Haha if making a play that loses a game hurts their development, they are (frank)ed from the start
- YuenglingJagr

Easy to say..but I doubt Hexy wants any chance for doubt in these kids heads when next year comes around...they make some mistakes up here for a few useless games and they have all offseason to wonder if they really belong...athletes are more head cases then some people think...most slumps are mental...no reason to divert the path any of these guys are on when they can keep winning and learning in the AHL.

Porovov and Konecny are our equivalents for playing in the NHL at a young age.

But LA had many more prospects who spent a lot of time in the AHL or college before becoming NHL regulars. Martinez, Muzzin, Voynov, Dowd, Forbort, Shore.
- Feanor

But most of those guys were not anything special as prospects (some as NHLers), certainly not at the level of our top guys he's been talking about. Muzzin was signed as a 20 year old out of the CHL. Voynov went directly to the AHL after being drafted, so he was 18 when he went into the AHL. Not sure that comparison works. The others were not top prospects or had a longer developmental route through college. Like I don't think anyone minds if Friedman spends a year or two in the AHL. That's who those guys compare to imo, not Sanheim.

But most of those guys were not anything special as prospects, certainly not at the level of our top guys he's been talking about. Muzzin was signed as a 20 year old out of the CHL. Voynov went directly to the AHL after being drafted, so he was 18 when he went into the AHL. Not sure that comparison works. Most of the others were not top prospects or had a longer developmental route through college. Like I don't think anyone minds if Friedman spends a year or two in the AHL. That's who those guys compare to.
- Mononoke

Forbort was drafted 15th in 2010. Surely he's comparable to Morin?

So far, Provorov has been as advertised. I don't see a regression in his game because his game is built on excelling at the fundamentals, which is more mental than physical. Ghost had a dynamite start to his career and had a rough first 2/3 of his season. This was to be expected (maybe not to the exact extent) because his game is built on smart risk taking and offensive production.

So right now, we're basically 2-for-2 on our top D prospect hitting. Right now, I see 4 "big" prospects left: Morin, Sanheim, Myers, and Hagg. There are others, but let's keep it to these 4. Do you guys think that all 4 of them (or even 3) will hit as well? I don't. We joke about it, but at least one will bust. I'm not saying trade them all, but it's a crazy long shot to think that all 4 will be joining Provorov and Ghost as full-time NHLers.

Just a nice, depressing thought for you. Consider this my application for Team Negative.

I would also say that unlike previous years, there are more players on the Phantoms that one day could make the big club...when they last made their run and won the Calder cup there were some strong bonds between the players that carried over at the NHL level and those guys went on to be part of teams that made some cup runs...I think if you look at the core of guys down there that have NHL potential, the best thing that can happen is they make a strong push through the playoffs and know themselves and their teammates before they come up and play under the microscope of the NHL...I think that is one thing Hexy is looking at is a culture shift with a group of new guys eventually coming up...The guys like Ghost, Prov and TK are outliers...they are just too good already and need to play at the NHL level...they already perform and act as professionals...
- JW98FlyerFan

Exactly!
The proof also lies in the fact that a lot of them have cups in the NHL. They learned what it took to go the distance as a team.

Forbort was drafted 15th in 2010. Surely he's comparable to Morin?
- Feanor

I don't really care where he was drafted one day at age 18. Kings reached on other big d men too. I guess you would call Colten Teubert, years after the draft, a top prospect then too, picked at 13? Or Thomas Hickey? If all goes according to plan, Morin should be in the AHL at age 22. Forbort wasn't in until age 24, after spending 3 years in college and 3 years in the AHL. I doubt LA purposefully did that if they knew he could help. More likely scenario was they didn't believe he was ready, or feared the worst. That they had Cup aspirations probably played a role too, which we don't have.

Personally, I have zero issue with a half year-year in the AHL for a top prospect, should they be eligible, if they need to adjust to the pro game. Some don't need to. I said I wouldn't mind Myers starting there. But it seems almost laughable now that we seriously feared Provorov and Konecny, more so the latter, might not even make the team, as they not only had to outplay current roster players, but they had to hit some arbitrary moving goal post right up until the last day of camp. They did, but it was cold sweats the entire time. Now, if Sanheim is in the AHL next year, then I'm really irritated. Morin too. People trot out the BS "slow cook" argument. If a player is ready, put them in. It's that simple to me. Some aren't ready.

So far, Provorov has been as advertised. I don't see a regression in his game because his game is built on excelling at the fundamentals, which is more mental than physical. Ghost had a dynamite start to his career and had a rough first 2/3 of his season. This was to be expected (maybe not to the exact extent) because his game is built on smart risk taking and offensive production.

So right now, we're basically 2-for-2 on our top D prospect hitting. Right now, I see 4 "big" prospects left: Morin, Sanheim, Myers, and Hagg. There are others, but let's keep it to these 4. Do you guys think that all 4 of them (or even 3) will hit as well? I don't. We joke about it, but at least one will bust. I'm not saying trade them all, but it's a crazy long shot to think that all 4 will be joining Provorov and Ghost as full-time NHLers.

Just a nice, depressing thought for you. Consider this my application for Team Negative.
- jmatchett383

So if the next 3 hit we know the last one will suck? I dont see it that way...someone might not be as good as we hoped too, but still an NHL player.

I have been trying to think of what they would have learned in those 20-25 games that didn't happen anyway.
Let's examine what they might have learned:
Lethargic starts that lead to clawing and scratching for points.
Third period collapses.
Missing the net via watching their peers.
and sucking at 5-3 man advantages.

So if the next 3 hit we know the last one will suck? I dont see it that way...someone might not be as good as we hoped too, but still an NHL player.
- YuenglingJagr

Do you think Boyd Gordon needs any more seasoning?

Yeah I think a lot of it is still TBD, especially with the expansion draft. Pouliot must not have developed properly at the lower levels

Honestly, if some of the forwards didnt develop the way they did, maybe they would have traded him for one
- YuenglingJagr

i think there are arguments to be made both for an against extensive AHL time or putting them in the NHL. however, the pens managed to (frank) it up big time in my opinion.

i'm not completely absolving the player. at some point you need to make the most of the opportunity as it presents itself if you are to ultimately rise to the top. but you can yo yo a player to the point it has detrimental consequences.

they can try to trade him, and at some point they probably should, but i doubt theyd get that much.

So far, Provorov has been as advertised. I don't see a regression in his game because his game is built on excelling at the fundamentals, which is more mental than physical. Ghost had a dynamite start to his career and had a rough first 2/3 of his season. This was to be expected (maybe not to the exact extent) because his game is built on smart risk taking and offensive production.

So right now, we're basically 2-for-2 on our top D prospect hitting. Right now, I see 4 "big" prospects left: Morin, Sanheim, Myers, and Hagg. There are others, but let's keep it to these 4. Do you guys think that all 4 of them (or even 3) will hit as well? I don't. We joke about it, but at least one will bust. I'm not saying trade them all, but it's a crazy long shot to think that all 4 will be joining Provorov and Ghost as full-time NHLers.

Just a nice, depressing thought for you. Consider this my application for Team Negative.
- jmatchett383

if you think only one out of four will realistically bust, you are a charter member of team positive my friend.

Do you think Boyd Gordon needs any more seasoning?
- Mononoke

I'd salt him until he dries up and blows away.