At this point in the Season, this close to the playoffs. Taking your foot off of the pedal is the worst thing a team could possibly do. And I would find any suggestion of doing so puzzling, to say the least.
- MJL

While I completely agree with you that it shouldnt happen, and it is a terrible idea.. it most certainly does happen..

Anybody know when JVR and Mezz are going to start skating? Love to have them ready for round 1.

Anybody know when JVR and Mezz are going to start skating? Love to have them ready for round 1.
- Jimmygrazz

Now way for meszy, heard possibily late round 1 for JVR. Meszy has at least til mid may I believe.

Why is it these guys aren't being drafted? Do they somehow dodge the draft so they can pick a team in UFA, or do they go undrafted and then rejoin a college team?
- RooNosHockey

Late bloomers, often undersized (sometimes with late growth spurts).
Late births (young for their year) tend to get less playing time be less developed as they come up because they are behind kids their own age in development.
Didn't seem to have the tools their draft year (not great skaters, not great conditioning).
Lot's of different things.

Late bloomers, often undersized (sometimes with late growth spurts).
Late births (young for their year) tend to get less playing time be less developed as they come up because they are behind kids their own age in development.
Didn't seem to have the tools their draft year (not great skaters, not great conditioning).
Lot's of different things.
- bodiva88

So these kids were available to be drafted, but no-body chose to draft them... ok. Makes sense...

While I completely agree with you that it shouldnt happen, and it is a terrible idea.. it most certainly does happen..
- jak521

It sure does. Whether intentionally or unintentionally.

i find the whole idea that they need to find another russian to try and explain bryz odd. do you ever see articles asking another canadian to try to analyze the emotional state of a canadian goalie?
- Don'tForgetTocchet

And what Eichel chose to put forth as odd things he said. Odd to whom? None of that felt odd to me even at the time. It just makes the Philly press seem even more stupid.

Part of that is because the Flyers use the Phantoms as strictly developmental. When the Flyers owned the Phantoms, they regularly had three or four veteran AHL star level guys on the roster, so the team would be competitive.

When they played at the Spectrum, the goal was as much to make money as it was to develop guys.
- Jsaquella

maybe I am missing something but the Flyers don't own the Phantoms anymore so its not their responsibilty to stock the team with AHL veterans. they draft and sign free agent prospects and send what they have to the AHL. if you want to fault the flyers for not having strong enough prospects, fine. but to say its their fault the Phantoms don't sign enough veteran help seems off to me. isn't thjat up to the current ownership?

So these kids were available to be drafted, but no-body chose to draft them... ok. Makes sense...
- RooNosHockey

Yes.

I have a friend whose brother is a young goalie. But he grew up in Florida (played for the Panthers youth team). Then played a year at the Gunnery and a year in Jr B in the U.S. (went to nationals in Jr B and lost in the semifinal). This coming year he'll move up to Jr. A in the U.S. He's behind northern and Canadian kids in his draft year (next year) because of his development path but hopes to make enough of a splash in Jr A to be drafted late rounds. But if he isn't drafted, he isn't that worried because he understands the development reality and knows he can play on scholarship at a U.S. college (and a good one, because he has the grades, too) to continue development if he isn't drafted. Then who knows what happens after a couple of (or even a full 4) years at college.

maybe I am missing something but the Flyers don't own the Phantoms anymore so its not their responsibilty to stock the team with AHL veterans. they draft and sign free agent prospects and send what they have to the AHL. if you want to fault the flyers for not having strong enough prospects, fine. but to say its their fault the Phantoms don't sign enough veteran help seems off to me. isn't thjat up to the current ownership?
- nastyflyergirl

That's what it seems like to me.

maybe I am missing something but the Flyers don't own the Phantoms anymore so its not their responsibilty to stock the team with AHL veterans. they draft and sign free agent prospects and send what they have to the AHL. if you want to fault the flyers for not having strong enough prospects, fine. but to say its their fault the Phantoms don't sign enough veteran help seems off to me. isn't thjat up to the current ownership?
- nastyflyergirl

Flyers Management still runs the Phantoms Hockey Operations Department. Paul Holmgren is the GM of the Phantoms.

Now way for meszy, heard possibily late round 1 for JVR. Meszy has at least til mid may I believe.
- funmaster18

The way I'm understanding it, I wouldn't even count on Meszaros as a long shot for a late return in the playoffs.

Yes.

I have a friend whose brother is a young goalie. But he grew up in Florida (played for the Panthers youth team). Then played a year at the Gunnery and a year in Jr B in the U.S. (went to nationals in Jr B and lost in the semifinal). This coming year he'll move up to Jr. A in the U.S. He's behind northern and Canadian kids in his draft year (next year) because of his development path but hopes to make enough of a splash in Jr A to be drafted late rounds. But if he isn't drafted, he isn't that worried because he understands the development reality and knows he can play on scholarship at a U.S. college (and a good one, because he has the grades, too) to continue development if he isn't drafted. Then who knows what happens after a couple of (or even a full 4) years at college.
- bodiva88

My little cousin is hoping to do that same thing. He played for the Little Flyers, and University of Delaware youth teams (like Mark Eaton). He is in 8th grade now, and plans to continue to play. He is a good player, but being from Delaware I'm not sure if he gets the looks. I hope he makes it, but I just dont know...

My little cousin is hoping to do that same thing. He played for the Little Flyers, and University of Delaware youth teams (like Mark Eaton). He is in 8th grade now, and plans to continue to play. He is a good player, but being from Delaware I'm not sure if he gets the looks. I hope he makes it, but I just dont know...
- RooNosHockey

That's when you have to make the move to prep school. If he's good enough to get in. It's not like he's playing Minnesota High School hockey.

It sure does. Whether intentionally or unintentionally.
- MJL

I can kinda understand it on a subconscious level. You figure that for damn near 9 months guys have been preparing to play for the cup... now they know they locked up a chance. Even if they know they shouldn't, and they dont intentionally stop playing, I think the effort tends to take a dip in certain areas. You dont see guys diving out to block shots.. you dont see guys skating through walls to win a puck.. It almost at times reminds me of a high tempo exhibition game. There is still something to play for, with home ice not yet clinched, but for a team that is a solid #1,2, or 3 with nobody on their tail.. it happens a lot.

My little cousin is hoping to do that same thing. He played for the Little Flyers, and University of Delaware youth teams (like Mark Eaton). He is in 8th grade now, and plans to continue to play. He is a good player, but being from Delaware I'm not sure if he gets the looks. I hope he makes it, but I just dont know...
- RooNosHockey

Now I dont know your cousin or his skill level, but half of my mens league team is comprised of guys who have played Little Flyers, Phantoms, Minutemen, or Hawks.

We have a few who play in college (Neuman, WVU, Widener, West Chester, URI..) and are outstanding players.. it just shows me how crazy good you have to be to get a sniff at the pro level.

Yes.

I have a friend whose brother is a young goalie. But he grew up in Florida (played for the Panthers youth team). Then played a year at the Gunnery and a year in Jr B in the U.S. (went to nationals in Jr B and lost in the semifinal). This coming year he'll move up to Jr. A in the U.S. He's behind northern and Canadian kids in his draft year (next year) because of his development path but hopes to make enough of a splash in Jr A to be drafted late rounds. But if he isn't drafted, he isn't that worried because he understands the development reality and knows he can play on scholarship at a U.S. college (and a good one, because he has the grades, too) to continue development if he isn't drafted. Then who knows what happens after a couple of (or even a full 4) years at college.
- bodiva88

Great place to go..

Flyers Management still runs the Phantoms Hockey Operations Department. Paul Holmgren is the GM of the Phantoms.
- MJL

right but isn't the Phantoms payroll (the payroll not on contract to the Flyers) the Phantoms call?

My little cousin is hoping to do that same thing. He played for the Little Flyers, and University of Delaware youth teams (like Mark Eaton). He is in 8th grade now, and plans to continue to play. He is a good player, but being from Delaware I'm not sure if he gets the looks. I hope he makes it, but I just dont know...
- RooNosHockey

I know kids who play junior Flyers often will get scouted at huge tournaments.

Great place to go..
- jak521

But if you are a goalie, and split time with another goalie, you don't get enough ice. And they signed a kid for this past year whose brother is an NHLer and it looked like he wouldn't even be splitting time, so he made the move to juniors. He's a bit disappointed he hasn't been able to crack Canadian jrs.

The way I'm understanding it, I wouldn't even count on Meszaros as a long shot for a late return in the playoffs.
- BulliesPhan87

Me either, that's just the earliest possible date. I don't know the full nature of his injury, but with back issues, a return to the lineup tends to be later rather than sooner.

That's when you have to make the move to prep school. If he's good enough to get in. It's not like he's playing Minnesota High School hockey.
- bodiva88

He was accepted to this prep school in New York, but couldnt get the scholarship and his parents dont make enough to make the tuition, or too little to get financial aid...

But if you are a goalie, and split time with another goalie, you don't get enough ice. And they signed a kid for this past year whose brother is an NHLer and it looked like he wouldn't even be splitting time, so he made the move to juniors. He's a bit disappointed he hasn't been able to crack Canadian jrs.
- bodiva88

Very few people are able to crack canadian JR's.... Nothing to be ashamed or disappointed of. Due diligence.

Me either, that's just the earliest possible date. I don't know the full nature of his injury, but with back issues, a return to the lineup tends to be later rather than sooner.
- funmaster18

I dont know what he had done, but I am assuming it had something to do with a disc.. If thats the case he likely will have issues the rest of his career. Very rarely is it a one and done, no problems, type of a thing.

http://www.philly.com/phi...sted=y&viewAll=y#comments

Ilya Bryzgalov was standing in the visitors locker room at the decrepit Nassau Coliseum with his eyes closed.

He was trying to answer a question, but he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

“I am so tired, I don’t even remember, to tell you the truth,” Bryzgalov said.

Is Frank this seravellin stupid that he doesn't know Bryz was yanking his chain? What did we do to deserve such crappy hockey writers in this town? Thank God for Bill.