Bill Meltzer: Phantoms Extend Playoff Series, SHL Finals, Carlson Hockey Games

Great update Bill and glad the kids can fight another day!

I'm a big enough man to apologize when I am wrong and I was wrong to want the Phantoms to start Hart. Oulette played a great game last night and starting him was obviously the right call. I still though, would like to see Friedman get into the lineup. He's been with the team long enough to understand their system of play and as a legit prospect, playing AHL playoff hockey would be a valuable experience for him.

29 of 30 shots I think you meant to say

Quotes still not working, even though i already posted. Quality stuff right there, EK


Yeah, MB is right, I believe Bill meant 29 out of 30.

I'm a big enough man to apologize when I am wrong and I was wrong to want the Phantoms to start Hart. Oulette played a great game last night and starting him was obviously the right call. I still though, would like to see at Friedman get into the lineup. He's been with the team long enough to understand their system of play and as a legit prospect, playing AHL playoff hockey would be a valuable experience for him.

Hart would have stopped all 30.

Quotes still not working, even though i already posted. Quality stuff right there, EK


Yeah, MB is right, I believe Bill meant 29 out of 30.
- BiggE

And also send the series to a fourth game..........

Should have played Hart.

Geez, did you guys also remind the teacher to assign homework for the weekend? lol

And also send the series to a fourth game..........
- MBFlyerfan

heard you

Geez, did you guys also remind the teacher to assign homework for the weekend? lol
- Scoob

Only during Christmas vacation.

No, not Winter Break. Christmas vacation.

I don't give homework.

I don't give homework.
- youarewrong

Then youarewrong. Don't you know that kids love homework?

I say win the series then give Hart some starts when its not do or die. I think he is the next best thing to sliced bread.

I say win the series then give Hart some starts when its not do or die. I think he is the next best thing to sliced bread.
- youarewrong

If they come back and win the series with Ouelette (or however his name is spelled), I think it's his net until he gets injured early in the next series.

Then youarewrong. Don't you know that kids love homework?
- jmatchett383

Ha Ha. My kids actually do love homework, but I teach 18-21 year old students with severe disabilities vocational and life skills. So there isn't much I can give them for homework... no academics.

If they come back and win the series with Ouelette (or however his name is spelled), I think it's his net until he gets injured tying his skates before the next series.
- jmatchett383

FTFY

Only during Christmas vacation.

No, not Winter Break. Christmas vacation.
- jmatchett383

Thank you

Good game for Ouelette, but it remains incomprehensible that Friedman and Myers are in the press box while Lamarche plays on the top pairing. As noted by Phantoms beat reporter Tony Androckitis on twitter last night, the Bears could not be happier to match their top line against Brennan-Lamarche.

On other AHL teams, top defensive prospects go straight into the playoff lineup when they become available. For instance, Noah Juulsen made his AHL debut last night for the Habs farm team.

So, thinking about the Exp. draft today. My guess is that Raffl will be the guy taken. Reasonable cap hit, can play multiple forward positions, solid ES player; he would seem just the type of guy an expansion team is looking for.

If that's the case, figuring out next years group of forwards should be interesting:
LOCKS (7)
Voracek
Giroux
Simmonds
Couturier
Schenn
Bellemare
Filpulla

NEAR LOCKS to at least be on the roster (2)
Weise
Weal

So, assuming 14 forwards are carried, that leaves 5 spaces for:
Read
Konecny (waiver exempt)
Cousins
Vecchione (waiver exempt)
Lindblom
Laughton
Leier

Assuming no one else is brought in (and I very much doubt they add any forwards) 2 of the above aren't going to be on the roster. Leier will likely be sent to the Phantoms and I'd be shocked if he didn't clear waivers. The other move is the interesting one. THey could deal a guy like Cousins or Laughton if they don't see them being in there future plans, they could demote one of the waiver exempt guys at least to start the season, or they could look to trade a veteran like Read. Trading Read would almost certainly require them to retain salary (probably the max 50%) to even have a chance of getting a deal done. The other option would be to waive a veteran like Read and send him down when he clears, but I doubt that happens.

My guess is that Cousins is dealt. He's not a guy that will ever be a big contributor on special teams so I don't really see a role for him. I also think the 2 guys in the press box on opening night will be Read and 1 of Laughton/Vecchione, with the other centering the 4th line.

Good game for Ouelette, but it remains incomprehensible that Friedman and Myers are in the press box while Lamarche plays on the top pairing. As noted by Phantoms beat reporter Tony Androckitis on twitter last night, the Bears could not be happier to match their top line against Brennan-Lamarche.

On other AHL teams, top defensive prospects go straight into the playoff lineup when they become available. For instance, Noah Juulsen made his AHL debut last night for the Habs farm team.
- Feanor

This is incomprehensible to me as well.

I'd like to see:
Morin-Sanheim
Brennan-Myers
Hagg-Friedman

So, thinking about the Exp. draft today. My guess is that Raffl will be the guy taken. Reasonable cap hit, can play multiple forward positions, solid ES player; he would seem just the type of guy an expansion team is looking for.

If that's the case, figuring out next years group of forwards should be interesting:
LOCKS (7)
Voracek
Giroux
Simmonds
Couturier
Schenn
Bellemare
Filpulla

NEAR LOCKS to at least be on the roster (2)
Weise
Weal

So, assuming 14 forwards are carried, that leaves 5 spaces for:
Read
Konecny (waiver exempt)
Cousins
Vecchione (waiver exempt)
Lindblom
Laughton
Leier

Assuming no one else is brought in (and I very much doubt they add any forwards) 2 of the above aren't going to be on the roster. Leier will likely be sent to the Phantoms and I'd be shocked if he didn't clear waivers. The other move is the interesting one. THey could deal a guy like Cousins or Laughton if they don't see them being in there future plans, they could demote one of the waiver exempt guys at least to start the season, or they could look to trade a veteran like Read. Trading Read would almost certainly require them to retain salary (probably the max 50%) to even have a chance of getting a deal done. The other option would be to waive a veteran like Read and send him down when he clears, but I doubt that happens.

My guess is that Cousins is dealt. He's not a guy that will ever be a big contributor on special teams so I don't really see a role for him. I also think the 2 guys in the press box on opening night will be Read and 1 of Laughton/Vecchione, with the other centering the 4th line.
- BiggE

I agree, but I would trade Read and retain 50% since it's only one year. I like the guy, but I just don't see a spot for him with the way the roster is shaping up.

The offense just cannot finish right now. It is the type of thing that happens when you focus on the result and not the process, but the Phantoms are getting chances they just aren't putting the puck in the net. Hopefully they won't need either goalie to let in only 1 goal