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Quick Hits: Rookie Gameday (Tarrytown, NY), Rookie Camp, Coatesy and More |
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Quick Hits: September 18, 2021
1) The Flyers have completed two days of Rookie Camp on-ice work at the Skate Zone in Voorhes. On Friday, prospects Tyson Foerster, Cam York and Tanner Laczynski spoke to the media following the session. A transcript of Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere's media availability follows at the end of today's blog.
2) Flyers broadcaster Steve Coates paid a visit to Rookie Camp and veteran workouts on Friday. Coatsey underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery this summer but is feeling much, much better now. I'm looking forward to recording the first Broadcasters' Roundtable -- a season preview addition -- for Flyers Broadcast Network along with Coatesy, Tim Saunders and Jim Jackson.
3) The Flyers rookies will be in Tarrytown, NY, today for the first of two games against the New York Rangers prospects. The Rangers have decided to stream the game from the MSG Training Center. The Flyers will stream Sunday's rematch in Voorhees. Kirill Ustimenko will get the start in goal on Saturday with Samuel Ersson playing on Sunday. Tanner Laczynski, who received medical clearance on Friday to return to play, will dress in one of the two weekend games.
4) Sept. 18 Flyers Alumni birthdays: Lasse Kukkonen (1981), Jared Ross (1982), Darryl Sittler (!950).
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Ian Laperriere Transcript
Today you said you were going to work on the forechecking. How do you think that went?
It went well. We worked on breakouts and forechecking. Again, like the first day yesterday, guys are listening, listening to the details and what we're asking them. It's not perfect. Obviously, we only could work on two days. It’s not perfect, but again, what I'm looking for is if they pay attention to what I'm telling them and what I’m teaching them. So far, they've been doing that which is great.
Given that practice time is so limited, and you’ve got scrimmages coming up. What is it that you want to see out of these scrimmages? A lot of these guys have said these past few days, they're trying to impress you because you are their coach. What do you want to see?
The details. Again, I know I'm talking about details all the time, but like stick details. I'm asking them to reload inside the dots. I'm asking them to stop. I'm asking them to be in position. I'm asking them to communicate out there. They're doing it and that impressed me. For them to make mistakes into the system, I can live with that. I'll make mistakes. I’ve said that before. If the kids make mistakes in the structure that I'm teaching them, I can live with that. It's just when they try to go rogue and they try to do their own thing, that's when I have a problem. So far in the first few days, I have zero problems with anybody.
Is there a different expectation for what you want to see from a guy like Cam or Wade or Laczynski versus guys who are more trying to make your roster right now who maybe have a couple of years to go before making the NHL?
I expect the three guys you named to lead and so far, I’ve seen that. They do have NHL experience in them, and they shouldn't be scared or anything, especially in rookie camp. They should be comfortable. I want them to lead, all the guys who just named there. That's what I see so far. Like I said, so far so good.
Where are the guys at this year compared to last year at this time, like the beginning of camp? Do they seem more dialed in?
Well, last year, we didn't do this. Dialed in and in better shape. Let's be honest, last year, when you don't know when you're going to come back, it's tough. As an ex-NHL player, as an ex-player, you always have your routine. You know when your train, you know when to start skating, and when you're trying to start scrimmaging. Last year, we couldn’t do that. This year, you can tell even the big boys like we saw skate last couple of weeks, they're in better shape. They are where they should be at this time of the summer or this time of the year. I see the same thing with the young guys.
Compared to last year?
Not even close. It's not. Again, you can’t use that as an excuse. Every team has been through the same. Everybody had the same training camp last year. If you're asking me if they look better this year, 100%.
You mentioned the other day about preparation and so forth as far as like who might get called up. You said that the guys who worked out here have somewhat of an advantage. Do you keep a mental note of this in your head as to which guys are kind of like on the border?
Every day you come to the rink during the summer, you cross paths and start talking with him. When camp starts, you don’t really think about it, but in the back of your head, you'll be like I know that kid a little bit more. I said that yesterday like if a kid comes to camp and barely shows his face in the summer, and the other kid was here all summer and they’re even. Guess who's going to the team’s going to take? I'm not telling you what they got to do, but I know what I would do. I know what the team's done in the past. It goes back, from Homer used to do that. Used to encourage guys to spend their summers here. You can’t force them. I wish that played for the Flyers 20 years later because the facilities are unbelievable. I said that yesterday and I believe it. You save money by doing that. You're using the trainers. You’re using top technology. They are always on top of everything. It's just a smart thing to do and it's a great city to live in, too.
Will you and AV keep the dialogue going like weekly, daily or whatever as far as who's doing well? So that, he's up to speed on this.
Yeah. Well, during the year, that's what's going to happen. Not every day because we'll be busy on both sides, but like once a week, I'll be in touch with him. I’ve got a great relationship with AV. He's one of my role models. I look up to him. I'm going to keep him in the loop about our young kids down there. That's the deal we made. We're going to play the same system as the Flyers play. We'll stay in touch to talk about our players.
The energy seems really high over there. I have to ask you. Two days in as head coach, how's this experience been for you?
It's fast. I'll be honest with you. As an assistant coach, you do have your job. You have to go push the pucks there and you make corrections and everything. As a head coach, it’s a lot more on the ice and off the ice, but I welcome that. My wife said, ‘You asked for it.’ I'm like, ‘Alright, I did. I did ask for it. You're right.’ It’s a challenge. I've always been the guy who likes to challenge himself on and off the ice. That's a hell of a challenge I got in front of me, and I welcome that. I'm excited every day to come to the rink. I’m here early to do my work-out and get my day going. I won't lie to you. It's a lot happening my way that some stuff I expected and other stuff I didn’t. I'm enjoying it.
What’s some of the stuff that popped up that you didn’t expect?
Well, I get to deal with all coaches, like all the coaches and the trainers. We do have a big development staff here for the young guys. I have to put them in and squeeze them in and stuff like that. It's something I never had to deal with as an assistant coach.
Is it harder falling asleep at night?
No! It's easier because I'm tired. That's funny because they're asking, how is your sleep? And I'm sleeping like a baby. And I really am. I go home. It's a good thing I got my wife and my boys. My oldest one is in college right now, but I got my two dogs that I can change my mind a little bit. It's good. So far, it's been great. Great first two days and I’m looking forward for tomorrow.
Tyson Foerster played with the Phantoms last year kind of by default. Does he look like a pro out there?
Do you see that goal he scored in a scrimmage? Wow! Not too many kids can score that goal. The puck was there. The other guy, a defender, wasn’t there with his stick yet. He just grabbed that puck and sniped it. He's a goal scorer. What I like about him, he loves to score goals. We all do. I didn't score many, but this kid just wants to score goals. Little McClennon too. I grabbed him after practice. I'm like, you know what I like about you. You love to score goals, which is great. I love it too. When other guys score, you're happy too. It's weird. Like his linemates score and he's jumping around. It's great. For me, it's great to work with those kids. Foerster, he's hell of a talent.
Tyson said he shed a little bit of a fat, trying to get into shape this year. Injury and stuff aside, where do you feel like his fitness level is?
It's tough for me to compare. I didn’t see him play much last year. I was worried about the big club. For me, he looks great. Like when people were talking about his skating, I don't see any problem with his skating.
You were on the bench last year. I know you're not going to be working in Philadelphia this year per se, but the team allowed the most goals in the league last year. Do you think that there's an effort here to turn that around both up here and down in Lehigh to get that number in a better spot?
I can’t agree more. Defense wins championships. Doesn't matter what sport. We talked about it last week in our team meetings with AV’s staff. That’s something that they're going to emphasize here and I'm going to emphasize in the minors. We're going to defend first and create offense off it. If you can’t defend, I don't care if you score five goals, you won't win. When the season go on and on and you get into the playoffs, the best defensive team usually wins the Cup, unless you’re Tampa and you get a great goalie. They always have the puck. Most successful team is a good defender.
Is it a personal accountability with the puck; puck management?
For sure. That's the key. We talked about it last week. Puck management. If you turn the puck over, it's not fair for our goalies or the D to have the rush coming their way with that much speed. It's the forwards that have to do a better job putting that puck at the right place at the right time, making the right play at the right time. Sometimes it's boring hockey, but it's winning hockey.
How do (the goalies) look?
They look good for what I've seen. Like I said earlier, I got a lot to look out. I got a lot to watch out there. I'll have a better idea tomorrow in those games over the weekend.
How do you go about putting the lines together?
Well, I rely a lot on our assistant GM (Brent Flahr) because again some of them I know like Frosty. I know he's talented kid. Yorky and all those guys. I rely a lot on him. Who do you want to see? At the end of the day, it's a camp training camp. Those guys want to see somebody with somebody else. I'm just pretty much listening to what they want to see.
You meet with Brent and Chuck about the lines?
We did that this morning. The lines that you saw in practice, these are the lines you'll see tomorrow.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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