The Breakdown – Right Wing

I was going to put both left and right wing in the same article, but I’m a little pressed for time tonight. Therefore, I’m going to do right wing tonight and left wing tomorrow night.

It doesn’t take me, or anyone else for that matter, to tell you that RW was hit the hardest on the squad this offseason with the trading of Joffrey Lupul and then Mike Knuble signing with the Capitals. Homer did manage to slow the bleeding down with the signing of..

Ian Laperriere
16th Season
Last Season’s Numbers: 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists), even plus/minus and 163 penalty minutes with the Colorado Avalanche.

Upside: In a nutshell, this guy comes to play every night, will do the little things needed and has a physical presence. Ever since he was signed, I’ve been saying he should be on the 2nd line with Carter and Hartnell and I’m not stopping now. With Ian on the 2nd line, he can do all the physical things that Hartnell did last year that the Flyers really couldn’t afford for thim to do. He won’t have to get into the rough stuff, he won’t have to fight and he won’t have to worry about sticking up for Carter, getting the penalties and then he’s lost on the offense. That’ll be Ian’s job and he does it well.

Downside: Nothing would make me happier than to say there is no downside. I can’t do that. Joffrey was a scorer, Ian is not. His career highs (21 goals, 24 assists in 05-06) are less than what Joffrey put up last year. So, while his assist total may go up this year, his goals, not so much.

I’ve heard all over about this next guy. “But Paul, he’s gonna be a center this season.” I know he’s gonna be a center. I know it, you know it, everyone else knows it. The whole team pretty much knows it and training camp hasn’t even started yet. But since he’s “listed” as a right wing, he’s here with the right wingers…

Claude Giroux
1st Full Season
Last Season’s Numbers: 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists) in 42 regular season games, 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 6 playoff games.

Upside: Where do I start? Watching him skate is like sitting center orchestra at a great ballet. His puckhandling skill is second to none. He has a strong, accurate shot. And he’s only 21! He’ll probably end up centering the 3rd line, but we won’t know who his wingers will be until after rookie camp next week. I’d personally like to see him with Asham and Nodl, but I think Nodl will be replaced either with someone from the rookie camp (JVR or Patrick Maroon) or Daniel Carcillo. With Giroux leading a line, he could easily be a 20 goal, 40 assist guy, depending on his wingers, in a full season.

Downside: He’s listed at 5′ 11″, 172 pounds and we saw last season that he’s not a very physical player. This is why I want to see Asham on the line with him. Like I said before, he’s only 21. Youth makes you think you can do things that you can’t. He played full bore, end board to end board hockey last season. He needs to learn his limits before he gets hurt. I’m not saying I want him to be a 2 shifts on, 1 shift off kinda guy. I just want him to stay healthy.

Since I brought him up, who better to go to next than…

Aaron Asham
12th Season
Last Season’s Numbers: 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists) in 78 regular season games and 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 6 playoff games.

Upside: He’s physical, has a great shot and can get you goals in the trenches. He’s everything that you need and expect from a grinder.

Downside: He played in a limited role last season and only really had a chance to shine in the latter weeks. He’s never going to be a high scoring forward, but that’s okay. That’s not his role and he’s aware of that (see the Aaron Asham interview – Cote Carnival Interviews Part 2 of 4). he’s a grinder and a fighter and that’s all they really want him to be.

Now this is the place where I should be saying that barring anyone coming out of the rookie camp, that I think Andreas Nodl should be the 4th right wing. This is where I should be saying that.

However, I really can’t bring myself to do that. yes, Nodl spent some time with the big club last season. And while we can’t say he left any highlights or memories for us, he was physical and did good. The thing that keeps me from writing about him is mainly this, when I was looking over the list of players participating in next week’s rookie camp, his name was on it. I just think he needs some more time with the Phantoms to get some things straight and hopefully people can tell me I was wrong about him at a later time.

Until next time, keep your chin up, your eyes on the puck and you can never go wrong with high to the stick side.

Thanks for reading,
Paul Pickett
Facebook: Paul Ca Pickett
Twitter: PaulakaBFTW