Lehigh Valley Phantoms Top 14 Prospects For The 2021 Season
We’re finally almost here. The 2021 AHL hockey season is upon us. There was some uncertainty if an AHL season would even happen but here we are. The Phantoms were set to open preseason play tonight, but the team announced it has been postponed. Now is still a perfect time to rank the prospects on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Just a disclaimer these are skaters that have made the roster out of training camp and not in college such as Bobby Brink and Cam York. It’s also important to note that missing from this list are some of the guys from the Flyers Taxi Squad with the names of Carsen Twarynski and Connor Bunnaman. Now with that disclaimer out of the way let’s get into one of my favorite articles before the start of the AHL season.
With no ECHL season this year for the Reading Royals in 2021 due to COVID-19, doing a top prospect list is a little different than it has been in years past. It’s also huge to note here that with no start date for junior hockey in sight please keep that in mind.
Typically, I take into account not only the tools and the upside, but performance has to play into the equation. We have no “performance” to go off for some of these guys at the professional level so this list together based on past season’s, what is expected of them in the AHL, plus what value they bring to the table.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms prospect pool takes a very interesting dive this year due to some players that are playing at the pro level that aren’t even finishing their junior years yet due to COVID-19 but I believe that those players will be staying put. Next some prospects on this list, I believe would’ve seen more time in the ECHL under head coach Kirk McDonald with the Royals but as I stated in the disclaimer, no ECHL season this year at, least for the Philadelphia Flyers organization.
There are plenty of prospects to be excited about but the big challenge for head coach Scott Gordon is where in the world do you find playing time for everyone on this roster? Certainly a monkey wrench in the AHL season this year due to no junior hockey, yet. Of course you even have the on-going questions if a Calder Cup will even be awarded this year with most teams if not all playing only three in their own division.
How do you divvy up the standings to see who gets into the playoffs? I guess we will have to wait and see how that plays out so more on that later in a future piece.
It is also worth noting there have been changes across the entire minor league hockey landscape with teams opting out of the ECHL and AHL season and multiple players are on loan to different teams serving as duel affiliations for this wild year. Currently the Philadelphia Flyers will not be placing any player to an ECHL team that’s not their own and everyone that was on-loan during the off-season has returned to the states. Of course things can change but I don’t see it happening.
The Philadelphia Flyers affiliations this year will be:
Lehigh Valley Phantoms – AHL
None – ECHL
Without further ado, here are my top 14 prospects for the 2021 season.
Number 14: Pascal Laberge
How Acquired: Drafted in 2016′ Round 2, #36
Stylistically Laberge’s game is reminiscent of Brayden Schenn. Laberge saw limited time in the AHL but he made good use of the opportunities he was afforded. While he was mainly in the bottom-six, he showed that he can make plays and is one of the better effort players for the team every time he stepped over the boards.
With some players moving up to the Flyers he should be able to suit up for the Phantoms more regularly in the 2020-2021 NHL season. Perhaps he can crack the Phantoms power-play lineup, provided he can improve his shooting.
The size of Laberge is fine, but he could stand to put a muscle on his body. He plays the game’s power forward style. Laberge likes forechecking, getting in quickly and putting pressure on his rivals. He reaches the front of the net and sets up his spot. He is not afraid to push the net with the puck on his stick, and has the hands to finish close by.
With decent acceleration, Laberge is a fast skater. He has the ability to adjust speeds and can fool defenders as a consequence of the rush, and is very dangerous. He has the pace and speed to take defenders out and then cut them to the net.
At the defensive end, Laberge demonstrates effort, carrying the non-stop engine and strong work ethic that distinguishes him in the offensive zone. His overall defensive game, however, is a work in progress. He will have to focus on his positioning to stop over-committing himself to the physical play and getting out of place.
To play both center and wing, Laberge has the versatility. He does seem ideal for playing in the center of the ice with his playmaking skill and quick skating. He must continue to work on his defensive game, however, and learn the duties of a centre going forward. At times, he even wants to be a little bit more selfish. As reported, on his shot, Laberge has an outstanding release, but just doesn’t shoot the puck enough.
Number 13: Matthew Strome
How Acquired: Drafted in 2017 round 4 #106
Strome is a big, skilled winger who plays a game that is full and consistent. It fights hard for possession of the puck and is relentless on both the power play and the killing of penalties. It plays a hard-nosed game and uses its size to build its net presence. It has good hands, a precise shot, and a sense of zero compromise hockey. That being said, his vision is exceptional and his offensive ability is evident; he can play at a rapid pace. A big part of that is being able to keep up and, going forward, he has the ability to grow into a versatile two-way winger that is tough to play against and can be counted on in all situations.
Upon being assigned Lehigh Valley, for a taste of his professional action once his OHL season ended in 2019. In the last six games of the Phantoms’ regular season, Matthew Strome showed some promising early signs of life with two apples. After he scored a new OHL career-high in points with the Hamilton Bulldogs this season, nothing really stops this train. Without the puck, he would do better to concentrate on his skating and, to a lesser degree, his game. All aspects taken into account, he is improving nicely.
The following year began his first official professional season splitting time between the Reading Royals and the Phantoms. This i believe is where if the ECHL had a season that Strome would fly and truly progress his game. It’s though to think that head coach Scott Gordon would put him in a Top 6 role on this team but it certainly could happen. Strome was a beast with the Royals posting 20 points in 25 games with nine goals and 11 assists. Serving as a huge role with Kirk McDonald he earned himself a call-up after progressing smoothly in the Double A league of hockey. He saw 19 games with two goals and two assists earning 4 points total before the season ended.
Number 12: Linus Sandin
How Acquired: Signed ($792,500/$70,000)
The latest Flyer that I think fans are most excited about seeing. Sandin was so good in the SHL and definitely could be placed in the Flyers Top 9 coming within the next few years. He could be Raffl’s replacement or Laughton depending on what management wants to fully do. I think it’s important to note that Sandin is able to play in the NHL. His 6’1 “, 209-pound frame gives him a body of professional calibre. There isn’t much about Sandin’s abilities, but since he was a teenager, he has been a solid goal-scorer for different teams in Sweden. He has an exciting pedigree as well. Also a fun fact He is the older brother of current Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin. His name recognition is worth something in addition to his respectable stats in Europe.
Number 11: Tanner Laczynski
How Acquired: Drafted 2016 round 6 #169
Laczynski with scoring-line upside, an intelligent, qualified forward that could make a big impact for the Phantoms this season. Although he did not break out as planned, he was really successful. While as some hoped, he did not make a convincing argument for the Hobey Baker Prize, he was quietly excelling what one usually expects from a previous sixth-round pick.
Although he can contribute defensively, at the professional level, his leadership and playing along the boards would most likely be his largest selling points. What selling points am I talking about? After being drafted just like the career path that the likes of Bobby Brink and Cam York are taking he decided to go back to school where he would tear it up. He finished fifth among 2019-20 NCAA skater and became the third Buckeye in school history to average more than one point per game.
Laczynski brings the answer to one of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms questions this year. Scoring. Over four years he would pile up 143 points in 138 games, ranking 22nd (tied) in school history in points. Which in return proved his two-way game is just fine.
Number 10: Maxim Sushko
How Acquired: 2017 round 4 #107
After wrapping up his shortened first professional season with the Phantoms, The Flyers management and scouting department could agree all on one thing, Sushko needed to be placed overseas for more seasoning and that’s exactly what they did. After finishing his season in the AHL posting 21 points (11G, 10 A) in 53 games, Sushko stayed healthy and started his season with the Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. Keeping his legs moving putting up five points (2G, 3A) in 30 games played we shall see if the different size in ice will improve Sushko’s game going into the AHL season. I believe he won’t see any NHL action for at least another three to four years and might be in Philadelphia’s trading cards in the future.