Prospect Info: Phantoms (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), NCAA, Jrs., Int'l, etc. (Feb.-Mar. edition)

[Captain Dave Poulin]

I can see it now:
Sanheim and Morin make the Flyers. Sanheim plays very well but seems weak against men at times and Morin plays solid with some expected rookie mistakes.
Coach Hakstol healthy scratches Sanheim often to play Manning over him despite Sanheim being obviously better. The usual posters complain that Morin is a bust of a first round pick and that Sanheim was overhyped and too timid for the NHL.

Ahhh, next season will be fun

Don't forget the people who will start taking Provy for granted. That is the one I am looking forward to.

 

[whitstifier]

Don't forget the people who will start taking Provy for granted. That is the one I am looking forward to.

It's already been happening with Provorov I think.

 

[Tripod]

It's already been happening with Provorov I think.

only from the "Provy does nothing elite" posters who have been proven more wrong than Trump lately.

 

[whitstifier]

only from the "Provy does nothing elite" posters who have been proven more wrong than Trump lately.

I need more exhuberant screaming every time Provorov is on the ice

 

[Striiker]

No matter who plays great, there will always be "fans" who whine and cry about it.

Just look at Giroux, even when he was a PPG player there were people saying he's just a sidekick and a bad leader...

Nothing to back that up, nothing to even suggest it's true with even the biggest reach, but the same people say it over and over.

Hard to tell if it's trolling or ignorance... I see so much of both all the time on here, so nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[Larry44]

http://sonsofpenn.com/philippe-myers-end-to-end-goal-four-point-night/

Nice gifs of Myers' big night last night. All his skills on display: breaking into the Ozone and setting up a goal, rushing & scoring, cannon from point and nice outlet.

 

[SolidSnakeUS]

Myers + Sanheim + Gudas + Sanheim + Morin + Provy means some serious size, strength and speed on the blue line. Seriously, if Hak and Hexy decide to keep AMac AND Manning up next season...

 

[renberg]

Ghost (I don't think Dave sees Ghost much more than a sheltered 3rd pair D 5v5 unfortunately. I would love to see him with Sanheim but I know that won't happen)

If Hakstol sees Ghost as noting more that a PP specialist and a defenseman that he has to shelter, ghost might as well be traded. I think that he can be more than that. He's learning how life goes in the NHL. Actually there have been plays in the last month where he has shown that he is doing much better with positional play and stick use on defense. He's never going to be a physical guy but he can learn to be a decent defender. I'd love to see Timonen work with him. Timo's style of defense should transfer over to Ghost's pretty easily. If Torey Krug can become a decent second pair defender in this league, there's no reason why Ghost can't.

 

[hatcher]

http://sonsofpenn.com/philippe-myers-end-to-end-goal-four-point-night/

Nice gifs of Myers' big night last night. All his skills on display: breaking into the Ozone and setting up a goal, rushing & scoring, cannon from point and nice outlet.

Love it. Meaner goes along way with that skill.

 

[Curufinwe]

Lamarche and Pettersson called up from Reading.

http://theahl.com/stats/transactions/313/54?page=1

 

[BernieParent]

If Hakstol sees Ghost as noting more that a PP specialist and a defenseman that he has to shelter, ghost might as well be traded. I think that he can be more than that. He's learning how life goes in the NHL. Actually there have been plays in the last month where he has shown that he is doing much better with positional play and stick use on defense. He's never going to be a physical guy but he can learn to be a decent defender. I'd love to see Timonen work with him. Timo's style of defense should transfer over to Ghost's pretty easily. If Torey Krug can become a decent second pair defender in this league, there's no reason why Ghost can't.

Krug is a good comparator. Timonen would be an excellent mentor to show positioning and stickwork rather than brute force. It's not like there's a veteran Dman who can take Gostisbehere under his wing. Maybe Nick Schultz in a this-is-what-I-would-do-in-a-real-NHL-game-if-I-were-still-fast-enough manner. One of Gord Murphy's job responsibilities should be to ensure that Gostisbehere is not in a situation where he receives any defensive guidance from any of the Flyers veterans. That includes Gudas, simply because Gostisbehere would probably kill himself trying to hit opponents like Gudas does.

 

[Rebels57]

Myers + Sanheim + Gudas + Sanheim + Morin + Provy means some serious size, strength and speed on the blue line. Seriously, if Hak and Hexy decide to keep AMac AND Manning up next season...

I wish like hell we could have two Sanheims

 

[MacDonald4MVP]

One thing I don't understand about offensive defensemen and their development is all the effort coaches put into trying improve their defensive play. One of the first things taught in management is that you use your best assets for biggest opportunities not biggest weaknesses. Ghost's handling seems to me just like that. Amazing instincts, team's best shot, all the promise of up and coming player and coaching that leads to watching amac play from the pressbox. Reliable, good in all three zones, ...

 

[deadhead]

Myers may be better than Sanheim, dominates the WJC until he gets concussed, then is on better than a PPG pace as a defensemen with another ridiculous +/- season.

I think McKenzie may be right, he may pass go and collect $500K - probably depends on how he plays in the Q playoffs, a big playoff and he'd be signaling he's ready.

He certainly has a NHL body!

 

[deadhead]

One thing I don't understand about offensive defensemen and their development is all the effort coaches put into trying improve their defensive play. One of the first things taught in management is that you use your best assets for biggest opportunities not biggest weaknesses. Ghost's handling seems to me just like that. Amazing instincts, team's best shot, all the promise of up and coming player and coaching that leads to watching amac play from the pressbox. Reliable, good in all three zones, ...

It's very simple, they're DEFENSEMEN.

If you just want them to focus on scoring, use them as forwards

A two way defenseman like Provorov can dominate the action for up to 25 minutes a night, everywhere along the ice, no forward can have that kind of impact.

Even with Ghost, if all he does is play well in the offensive zone, it limits his value, being at least adequate in the defensive zone means he's a positive at one end of the ice and NOT a negative at the other. And to be adequate in the D-zone he has to learn to use his body (not like Gudas, but don't shy away either, ride your man out of the play and position yourself to protect your goalie) and be responsible, don't try to force big plays exiting the D-zone and cause bad turnovers.

The best thing they did for Sanheim is to force him to play defense in the AHL, the problem for talented players is a lot of what they could do in juniors or college doesn't work in the NHL (see Konency learning this the hard way this season). It's like the college QB who could throw it all over the field against slow CBs, then finds out how small the windows are in the NFL. For a defensemen, he has to learn that NHL forwards are fast, you can't outskate your mistakes on a regular basis, and that NHL forecheckers can be relentless and feast on sloppy passes - you have to make smart, decisive decisions with the puck.

Provorov is a freak, no defenseman that young should be so disciplined and have such a high hockey IQ.
Most young defensemen need years of coaching to approach that level of play.

 

[hatcher]

Hopefully no more head shots.

 

[FLYguy3911]

One thing I don't understand about offensive defensemen and their development is all the effort coaches put into trying improve their defensive play. One of the first things taught in management is that you use your best assets for biggest opportunities not biggest weaknesses. Ghost's handling seems to me just like that. Amazing instincts, team's best shot, all the promise of up and coming player and coaching that leads to watching amac play from the pressbox. Reliable, good in all three zones, ...

Old school coaches. Defensemen have to play defense. Offense is a bonus. Etc.

 

[Magua]

I'm sure the fact that Hakstol himself was a defensive defenseman, and a minors one at that, plays a role in his biases/philosophies

 

[renberg]

Old school coaches. Defensemen have to play defense. Offense is a bonus. Etc.

Paul Coffey couldn't spell defense if you gave him the first six letters of the word but the Oilers never whined about his deficiencies. Ghost's assets outweigh his debits. It's up to the coaching staff to utilize them while they attempt to shore up his weaknesses.
Murphy has had Ghost under his wing for almost a season and a half. If Ghost isn't correcting his defensive play, he is either stubborn, lacking in talent or dumb. I don't believe that he is any of these. He needs someone who can teach him how to play more of a finesse than a physical style and, from what we've seen, Murphy isn't that guy. A former player like Timonen would be ideal.
It's an issue of style. Morin, who plays a physical style, wouldn't necessarily benefit from learning that type of play. He'd benefit from working with a Kjell Samuelsson.

 

[Striiker]

Hakstol would scratch Brent Burns if he were a Flyer.

Offense is discouraged.

 

[Stizzle]

I'm sure the fact that Hakstol himself was a defensive defenseman, and a minors one at that, plays a role in his biases/philosophies

I've always thought the same thing. Also, his love for the gritty underdog, character guy is certainly a bias resulting from his own experience as a player.

 

[flyersjim73]

Hakstol would scratch Brent Burns if he were a Flyer.

Offense is discouraged.

I truly believe this is 100% accurate.

 

[Striiker]

I've always thought the same thing. Also, his love for the gritty underdog, character guy is certainly a bias resulting from his own experience as a player.

Not saying you're wrong, but it appears as if EVERY coach has that same obsession, even the ones who never played.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I guess I see Morin as having the best chance of the three. I still think Sanheim starts the season in the AHL, probably with Myers also.

If Morin is the only change on the blueline next year, prepare yourself for another season of 5v5 struggles and boring hockey. That's not a slight at Sam. Just that they need to add more skill on the blueline. Hopefully this season is a wake up call and there is a true reevaluation of the roster compensation and team philosophies.

My feeling is more based on how long Myers stayed last season. You are correct that he was sent down with Sanheim at the same time, but I do think there is a difference with sending an AHL bound player down and a CHL bound one. Most likely they were just getting him some more experience, but in the end Myers stayed up as long as the other 3 defensive players (with one, Provorov, staying up).

Doesn't mean too much. They rewarded him for having a strong training camp. Morin lasted longer than any of them as a 19 year old and is still waiting to make his NHL debut.

 

[deadhead]

Hakstol would scratch Brent Burns if he were a Flyer.

Offense is discouraged.

You have to be kidding.

The one thing that stands out with Hakstol's scheme is the aggressiveness of the defensemen in the O-zone, you think MacDonald or Gudas score like this on most teams?

Even Ghost admits he's playing better since he sat for three games, and he's definitely more aggressive on defense, using his body more (i.e. sticking with forwards entering the zone instead of just stick checking), and fewer "what the f---" passes out of the D-zone. He needed the wakeup call, that's not unusual with young players, wasn't Drouin and a few other high draft picks sent down to the AHL for a stretch?