There are a lot of fans excited about having a young player of Brayden Schenn’s caliber in the Philadelphia Flyers organization, and rightly so. He’s torn up the WHL and was the best player at the World Juniors Championship in 2011. With two of our best centers sent to the Western Conference, there is at least one opening on the roster for a third line center.
I don’t think it should be Schenn.
It really comes down to a number of factors, starting with the salary cap. Schenn’s cap hit can be as little as $1.11 million or as high as $3.11 million, depending on if he earns his bonuses. Meanwhile, there are a number of decent, cheap centers hitting the free agent market including Eric Belanger, who played last season with the Phoenix Coyotes after a deal with the Washington Capitals fell through.
Belanger, 34, can be relied on for 35+ points per season and would add depth to the roster for less than $1 million. The smaller contract would allow the team to sign Ville Leino or free agent Erik Cole and still maintain $1.5± million of breathing room. Schenn could still join the team during the postseason, when the roster limit goes away.
Schenn currently has nine games of NHL experience, in which he tallied 0 goals and 2 assists. He only has seven games of AHL experience, where he was a point-per-game player. He’s borderline ready for the NHL, but it couldn’t hurt his development to spend some time with the Adirondack Phantoms and learn Laviolette’s system first.
Having a player like Schenn with the Phantoms could also help the Flyers’ other prospects develop. With goaltender Michael Leighton guaranteed to be waived and on the roster (if he’s not picked up), the Phantoms may be able to grab the momentum they collected as a team in the latter half of the 2010-11 season and actually make the playoffs for a change.
As a case study, recall James Van Riemsdyk’s rookie season. He looked NHL ready in the pre-season but struggled as the year progressed. He was a capable NHL player with 35 points at the end of the year, but needed more time to fill out and adjust to the rigors of playing intense hockey every other night.
In the end, it’s not a bad problem to have too much talent at your disposal. If the Flyers can collect additional depth for another Cup run, though, why not do it?
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Actually, they’ll learn Lav’s system early in training camp; some guys learn new systems fast. Both Couturier and Schenn have proven their skills, even the defensive side, and are far above their contemporaries. Couturier might have to be the one going down since he is younger and hasn’t filled out his frame yet, but who knows? Both have played major roles in international competition. Lav won’t throw them to wolves but fans will need to be patient through a mediocre year if he wants to assign them to AHL for seasoning, like Richards and Carter were. But if those 2 rookie centers show defensive responsibility it might be better for them to undergo physical rigors with big club even if they wear down some in last half… lots of other rookies have done extremely well in first year in NHL: Toews, Kane, Crosby, Jeff Skinner, Tyler Seguin this year with Bruins. It’s too soon to make judgments. Schenn will turn 20 before season starts. Couturier will be 19 in December. Adrenalin does wonders for rookies. Let’s not rush to judgment yet since the rooks will have seasoned players around them. Simmonds and Voracek are interesting additions.
Both Schenn & Couturier, will start in Adirondack next year. Especially if the Flyers sign Brooks Laich, to center the 3rd line, as the rumor goes today.
couturier would have to be returned to junior, north american players can not play in the ahl until they are 20. the only exception being he could play after his junior team loses out this upcoming season. if he is close i see him starting the season with the big club becasue there is not much for him to prove/learn in junior. i see him getting his 5 or so games to start the season and get sent down around end of october.
as for schenn, he will be with the big club. the kid is ready and will get lots of pp time. a bigger center could still be brought in and schenn could play the wing. hopefully the flyers can find a mark recchi type mentor for all these young guys. i think briere is one but another one who can fly under the radar, lappy was that type of guy too.
i can almost believe what bobby clarke said when saying the team is different but better. i will still reserve judgement until after july 1.
I am a believer in throwing people into the fire to learn….Brayden has 9 games experience and putting him in the AHL wont build his confidence…. keep him with the Flyers so he can learn..he has nothing to gain in the AHL… if he had no NHL experience (0 games), then let him start in the AHL, however, he has been in some games… let him play on Broad Street.