The initial frenzy of free agency has died down now that many of the sought after players have found homes. While Paul Holmgren still has time to fiddle with the roster before September, the organization will turn its attention tomorrow to its 2011 Flyers rookie camp.
The camp serves several purposes- it illustrates to younger prospects what type of work ethic and training is necessary to be able to make the jump to the NHL, it allows the coaches to give directions and advice for their prospects to improve next season, and it provides an early glimpse for which of the older players may be ready for the 13th forward or 7th defenseman position next season.
Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier are the biggest names heading into camp, but forwards Mike Testwuide, Matt Read, Tom Sestito, Zac Rinaldo and Ben Holmstrom have the best opportunity to make the jump based on age and salaries. Paul Holmgren will likely promote one of these forwards, as he offered Andreas Nodl the opportunity last season even when former Stanley Cup winner Bill Guerin was looking for a roster spot.
Sestito has the edge over Rinaldo in size and composure, but both serve the same purpose as Jody Shelley, who is still in the line-up (for now). Holmstrom has the advantage of serving in a penalty killing role, but Matt Read may be a better all around player. Testwuide is a project that the team hopes will pan out into a legitimate power forward, but he likely needs another season in the AHL.
Brendan Ranford, Jason Akeson and Petr Placek stand out as the other forwards that are worth taking a second look at. Ranford had a tremendous start to the 2010-11 season with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL before falling back to Earth. Still, his 33 goals and 53 assists in 67 games show potential. Ranford is only 19, but he has technically played four seasons in juniors already if you count his three game stint in 2007-08.
Akeson is two years older than Ranford, which makes his 24 goals and 84 assists with the Kitchener Rangers less impressive when you realize the level of competition he was playing against. Regardless, he is another future Phantom worth keeping an eye on if he develops into a playmaking winger.
Placek, meanwhile, was a sixth round draft pick for the Flyers this past June that will be playing in Harvard for the next few years. He also falls under the “project” category, but this will be the first opportunity for fans to gauge his potential.
On defense, rookie camp is another opportunity for Erik Gustafsson to show the Flyers why he deserves a roster spot in September. Time is running out for Kevin Marshall and Marc Andre Bourdon to do the same. For Bourdon especially, this is a make or break year as prospect Brandon Manning, signed by the Flyers last fall as an undrafted free agent, plays a very similar style and may surpass him in on the depth chart.
Recent signing Niko Hovinen will be at the camp to offer a peek at what to expect in net in Glen Falls in 2012-13. Of the remaining goalies, only Brad Phillips was drafted by the Flyers while the rest are invitees. The Flyers are likely only looking for another ECHL goalie or two in the event of injury call-ups, and the position is basically Philips’ to lose.
Rookie camp runs through next Monday.
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I think it would be wise for Holmgren to get another top six winger. I think all of the above should be with the Phantoms next year. Damn, I did not realize that Schenn will have a $3M+ cap hit next year. I don’t care how NHL ready this kid is that’s too much money for an unproven player, that only played 9 NHL games. Unless he can knock the doors off everyone in pre season, there is no way I would play him this year. That’s why I think these Stamkos rumors have some validity, for Schenn, BOB & picks.
Schenn’s cap hit is $3mil + because of his bonuses. If he doesn’t earn them, he’s just over $1 mil. For some reason, I believe you count them against the cap until he can no longer earn them. If Schenn spends 1 year in AHL, that frees up a lot of salary to sign another player if needed. I’d love to see Jason Arnott center the 3rd line, but I think that’s a stretch at this point.
they should let Schenn spend the entire year in the AHL. Therefore they can use that mooney to go along with their remaining cap space then sign another winger. Also, what’s the deal with Simmonds? Don’t they still have to sign him? I have no idea what direction this team is going. Don’t be surprised if they back themselves into a corner and wind up HAVING to bring back Zheredev depending on his legal issues. Who else is out there that can actually score??
I believe Simmonds will be signed, but they have plenty of time to work it out while they figure out what options they have in free agency. Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner have both been signed to St. Louis, which means any forwards the Flyers grab at this point won’t be worth more than inexpensive, 1 year contracts.
The issue with the team now is half the roster is young, which suggests they’re rebuilding and refining the core, while the other half is considerably old, which means they’re in a “win now” situation still. Is it one or the other? Nobody knows.