The Phantoms went 2-1-0 over the weekend, beating Springfield on Friday and Sunday, but lost to Hartford on Saturday. It brings them to a 3-2-0 record on the season.
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Olle Lycksell
Lycksell scored five goals in three games over the weekend, bringing him up to a goal-per-game pace to start the season. 24-year-old sophomore AHL forward finished last season just shy of a point-per-game pace with 45 in 53 games, and he’s started the 2023-24 season with a hat trick on Friday and a goal in both Saturday and Sunday’s contests. Three of those five goals came on the powerplay. The main Flyers’ roster has been looking for both a finisher and a powerplay scorer, so if Lycksell keeps this kind of production up for another month or so, he could see a trip to Philadelphia in his future.
Tanner Laczynski
Laczynski racked up four assists in three games over the weekend, bringing his point total to seven in the first five games. The revenge tour for Laczynski after a wasted season with the Flyers continues. There’s almost no way Tortorella gives Tanner another shot at the NHL level, but if he’s taking the 1C role for the Phantoms this season, having an over-point-per-game season would be a hell of a way to rebuild his stock for free agency next summer.
Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala’s return to the Phantoms has started hot, as the 20-year-old has a goal and four points in the first five games. The trio of Tuomaala, Desnoyers and Lycksell has been on fire and it’s helped the former second round pick gain some footing as he adapts to the North American game. He’s still on the smaller side (5’10 and 180lbs) but his speed and offensive prowess could win the day and save his value as one of the Flyers’ top prospects.
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Adam Ginning
Ginning had a bit of a stinker on Saturday with a team-worst -4 rating, but he rebounded on Sunday and registered his first two assists of the season. It’s still a work in progress for Ginning, but the 23-year-old lefty has been solid more often than not and could be in line for an NHL recall at some point this season.
Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers scored his first goal of the season on Sunday, and his first two assists of the season came on Friday. He’s not quite off to the same hot offensive start as his line mates, but he seemed to be much more comfortable this week than he was on opening weekend. He has to shake off his early preseason demotion and return to the two-way phenom he was last year.
Ronnie Attard
Attard had three points, a goal and two assists, in three games over the weekend. Much like Desnoyers, his demotion seemed to hinder his confidence last weekend, but he looked much better this weekend. As their top right-handed defense prospect that has a high offensive upside, the quicker he can establish himself, the quicker his odds of getting called up return.
Alexis Gendron
Gendron scored his second goal of the season on Friday, but was a healthy scratch on Sunday. The 19-year-old is one of the players who will be plucked in and out of the forward-heavy lineup, but he’s certainly making a good first impression in the AHL with his speed and shot.
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Helge Grans
The hype-to-results ratio for the newly-acquired Helge Grans hasn’t exactly paid off yet, but he’s seeing plenty of ice time and isn’t necessarily doing much wrong, but he’s got to bring more to the table to make a name on the stacked Phantoms blueline.
Ethan Samson
Ditto the Grans entry for Samson, the only difference is Samson is a rookie and being tagged in and out of the lineup.
Wade Allison
While Laczynski is on a revenge tour, Wade Allison is struggling to return to Lehigh. Ian Laperrière basically said he sucked and benched him for a majority of Sunday’s contest. He has zero points, two penalty minutes, a +1 rating and just six shots on goal through the first five games. Allison has the opportunity to be a top guy with the Phantoms, but he needs to get his act together to reclaim his throne in Lehigh Valley.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
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