The Phantoms went 1-2-0 this week, bringing them to 5-6-2 on the season sitting seventh place in the Atlantic Division with 12 points.
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Emil Andrae
Andrae returned to the lineup after missing a few weeks with an upper body injury and registered his first two assists of the season. Between limited usage in the NHL after making the squad out of camp to a head injury just two games into his return to the Phantoms, it hasn’t been the best way to start a new season for Andrae. Hopefully the positives during his return is a sign of good things to come.
Olle Lycksell
Lycksell didn’t score a goal this week, but he did rack up two assists, his first two of the season, both of which came on the powerplay. Lycksell and veteran Cooper Marody have been the Phantoms’ only consistent scorers of the season so far, but Lycksell has been effective in just about every offensive scenario to start the season.
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Samu Tuomaala
Tuomaala went pointless with a -3 rating in three games this week, but the process is still overall strong for Samu, whose speed and silky hands have been on display despite not seeing results on the score sheet. He still needs to clean up his overall game, which is not an unexpected thing from a young European player adapting to the North American game, but he has been an overall pleasant surprise for the Phantoms.
Wade Allison
Allison managed his first goal of the season on Wednesday, it’s just his third point in 12 games. Between opening the season in Ian Laperriere’s doghouse after his demotion from the NHL to spending time in the bottom six in recent weeks, it’s clear the organization has given up on Allison and the player doesn’t feel much like competing because of it. He’s still got the talent, but needs a change of scenery badly right now.
Adam Ginning
Ginning is still turning in some mixed performances on a rather shaky Phantoms defense, but he still seems to be trending in the overall right direction. He can shift back to a defense-first role on the second pair with Andrae in the picture.
Helge Grans
Grans definitely exists, alright. He has been partnered with fellow Swede Emil Andrae since his return from injury. The two won a bronze medal together at the 2022 World Juniors, so they’re hoping to cash in on some past chemistry to lead the Phantoms to success as their top pair.
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Tanner Laczynski
Laczynski opened the season with seven points in the first five games, then missed a few games with an illness and now has just one assist in his last seven games. His disappearance as the team’s top center is a big reason for the team’s overall offensive struggles. It first seemed like revenge season for Laczynski, but lately it feels justified that he didn’t make the NHL roster.
Alexis Gendron
Gendron is still being used rather sparingly by Lappy’s coaching staff, and when he has played, the 5’10, 180lb 19-year-old was playing on the fourth line on Wednesday. Not the best spot to succeed when his game is all about speed and goalscoring, but it’s been a respect-is-earned approach for the rookie forward.
Elliot Desnoyers
Desnoyers left the game on Saturday after a seemingly predatory hit to the head from a Hershey player and did not return for the rest of the game or during Sunday’s contest. He was getting his season back on track, posting four points in his last five games before the injury, so it’s unfortunate timing for Desnoyers to go down.
Ronnie Attard
Ronnie Attard desperately needed a hot start to the season, and it has been the complete opposite. He hasn’t scored in six games and has just a single goal, two assists and a -4 rating on the season. He did drop the gloves with Dmitry Osipov, the player who injured Desnoyers, on Saturday. But other than that there just hasn’t been much to note about Attard.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 