1 week Ago
Unlike their parent club, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are preparing for the playoffs. The AHL Phantoms clinched their spot this week, although they don’t yet have a first-round opponent for what will be a best-of-three opening series. They’re also getting some reinforcements.
Last year’s Flyers first-round pick, Jett Luchanko, is there, Rodrigo Abols and Olle Lycksell were reassigned from the Flyers this week, Emil Andrae could return after the NHL season is over, and highly regarded prospect Alex Bump likely will sign after the NCAA Frozen Four. Advertisement “Our skill level is going to go up, and guys’ roles are going to change a little bit, but it’s for the best,” coach Ian Laperriere said. “I think the timing is great.
” Laperriere is in his fourth season as head coach of the Phantoms, 33-27-8 this season, and chatted by phone with The Athletic for a few minutes on Thursday morning. (Some questions and responses here have been lightly edited for clarity.) What have been the strengths and weaknesses of this season’s Phantoms? I think our D core (has been a strength).
When we defend hard, that’s when we’re at our best. When we do defend hard, we don’t spend time in our zone and have more time to create offense. We’ve had problems scoring goals even when we had everybody here, so that’s one thing that we can all control, is play good defense.
...
I’m a big believer that teams that win in the playoffs are good defenders. Hershey won the last two Calder Cups because they defend hard and they don’t spend time in their zone. When we’re at our best, that’s the way we play.
You recently got Jett Luchanko added to your roster. How has he been so far? I was impressed in (training) camp and I’m even more impressed now. His maturity, for an 18-year-old kid.
.. He came to us with great details, and his speed is welcomed here.
Especially down the middle, where we don’t have that speed, he does bring that. For me as a coach, it’s more his maturity away from the puck, supporting everybody. He’s got all the tools.
He’s playing a lot, so he’s a big part of our team. That was my message when he got to us — you’re not coming here just to learn your way in the American League. You’re going to be a big part of what we want to do here.
So far, he has been. I know there was room for him to improve on his shot and finish. Does it look like that part of his game has gotten better from when you saw him last September? I want him to shoot more, to be honest.
And I get it, he gets here, new teammates, he wants to please people around him. A couple times, I felt like he could have put the puck on net but he’s looking for backdoor plays that our players are not ready for. It’s not a skill problem.
I think he needs to be a little more selfish and use his shot, because he does have a good shot. I think it’s going to come by being here and getting more comfortable and confident. His playmaking ability, I think he really improved in that.
He does have passing ability that I didn’t notice as much (in training camp), but I’m noticing now, which is great. Advertisement (In five games with the Phantoms, Luchanko has no goals and two assists.) Another guy who is intriguing to Flyers fans is Nikita Grebenkin (acquired from Toronto as part of the Scott Laughton trade).
How is he doing? He elevates our skill level, big-time. He makes plays, he’s strong on the puck. He reminds me a little of Olle Lycksell, the way he plays the game.
He might be a little bit bigger, but he’s a puck-possession guy, looking to make plays. That’s another kid that makes us better, which is a good move for the organization down the road. He’s a baby, 21 years old.
He’s going to have a shot at one point with the big club. And wait until you meet that kid. Personality-wise, he’s amazing.
I know you’re using him on the power play. Is that a big part of his game? Yes. He’s a flank guy, he comes down the strong side.
He’s got good vision, a good shot. That’s another kid, I’d like him to shoot a little bit more. He’s a playmaking guy first, and hopefully the more he gets comfortable, he’ll use his shot a little bit more.
(In eight games since the trade, Grebenkin has three goals and two assists with the Phantoms.) Hunter McDonald seems to be a guy that the organization is high on, particularly with his size on the blue line. Has he made progress? Mac’s been improving.
It’s his first pro year. Ups and downs, which is fine, but he’s been solid all year. He’s not afraid of fighting when it’s for the right reasons.
He plays hard. That’s a kid that we have to tell him to relax a little bit, but I welcome that. It’s easier to (coach) a kid with too much juice than someone who doesn’t have enough juice.
Played with Louis Belpedio all year, who’s a good veteran to have on his side and helping him. He’s been improving all year. For him, it’s a big adjustment.
In college, you go from 40 games to 72 games, and big minutes. He’s been going the right direction. Advertisement (In 67 games with the Phantoms, McDonald has three goals and 13 assists for 16 points, and 93 penalty minutes.
) Is there someone that’s maybe a bit under the radar who’s taken a big step forward? (Zayde) Wisdom. He’s been great. Last year I couldn’t play him.
We had too many guys and his game wasn’t quite the way it is now. I checked on him this summer, and he told me, ‘Lappy, I’m going to come to camp and make the team, and I’ll stay in the lineup.’ And he walked the walked.
He’s been our most consistent forward. He’s been great. I can’t say enough good things about him, because often guys talk, but don’t walk the walk.
But he came to camp, had a great camp, and was healthy-scratched at the beginning of the year, but when he got in I couldn’t take him out. He’s playing the right way, playing hard, and he’s a team-first guy. Everything I love about a guy.
(In 64 games, Wisdom, a fourth-round pick of the Flyers in 2020, has 13 goals and 30 points.) Anyone else? (Jacob) Gaucher has been a guy that got an NHL contract out of his season. He’s a great story — an undrafted guy, and a great story for the organization actually.
If you show the Flyers that if you do the job, you’ll get rewarded. He’s been great. Gendron has scored 20 goals as a 21-year-old.
He’s been improving away from the puck. He’s scored goals everywhere he’s been. But we all know pro hockey, there’s more to it.
He’s giving himself a chance to maybe one day, if he keeps going like that, to have a sniff at the NHL. (Gaucher, who signed a two-year, entry level contract with the Flyers on Dec. 12, is second on the Phantoms in scoring with 36 points — 20 goals, 16 assists — in 67 games.
Gendron has 20 goals and eight assists in 61 games.) The Flyers obviously have a head coaching vacancy now. Are you interested in that job? I’d love to have that job, for sure.
I want to coach at the best level. It’s in (GM Daniel Briere’s) hands and we’ll see what happens at the end of the year. I’m focusing on taking this team as far as I can.
But to be honest, transparent — for sure. Who wouldn’t want that job? I love the Flyers and that’s a job I’d like. At the end of the day I’m trying to stay in the moment, and we’ll see what happens tomorrow.
(Photo: Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images).
