McGinn also has a worse +/- for the Phantoms. But I guess that's not as much of a concern because he has about 30 fewer points than Akeson?
- wolfhounds

I worry less about +/- on the Phantoms than production, but Akeson has him beat in both, and plays on the PK.

I don;t expect Akeson to come in and be a second line talent. But I'd like to see him get a longer look. We've see Time & Tye McGinn.

BUT HE'S SO BIG!!!...
- Yosimar89

reminds me of that joke.....
"how many flyers does it take to change a light bulb?"

HEAR IT AGAIN!! Jason Akeson breaks the single-season points record for the ADK Phantoms with this shorthanded goal. http://t.co/aAbWHHavaB
- wilsonecho91

ADK, but not Philadelphia Phantoms. Peter White had consecutive seasons of 105, 105, and 90.

I worry less about +/- on the Phantoms than production, but Akeson has him beat in both, and plays on the PK.

I don;t expect Akeson to come in and be a second line talent. But I'd like to see him get a longer look. We've see Time & Tye McGinn.
- Jsaquella

Yup, it's worth the shot, especially on a team struggling a big offensively. Although I'm very confident Jay "Peter" Rosehillberg will be scoring again tonight, so maybe that's why Akeson is still on the Phantoms.

And I'm not clear why the +/- indicator for potential performance outweighs the points he's been putting up the last couple seasons on a crap team.

ADK, but not Philadelphia Phantoms. Peter White had consecutive seasons of 105, 105, and 90.
- MBFlyerfan

Yup. He also played on much better teams.

Yup. He also played on much better teams.
- wolfhounds

Phantoms have been pretty bad for a while now, ever since that deep run with Carts, Richie... they've pretty much been at the bottom of the barrel in the A. Consistently one of the worse offensive teams too.

I'm in the camp for giving akeson a shot.

I worry less about +/- on the Phantoms than production, but Akeson has him beat in both, and plays on the PK.

I don;t expect Akeson to come in and be a second line talent. But I'd like to see him get a longer look. We've see Time & Tye McGinn.
- Jsaquella

I think there are 3 reasons Akeson doesn't get called up:
1. He's small
2. He's not good defensively
3. He's slow

Its very hard for a small player who lacks speed to succeed at the NHL level. Peter White was a bit bigger than Akeson and put up very good numbers in the AHL, yet he was never more than a borderline NHLer. I very much doubt that Akeson ever becomes an NHL regular.

Yup. He also played on much better teams.
- wolfhounds

So? Its kind of a lame attempt to make something out of nothing. Great, he scored 63 points or whatever and set a record for a team that has existed for 3 years. Its like being first place at the special Olympics.

I think there are 3 reasons Akeson doesn't get called up:
1. He's small
2. He's not good defensively
3. He's slow

Its very hard for a small player who lacks speed to succeed at the NHL level. Peter White was a bit bigger than Akeson and put up very good numbers in the AHL, yet he was never more than a borderline NHLer. I very much doubt that Akeson ever becomes an NHL regular.
- BiggE

If it wasn't for LeCavalier's "history" would his credentials really be that different?

Frankly to me, if you are building a so called young team, and all that BS. Then you might as well give the kids you have a shot. Not just those who are first round picks. That doesn't really help the "win now" movement though.

Its the same thing with Guss. I will be the first to admit he scares me with his defensive play, but you have a kid who has put in time with your organization...

You will also have guys in Lauridson and Alt as well.

Anyways, just hope the guy gets a chance somewhere.

Speaking of guys getting a chance somewhere (although maroon had problems with whoever the idiot coach of the phantoms was back then and so did others btw), Patrick Maroon has 12 points in his last 13 games for the Ducks
- Yosimar89

Yeah um he plays on a line with Getzlaf and Perry sooo...

EDIT: never mind I see what you're saying now and that you weren't being a doosh. I agree with you- nice to see him fitting in somewhere and NOT killing us at the same time

So? Its kind of a lame attempt to make something out of nothing. Great, he scored 63 points or whatever and set a record for a team that has existed for 3 years. Its like being first place at the special Olympics.
- MBFlyerfan

ok

Anyways, just hope the guy gets a chance somewhere.

Speaking of guys getting a chance somewhere (although maroon had problems with whoever the idiot coach of the phantoms was back then and so did others btw), Patrick Maroon has 12 points in his last 13 games for the Ducks
- Yosimar89

ugh i wish i knew what really happened there, i had hopes for him

I think there are 3 reasons Akeson doesn't get called up:
1. He's small
2. He's not good defensively
3. He's slow

Its very hard for a small player who lacks speed to succeed at the NHL level. Peter White was a bit bigger than Akeson and put up very good numbers in the AHL, yet he was never more than a borderline NHLer. I very much doubt that Akeson ever becomes an NHL regular.
- BiggE

Honestly these things change depending on the feeling up stairs, when Maroon was here he never got a shot because his skating wasn't good (the discipline problems came later on), I doubt he's become Pavel Bure since then yet he's still found his niche with one of the best teams in the NHL. Maroon is the same size as McGinn, much better hands and I doubt as good a skater. Yet he's a better player than Mcginn, put up better numbers in Juniors, in the AHL and yet somehow McGinn keeps getting shot after shot after Maroon got none.

Nodl, nice defensively, amazing wheels, no hands. Is out of the NHL. I do think there is a spot for Akeson somewhere for a team that needs his skill set. Unfortunately I don't see it being with this team.

Phantoms have been pretty bad for a while now, ever since that deep run with Carts, Richie... they've pretty much been at the bottom of the barrel in the A. Consistently one of the worse offensive teams too.
- Yosimar89

more than a deep run, didn't they win?

ok
- wolfhounds

hey hey don't steal my bit, took me forever to find one

more than a deep run, didn't they win?
- -davies-

Yep, swept Chicago.

I wonder how large he looms in their future plans. He's not much more than a 4/5 himself, but he brings an element they've been lacking more so than the other 4/5/6 guys they're dressing.

I do worry that they'll hand MacDonald a huge deal when they have Gustafsson who can handle the mobility and puck moving assets that were the main reason that they traded for MacDonald
- Jsaquella

Gustafsson has shown no signs of being close to the player that MacDonald is. MacDonald is a much, much better player the Gustafsson. And it's not close.

Gustafsson has shown no signs of being close to the player that MacDonald. MacDonald is a much, much better player the Gustafsson. And it's not close.
- MJL

Agreed

hey hey don't steal my bit, took me forever to find one
- -davies-

Fine. I'll go back to 'meh'.

I disagree. It doesn't take skill to block shots, it takes guts.

Shot blocking is a double edged sword. It's not a bad thing, but if you're doing a lot of it, it means that you're out there quite a bit when your team doesn't possess the puck.

I know the disdain for advanced stats here, but the numbers on MacDonald since his arrival in terms of Corsi, Fenwick and other shot stats show that he's on the ice for more shots against than for, even more so than Grossmann.

It's not the end all, be all, but it is concerning. I think MacDonald has been solid. I also think that could sign a similar player or better player in UFA for similar or less money.

I mean, I'd rather have Ron Hainsey at $4mm than AMac at $4.5mm. Even better would be a guy like Anton Stralman at $4mm.
- Jsaquella

It absolutely takes skill along with guts to block shots. When you see a defenseman that is a top shot blocker, it's because he's sound positionally and reads plays well defensively. Which is also why Grossmann is a very good shot blocker.

Fine. I'll go back to 'meh'.
- wolfhounds

ok

It's not really comparing Gustafsson to MacDonald-even though the Flyers were able to roll 3 pairs before MacDonald arrived, when they used Gustafsson with Schenn...and actually, the advanced stats for Schenn are similar with Gus compared to what they are with MacDonald.

It's about being smart in utilizing a finite asset-cap space. They only get so much cap space, they have to allocate it wisely. That's why I mention Stralman or Hainsey, two guys similar or arguably better than MacDonald, who will command salaries similar to, or less than, what MacDonald will make.

Grossmann is one dimensional, as well. He's getting $3.5mm for his lone dimension, which is usually easily added for about $1.5-$2mm less than what Grossmann is getting paid. If They do keep MacDonald, I'd like to see Grossmann be shipped out.
- Jsaquella

I like Stralman as a depth defenseman but he's not better then MacDonald. And Hainsey isn't better either. And the fact that Hainsey is 33 and MacDonald is 27. I hope the Flyers are smarter then that, and re-sign MacDonald.

It absolutely takes skill along with guts to block shots. When you see a defenseman that is a top shot blocker, it's because he's sound positionally and reads plays well defensively. Which is also why Grossmann is a very good shot blocker.
- MJL

The amount of people who just throw positioning/hockey sense out the window and just call it "guts" or "skating hard" is flat-out amazing to me. And frankly, as a former defenseman, it's pretty damn insulting.

ok
- -davies-

ohhh, I see what you did there...