In my opinion, he would have absolutely made the team had he not been injured. I believe that Allison is a top 9 winger in this league and is going to be a solid player barring any lasting physical issues. Injuries are a concern. He is a player that has absolutely been held back due to injuries.
- MJL

Injuries seem to be the only threat to his career. Otherwise yes.

Is Allison a 100% lock on making the team? He showed talent... But, he only played 14 NHL games last year. Injured for the preseason, etc. I hope he picks up where he left off last year. Do they bounce him to the AHL for a few games, to get up to speed?
- leon neon

It would be the smart thing to do. Have him play in the AHL on a conditioning assignment when he is healthy enough to play.

From experience, the thing about a high ankle sprain is that they take forever to heal. They are painful as hell, probably the most painful injury I have ever experienced by far.

The timeline isn't that he can't play until it heals, the timeline is when he can tolerate the pain enough to play. There isn't much risk of re injuring like there would be a knee or broken bone.

It would be the smart thing to do. Have him play in the AHL on a conditioning assignment when he is healthy enough to play.

From experience, the thing about a high ankle sprain is that they take forever to heal. They are painful as hell, probably the most painful injury I have ever experienced by far.

The timeline isn't that he can't play until it heals, the timeline is when he can tolerate the pain enough to play. There isn't much risk of re injuring like there would be a knee or broken bone.
- MBFlyerfan

I think if he can play he goes right to the NHL. He’s not going to just limp around, if you can go you can go. We need help on the big club and he can do that.

Fletch pretty clearly dampened enthusiasm about Lindblom. Says he sees a kid still trying to find timing.

Interesting.

In my opinion, he would have absolutely made the team had he not been injured. I believe that Allison is a top 9 winger in this league and is going to be a solid player barring any lasting physical issues. Injuries are a concern. He is a player that has absolutely been held back due to injuries.
- MJL

man feels like I have been waiting for him to be on the Flyers forever. I would ask Bill on the reg about him and recovery, always hoping the injuries will pass. I hate to say it but his style of play just leads to injury. I hope I am wrong because I really believe the Flyers need his skillset

I think if he can play he goes right to the NHL. He’s not going to just limp around, if you can go you can go. We need help on the big club and he can do that.
- ClaudeFather

I can see that. But it will be a "test the leg under game conditions" scenario IMO and I would rather that be in Lehigh.

Fletch pretty clearly dampened enthusiasm about Lindblom. Says he sees a kid still trying to find timing.

Interesting.
- therabbi

Maybe a little. But there was also this:

Certainly, he has a smile on his face every day. Every game I see plays that he used to make. I see him making plays that he used to make and I'm sure it'll still take more time. I'm sure he'll be better in November than he is now. That's just the way it goes, but he certainly looks like a quality NHL player right now.

You should read the meltdown Comments on Broadstreethockey about Frost being Sent down. He could used the extra time in the AHL he didn't impress during the preseason and they're not going to use him as a 3-4 Line checker. How much longer is Hays out 3 more weeks?

The third line isn't a checking line. It's got JVR on it.

28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
86 Joel Farabee - 19 Derick Brassard - 89 Cam Atkinson
23 Oskar Lindblom - 21 Scott Laughton - 25 JVR
47 Garrett Wilson or 59 Noah Cates - 44 Nate Thompson - 62 NAK

The third line isn't a checking line. It's got JVR on it.

28 Claude Giroux - 14 Sean Couturier - 11 Travis Konecny
86 Joel Farabee - 19 Derick Brassard - 89 Cam Atkinson
23 Oskar Lindblom - 21 Scott Laughton - 25 JVR
47 Garrett Wilson or 59 Noah Cates - 44 Nate Thompson - 62 NAK
- Feanor

Will he be playing in the right side or will Oskar?

Second line looks interesting. Third line looks less than ideal.

Second line looks interesting. Third line looks less than ideal.

It would be the smart thing to do. Have him play in the AHL on a conditioning assignment when he is healthy enough to play.

From experience, the thing about a high ankle sprain is that they take forever to heal. They are painful as hell, probably the most painful injury I have ever experienced by far.

The timeline isn't that he can't play until it heals, the timeline is when he can tolerate the pain enough to play. There isn't much risk of re injuring like there would be a knee or broken bone.
- MBFlyerfan

I think we should give Allison proper time to heal. Everyone has mentioned that the high ankle sprain can be tricky. There is no rush. Let it heal properly then get him some games in Lehigh. When Hayes comes back and/or Frost shows he's ready, Brassard and/or Laughton could move to wing. Unless another winger gets hurt, there is no rush for Allison. I assume he will play well in LV and force Fletch's hand down the road. I like what he brings but he needs to heal properly.

The opening night roster/line-up may look extremely different than the roster down the stretch.

I’m just impressed you read that whole response.
- Peter Richards

lol

Second line looks interesting. Third line looks less than ideal.
- SuperSchennBros

How many games until the lines are shuffled? The good news is the other two with jvr are responsible. Hope he plays like last year.

How many games until the lines are shuffled? The good news is the other two with jvr are responsible. Hope he plays like last year.
- Peter Richards

after the first one.

How come in any of your initial analysis of any player, that does not include this spin of not having the same live view of games? I doubt that Bill Meltzer has attended every pre season game, especially the road games. So we can dispense with that excuse.
- MJL

No spin zone here MJL, I am stating facts. From what I watched this pre-season, Frost did hardly anything and was hardly noticeable, even when playing against B level players. If this does not concern you, ok fine, but it certainly concerns me. The fact that Bill and others, like most importantly the coaches, see parts of his game that I can't see watching on a stream is a FACT that I am happy to accept and take their word for.

So in other words you really have no reason why he should be on the top phantoms line.

If you have really watched him play he doesn't create any space. He is weak on the puck. doesn't use his size much at all.
- hello it's me 2050

I saw something different in Ratcliff that you did apparently, and I posted previously I don't know what the lines will be on the Phantoms, just that it would be fun to watch these players play together and see how they develop.

See, this is reasonable. You assessed his play in the pre season and with reasoning stated that he showed that offensively despite his improved play away from the puck, he didn't show that his game in that area was up to par. You included the fact that he has not played much hockey in the last year.

Now in terms of the other poster, let's look at what you didn't do. You didn't make any claims based on his play in this pre season that the player doesn't have the potential and that you don't "see it".
- MJL

MJL you are making a BIG assumption here, that Joe noted his improved defensive play based on what he saw versus the analysis from Bill and others after the fact. I would like Joe to clarify this point if he could.

As for my take, I honestly was not interested in Frost's defensive play, I was more interested in seeing him drive offense given he was playing with good players against B teams, and that was the focus of my observations. Like I said, I am happy to take the word from Bill and others physically at the games that had a better perspective of Frost's play without the puck, which in this pre-season was quite a bit.

man feels like I have been waiting for him to be on the Flyers forever. I would ask Bill on the reg about him and recovery, always hoping the injuries will pass. I hate to say it but his style of play just leads to injury. I hope I am wrong because I really believe the Flyers need his skillset
- wcorvette

Some players just have really bad luck with injuries, and it appears Allison is one of them. I totally agree with Fletcher when he stated "no more injuries"! The Flyers are no strangers to injuries curtailing very promising careers, e.g. Poulin, Kerr, Lindros, Renberg, Pronger, and so on.

I saw something different in Ratcliff that you did apparently, and I posted previously I don't know what the lines will be on the Phantoms, just that it would be fun to watch these players play together and see how they develop.
- jd250

You def saw something different. You sure you were watching Isaac?

You def saw something different. You sure you were watching Isaac?
- hello it's me 2050

Who knows, I might have been watching Frost

No spin zone here MJL, I am stating facts. From what I watched this pre-season, Frost did hardly anything and was hardly noticeable, even when playing against B level players. If this does not concern you, ok fine, but it certainly concerns me. The fact that Bill and others, like most importantly the coaches, see parts of his game that I can't see watching on a stream is a FACT that I am happy to accept and take their word for.
- jd250

Yes, the claim that you didn't have the same camera angle as others, is spin. You inferred that Frost was not competing and not playing hard. That is not the case as we have 3 sources, the GM, the coach and Bill Meltzer who all disagreed with that assessment. You haven't stated a single fact. You offered an opinion. This doesn't even address your comments on how this relates to Frost's potential.

MJL you are making a BIG assumption here, that Joe noted his improved defensive play based on what he saw versus the analysis from Bill and others after the fact. I would like Joe to clarify this point if he could.


- jd250

Ridiculous semantics argument on your part. Either way, he got his opinion correct as opposed to yours.

As for my take, I honestly was not interested in Frost's defensive play, I was more interested in seeing him drive offense given he was playing with good players against B teams, and that was the focus of my observations. Like I said, I am happy to take the word from Bill and others physically at the games that had a better perspective of Frost's play without the puck, which in this pre-season was quite a bit.
- jd250

More spin as you again move the goal posts. If you're looking at the effort of a player, you ignore play away from the puck? That would be 95% of the time for a player. LOL First it was the camera angle, now you were only paying attention to offensive play. Absurd.

Some players just have really bad luck with injuries, and it appears Allison is one of them. I totally agree with Fletcher when he stated "no more injuries"! The Flyers are no strangers to injuries curtailing very promising careers, e.g. Poulin, Kerr, Lindros, Renberg, Pronger, and so on.
- jd250

Does injury have anything to do with Frost's play in the pre season?

After reading the transcript (thanks Bill for posting!) from Fletcher, I feel better about Frost. To be honest, I have not seen the top 6 potential forward that maybe the coaching staff sees, but its good to hear that the coaches liked him and wanted to him to stay, but that Fletcher is looking out for the player and wants to give him every opportunity to get his game in gear and not rush him. Again, the more I hear from Fletcher, the more I really like him as GM for this team.
- jd250

Honestly no idea what most people were expecting. Kid isn't gonna miss a year+ and just come back and dunk on NHL comp like a Kucherov. All this talk about "not ready for the NHL" or whatever... people really need to give their heads a shake.

Kid's gonna be fine, just give him a few weeks to get his offensive swag back.