Carey Returns To Phantoms, Wants Return To Championship Contention

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ALLENTOWN -- Greg Carey wasn't exactly sure where he was going to be this upcoming season entering July 1st and the NHL's free agent frenzy.

"We had expressed interest in coming back, but you never know with management and turnover," Carey told Inside AHL Hockey earlier this month.

The Phantoms' sniper was originally signed, and then extended, by former Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall.

It wasn't until late on July on 1st that Carey knew for sure that he'd be staying in the Lehigh Valley for a fourth year, this time on an AHL contract with the Phantoms for the 2019-20 season.

"I've lived here for three years, and not having to move is something that you don't really get the option to do as an [AHL] guy. To stay is definitely exciting," he said of returning to the Phantoms this fall.

Current Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher was busy leading up to the start of free agency, perhaps part of the reason why Carey's deal came to fruition later in the day. With a completely re-tooled defense, high-end veteran talent brought in across the board at all positions and the return of their head coach in Scott Gordon, it seems like Carey and the Phantoms could have something brewing for the upcoming season.

"I mean, I don't want to say it but obviously we want to win and we want to go far," Carey said in response to being asked about the potential of getting back to the AHL's Conference Finals like they did in 2018.

And perhaps - as Carey points out - a feeling of optimism heading into the season and some deja vu.

"There is a lot of high-talented youth and a lot of high talent in older players, so there's definitely a team here that kind of reminds the team we had three years ago that really, if not for some unfortunate breaks in a series we probably should have won, could probably have gone really deep."

Let's not put the cart before the horse, but there are certainly plenty of pieces in place that suggest the Flyers AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley will field a deep, talented roster with a mix of youth and experience.

It will come as no suprise to most Phantoms fans who have watched the Hamilton, Ontario native light the lamp over the last three seasons, that one of the AHL's pure shooters prides himself in his ability to finish his scoring chances. His 88 goals as a member of the Phantoms are the most by any player in Lehigh Valley franchise history (2014-present) and fourth in all-time Phantoms history (1996-present).

What might surprise you is that he actually had a career-high in assists last season with 32 assists to go along with his 29 tallies.

After a trip home to Canada, Phil Varone's wedding this summer and a getaway to Mexico, Carey has been skating and working out in the Lehigh Valley in preparation for the upcoming season.

While he says nothing will change in terms of his mindset or approach heading into this season, entering the AHL in 2019-20 with 326 games of pro experience means Carey will count as a 'veteran'. League rules allow teams to dress six veteran players who begin the year with 260 or more games of pro experience, so long as one of the six has fewer than 320 pro games.

"I kind of always try to be the same player no matter what. I'm going to go out and try score goals and help us win - as best as I can do," Carey said, adding, "obviously being a veteran guy and being around the game for six years, definitely would like to help contribute [and lead by example]."

Currently, the Phantoms could be facing an overage of veteran players on the AHL roster this fall. But there's still plenty of time between training camp, the preseason, injuries, trades etc for things like that to work themselves out.

You can see he's a veteran pro with the way talks about the big picture.

"I think we've done a great job with a lot of prospects graduating. To kind of our downfall in Lehigh, we have graduated so many guys to the NHL you kind of lose a lot of skill. Playing with rookies and developing the younger players is kind of one of the joys of playing in the AHL. You can see guys from when they're 20 to when they're 23 and how they develop as hockey players and as people.  A lot of teams kind of look to the coaches to develop players but it's just as much the older guys that kind of help shape these players into what they're going to be down the road."

Carey says he's never really set lofty personal goals for himself with stats, or numbers, heading into a season. He wants to 'try and score every night', and that as long as he's bringing offense and creating quality chances the rest will take care of itself.

"Just try to help the team out as much as I can, help the organization from a development standpoint and try to be the best American League player I can be."