Preview: 2021-22 Lehigh Valley Phantoms Have Good Mix Of Youth/Experience

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are set to kick off their eighth season as an American Hockey League (AHL) franchise in downtown Allentown this fall, while the Phantoms' brand begins their 25th season all-time as an AHL franchise (Philadelphia 1996-2009, Adirondack 2009-14, Lehigh Valley 2014-Present).

While there are always plenty of new faces year-in and year-out at the AHL level, perhaps none will be more important in deciding the fate of the upcoming season than new head coach Ian Laperriere - who begins his tenure as an AHL head coach officially Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre against the Phantoms' in-state rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

A growing disconnect amongst the staff and players under previous head coach Scott Gordon caused the Philadelphia Flyers organization, and GM Chuck Fletcher, to relieve Gordon of his duties despite, on-paper, the Phantoms turning in one of their more impressive seasons record-wise in a pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.

Enter Laperriere, along with new assistant coaches Riley Armstrong and Jason Smith, and the vibe around the team has changed significantly heading into a full, more 'normal' 2021-22 season this year where the Phantoms will play a full 76-game schedule against all opponents in the Atlantic and North Divisions in the league's Eastern Conference.

Key Losses: goaltenders Alex Lyon and Zane McIntyre, defensemen Chris Bigras, Derrick Pouliot and Tyler Wotherspoon and forwards David Kase, Pascal Laberge, Chris Mueller and Carsen Twarynski

Key Additions goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Adam Clendening and forwards Jackson Cates, Morgan Frost, Gerry Mayhew and Samu Tuomaala

While the team will certainly be different in net, the Phantoms return 15 skaters from last year's team in hopes a full season with added depth and continued chemistry will go a long way in getting Lehigh Valley not only into the postseason but as a serious contender for the Calder Cup championship.

"I met with every single guy from the goalies on up. The first thing they told me when to I asked them 'what do you expect from me?', they were like we want you to be honest," Laperriere said, adding, "I'll be honest. And I told them: Play in my structure, and you'll play. If you don't, you won't."

The Roster

Goalies: Samuel Ersson and Felix Sandstrom

At 24-years-old, Felix Sandstrom looks to start out the season as the team's number one goalie - and the organization's #3 netminder on the depth chart. While some injuries and long stretches of inactivity while on the taxi squad prevented Sandstrom from getting into any kind of rhythm last season, he did play some of the best hockey in his young pro career down the stretch with the Phantoms last season - going 3-1-2 in his final six appearances of the season while accruing a .943 save percentage and 2.02 goals-against average in those final six games.

Samuel Ersson begins his first season of pro hockey in North America, coming from Sweden's highest-tier professional league where he was the main man in net for a struggling Brynas team in 2020-21. Despite the team's struggles overall, Ersson was solid in net and faced plenty of shots as his team was largely outplayed and out-shot much of the season.

"Both goalies have had a great camp," Laperriere said after the Phantoms' preseason finale on Wednesday. "And for a coach it's a great sign when you know the guys back there will make the saves that they need to."

While Sandstrom may begin the season as the #1 goalie in Lehigh Valley, Laperriere was non-committal about naming Sandstrom the as the clear #1.

"They're going to fight for their ice time," Laperriere said of the two goalies and also for the entire roster. "If you play well, you'll play more. If you don't, you won't."

Also Under Contract

Kirill Ustimenko and Pat Nagle (AHL contract) are with the Phantoms' ECHL affiliate Reading Royals to begin the season. Ustimenko missed all of last season following hip surgery. Nagle is a veteran journeyman who spent the past several years in the Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit) organization while also spending some time in the ECHL with Toledo.

Defensemen: Adam Clendening, Logan Day (AHL contract), Linus Hogberg, Ryan MacKinnon (AHL contract), Mason Millman, Wyatte Wylie and Cam York

The Phantoms biggest overhaul from last season's roster comes on defense. Gone are veterans Chris Bigras, Derrick Pouliot and Tyler Wotherspoon.

Offensively-minded blueliner and 2020 AHL All-Star Adam Clendening will have to be leaned on as one of the go-to veterans on the back end while Nick Seeler, a more physical defense-first type defender, is currently on the NHL roster with the Flyers. Clendening, a 28-year-old right-handed shooting defenseman, brings 370 career AHL games of experience to Lehigh Valley in addition to 90 games at the NHL level throughout his career.

2019-1st round pick Cam York is the only other blueliner on the AHL roster with NHL experience entering the season, having just appeared in three games with the Flyers last season. Logan Day will be entering his fourth season at the AHL level, but doesn't have any NHL games of experience.

Instead, the Phantoms will need to rely on the growth from several in-house prospects entering their second season at the AHL level in Linus Hogberg, Mason Millman and Wyatte Wylie.

Late Arrivals: Expected to join the Phantoms' blue line from Philadelphia, when healthy, are newcomer Cooper Zech and returning second-year prospect Egor Zamula.

Forwards: Connor Bunnaman, Jackson Cates, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Hayden Hodgson, Gerry Mayhew, Cal O'Reilly (AHL contract), Isaac Ratcliffe, German Rubtsov, Linus Sandin, Brennan Saulnier (AHL contract), Matthew Strome, Maksim Sushko, Samu Tuomaala and Garrett Wilson (AHL contract)

The Phantoms' forward core might be as deep a unit as any in the league, and they also return most of the core from this past season.

All eyes will be on Morgan Frost, who by some accounts was a surprise cut from Flyers camp despite missing essentially all of last season with a shoulder injury. He's healthy and more than focused/determined to make this a short stint in the AHL - tallying two goals and an assist in his first AHL preseason action last weekend.

The big off-season add up front for the Phantoms is Gerry Mayhew - the league's AHL MVP in 2020 after he tallied 39 goals in 49 games in 2019-20 with the Iowa Wild. He's quite familiar with current Phantoms' captain and leader Cal O'Reilly as the two spent several years playing together in Iowa. They'll look to re-kindle that chemistry this season on a line together in the top-six.

Tyson Foerster looks to take the next step in his career this season after an impressive showing in the AHL last season with the Phantoms.

The Flyers' 2nd round pick in the 2021 Draft, 18-year-old Samu Tuomaala, will begin the season in the AHL as he impressed enough in both NHL and AHL training camps to stick around for the time being. It's not currently set in stone where he will play this season - as he could be assigned to OHL's Sudbury Wolves - but for now he'll be in the lineup for the Phantoms' season opener Saturday in Wilkes-Barre.

While the Phantoms have plenty of offensive weapons, as listed above, they also have a solid mix of defensive-minded forwards hoping to impress enough in the AHL to make their way into the Flyers' bottom-six. Guys like Connor Bunnaman, German Rubtsov, Maksim Sushko and Garrett Wilson - despite being on an AHL-only contract - hope to make things difficult for the opposition's top offensive players and make an impact on the penalty kill.

Late Arrivals: Ryan Fitzgerald will be assigned to Lehigh Valley when healthy. Speedy Max Willman, who made his NHL debut Friday, will probably be back in the near future when new Flyers' forwards claimed off waivers - Patrick Brown and Zach MacEwen - are able to join the NHL club.