Briere, Flyers Brass Scouting Prospects in Calder Cup Playoffs

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere, as well as other members of Flyers management, have been scouting the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the first round of the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs.

Briere, as well as Keith Jones and head coach John Tortorella, represented the Flyers at Game 1 in Wilkes-Barre. For Game 2 in Allentown, Briere returned again and was joined by the likes of John LeClair, Patrick Sharp, Chris Stewart, and former Flyers defenseman Sam Morin.

The Phantoms claimed Game 1 in the series by a score of 2-1; Cal Petersen stopped 21 of 22 shots for Lehigh Valley in the victory.

Some notable prospects being watched by Briere and Flyers management include Ronnie Attard, Adam Ginning, Emil Andrae, Helge Grans, Hunter McDonald, Bobby Brink, and Olle Lycksell.

Attard, Ginning, Andrae, Brink, and Lycksell all featured at the NHL level at some point this season, though Andrae was sent down to the AHL very early in the season. Grans is yet to make his NHL debut, though he does have over 150 games of AHL experience over the last three seasons.

After finishing his second season with Northeastern University in the NCAA, McDonald has impressively managed to establish himself as fixture in the Lehigh Valley lineup.

As for players like Andrae and Grans, Briere reflected the organization’s belief in them and noted that the Flyers‘ defense prospects were the likeliest to impact the NHL roster next season. The forwards? Not so much.

Samu Tuomaala is injured and will need another year in the AHL, in all likelihood, while Massimo Rizzo is yet to make his pro debut in the Flyers organization.

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