Last night, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2022-23 season came to an end with a 6-0 loss to the Charlotte Checkers in game three of the Calder Cup playoffs. It was the first playoff appearance for the Phantoms since 2018.
The Phantoms finished the regular season with a 37-29-6 record (80 points). Right away, they improved from last year’s record of 29-32-15 (73 points). Head coach Ian Laperriere wrapped up his second season as the Phantoms’ head coach. He is now 66-61-21.
However, while I still do not believe he is the right fit for this Phantoms team, he deserves another year as the head coach. Under Laperriere, the Phantoms ranked last in the league in penalty kills and allowed 70 power-play goals, which was second in the league. A stat you don’t want to be near the top. In the 2021-22 season, Lehigh Valley finished seventh in the league allowing 45 power-play goals, a huge difference that needs improving next season.
Some of his decisions are questionable. Take game two of the Calder Cup playoffs, he could’ve put Nolan Maier in instead of Sam Ersson to save him in case of a decisive game three. However, he was anticipating a series clincher like everyone else, but it did not happen. He went with Ersson again and he simply ran out of gas in game three before Maier went in.
Another example is his line combinations. I’m not going to beat him up badly on this because the Flyers dealt with a lot of injuries which took so many guys up and he put in the best line he could with what he had. While the Phantoms did have some injuries of their own. Guys like Ryan Fitzgerald and Isaac Ratcliffe should’ve gotten more playing time. Instead, Fitzgerald spent most of the season as a healthy scratch and Ratcliffe was dealt to Nashville.
That isn’t entirely on him, that’s on the Flyers organization and the players themselves for not conditioning themselves to prevent injuries. Yes, injuries are part of the game, but look at guys like Louie Belpedio who played the entire season and was not injured until game three of the playoffs.
One area that Laperriere lacked was not disciplining the players. Guys like Garrett Wilson, a good soldier for Lehigh Valley, took some unnecessary penalties that cost them wins. He spent 115 minutes in the penalty box. He is not the only one, there are a few others who should learn to clean up the penalties except for defending teammates.
While Laperriere did criticize them for committing those penalties, something he used to do back in the back, he needed to bench some of them like Flyers coach John Tortorella did several times during the season. Laperriere needs the players to know that he will not tolerate the penalties that have cost them games, except for when defending teammates.
He’s praised guys like Wilson and Hodgson for stepping up to defend their guys. A great example this year was Sam Ersson getting jabbed long after the whistle was blown. Wilson and Hayden Hodgson went after those players who touched him.
Another area the Phantoms did improve somewhat was the power play, Lehigh Valley scored 49 power-play goals and six shorthanded goals in 279 minutes. While those numbers are not great, compared to the 2021-22 season, in which they only scored 35 power-play goals and ten shorthanded goals in 235 minutes. A minor improvement on one end but not on the other.
The bright side to the Phantoms heading into next season is the youth that are coming up the ranks. Lehigh Valley had plenty of young guys who got their first taste of the postseason from Elliot Desnoyers, Ronnie Attard, Olle Lycksell, Nolan Maier, Bobby Brink, Emil Andrae, Brendan Furry, Adam Ginning, Cooper Marody, Jackson Cates, Max Willman, Wyatte Wylie, Adam Brooks, and Will Zmolek.
The reason Tyson Foerster and Sam Ersson are not on here is that those two are likely going to be with the Philadelphia Flyers next season. If and if they return to Lehigh Valley next season, it is a bonus. The youth on this team who got their first taste of being in the playoffs will want that feeling again. Maybe next season, we could be looking at a long run in the Calder Cup playoffs. There is a lot to be excited about next season.
On the other side, several players on the Reading Royals should get the opportunity to play for the Phantoms next season. One name I wish played more was Charlie Gerard. Gerard played six games for the Phantoms this season and in those six games, he made a difference out there despite not scoring a goal.
In Reading, Gerard is their captain and has 33 goals and 43 assists (76 points) in 62 games. The Royals started their Kelly Cup playoff run on Friday night and Gerard scored a goal and an assist for a 2-1 win over Maine.
In the 2021-22 season, Gerard scored six goals and six assists (12 points) for the Phantoms. He is a guy I hope will play full-time in Lehigh Valley next season and he is only 27 years old.
In addition to Gerard, two other Royals players who should get a look next season are Max Newton and Jacob Gaucher. This season in the ECHL, Newton has 34 goals and 38 assists (72 points), while Jacob Gaucher scored 22 goals and 39 assists (61 points). These three players finished 1-2-3 for the Royals this season.
One last note on the youth players, the Phantoms should re-sign Jordy Bellerive next season. Bellerive finished the season with eight goals and 12 assists (20 points) and 55 penalty minutes. He is only 23 years old but was a tremendous asset to them.
Now, you can’t build a championship-caliber team on just youth alone, you need a few veteran players on the ice with them. The Phantoms had plenty of leaders on the ice with Cal O’Reilly, Artem Anisimov, and Kevin Connauton.
These guys likely not going to return to the Phantoms next season. Unless guys like O’Reilly decide to come back, Lehigh Valley should try to re-sign them. If they don’t return, they need to find other veteran players who would be a great fit for this young team next season.
There is a lot to be excited about next season for the Phantoms. Let’s see if they can build off of this playoff exit and go farther next season. I can’t wait for October and so should you.
