Top Adirondack Phantoms Should Be Key Philadelphia Flyers’ Players

COMMENTARY | The National Hockey League has put all of its players in the penalty box, otherwise known as the lockout. As a result, young men like Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier are freely skating in the American Hockey League this season while a number of veterans are experiencing life as temporary Europeans.

So far the stellar efforts both Philadelphia Flyers’ prospects have produced for the Adirondack Phantoms offer strong hope for the future.

Schenn and Couturier

Schenn was the key part of the deal that sent Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings one stunning June day in 2011. With vast potential and a full future to fill it, this offensive-minded forward played reasonably well last season. Injuries initially prevented him from being part of the Flyers’ active roster, but he began to play consistently when he was healthy.

This season the 21-year-old is performing superbly in a beefed-up AHL. He currently leads the Phantoms with 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 23 games played.

On the same day that the Flyers traded Richards to the Kings, they shipped Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets. As part of that package they received the Jackets’ 2011 number one draft pick and used it to select Couturier. Then a teenager, the Arizona native went on to have an eye-opening season that revealed his brilliant defensive skills.

This season Phantoms’ head coach Terry Murray has “Coots” playing on the power play, per organizational directive. He’s used that opportunity to expand on his respectable 27-point (13 goals, 14 assists) effort of last season, by posting 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists) in 21 games played so far this season.

Both players are surely benefiting from the extra iced seasoning they are receiving and seem set to assume positions of greater importance with the Flyers whenever Peter Laviolette is allowed to stand behind his NHL bench again.

When the games begin

A new round of collective bargaining talks is currently being considered by the NHL and the Players’ Association. It’s never good news when two sides in a dispute aren’t engaged in ongoing negotiations, but this situation is far from hopeless.

While the NHL has canceled all games through December 30, there’s still time to save the 2012-13 season. Because we haven’t yet reached the middle of this month, it’s also possible that the Winter Classic (to have been played between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs) can be resuscitated.

If, or when, the games do begin again some minimal practice time will be needed before regular season starts. The Flyers didn’t open the 48-game 1994-95 season, which was also affected by a lockout, until January 21, 1995.

Obviously, both sides know that they have some time to work with. But, the NHL will still receive $180 million in rights fees from the NBC Sports Group even if no games are played this season. While the Players’ Association has their own collective money stash to dip into, their escrow funds aren’t as vast the owners’ collective resources.

All labor negotiations involve elements of gamesmanship, risk and leadership. Hopefully, both teams have the collective will to make a deal. If so, players like Schenn and Couturier will be able to play in the best League in the world within the next month.

Sean O’Brien is based in the Philadelphia region. He was a freelance print sports writer for five years. You can follow him on Twitter @SeanyOB and also read his daily Sports Blog: Insight.

More from this author and the Yahoo Contributor Network:

Topps Hockey Card Mystery is Revealed

The Philadelphia Flyers’ Five Greatest Warriors

Ron Hextall’s First Goal Part of His Philadelphia Flyers’ Legacy

Talking Hockey with Philadelphia Flyers’ Legend Bobby Clarke: Interview

Philadelphia Flyers’ Goaltender Pelle Lindbergh’s Life, Death and Legacy Matters