swflyers25
8-27-05, 4:06 PM
Flyers rookies hope to meet expectations
Friday, August 26, 2005
By ADAM KIMELMAN
Staff Writer
VOORHEES - In the new world order of the NHL, the salary cap will force teams to give more opportunities to younger players.
And not just on perennial cellar-dwellers, either. Top teams will be depending on rookies, maybe none so much as the Flyers.
As nearly two dozen Flyers and Phantoms players scrimmaged yesterday at Skate Zone, Jeff Carter seemed to skate just fine. No lofty expectations weighed down the 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of London, Ontario.
"It's a huge challenge for us to come in and, hopefully, to make the team and contribute right off the bat," the 20-year-old forward said. "That's our goal. Any way we can help the team and build on it would be great."
The "us" Carter mentioned included rookie teammate Mike Richards, who also skated yesterday.
High expectations have followed the pair since they were chosen in the first round of the 2003 draft.
Carter, chosen 11th overall, and Richards, selected 24th, went from junior standouts to AHL stars during the Phantoms' run to the Calder Cup. Carter led all AHL players in postseason goals (12) and points (23), while Richards added seven goals and eight assists. Between now and when training camp opens Sept. 13, the pair will spend time getting to know some new teammates.
And in Carter's case, a new position. An early look at the depth chart had Carter, who played center in juniors, at right wing on the team's top line, centered by Peter Forsberg and with Simon Gagne on the left side.
"Whatever they think is best for the team," Carter said of the possible move. "If I play right wing it's going to be a good learning experience for me and something I can build on."
Flyers captain Keith Primeau said he wasn't worried about any undue pressures the team's prize rookies might feel.
"We're excited about having both those guys, but we don't want to put too lofty expectations on what they're trying to do and accomplish," Primeau said.
At the same time, though, Primeau said the pair easily could exceed the lofty expectations.
"It'll be interesting to see how the year is going to unfold. There's been so much talk of (top overall pick) Sidney Crosby, but in talking to some people with the Canadian world junior team last year, the order was Mike and Jeff 1-2 - not necessarily in that order - and Sidney was the fourth-best player on that team.
"As much pressure as has been heaped on them, they're really not getting their due recognition at this point, but they'll get it."
-- -- --
A few former Flyers joined yesterday's workout: Eric Weinrich, Justin Williams and Todd Fedoruk. Fedoruk skated in a black Anaheim jersey, while Weinrich and Williams had no problem wearing their former team's colors ... Besides Gagne-Forsberg-Carter, other possible forward lines at training camp include Primeau centering Branko Radivojevic and Patrick Sharp, Michal Handzus between Mike Knuble and Sami Kapanen, and Richards centering Donald Brashear and Turner Stevenson.
NOTE:
Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@njtimes.com.
NJ.com (http://www.nj.com/flyers/times/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112504392731410.xml&coll=5&thispage=1)
Friday, August 26, 2005
By ADAM KIMELMAN
Staff Writer
VOORHEES - In the new world order of the NHL, the salary cap will force teams to give more opportunities to younger players.
And not just on perennial cellar-dwellers, either. Top teams will be depending on rookies, maybe none so much as the Flyers.
As nearly two dozen Flyers and Phantoms players scrimmaged yesterday at Skate Zone, Jeff Carter seemed to skate just fine. No lofty expectations weighed down the 6-foot-3, 210-pound native of London, Ontario.
"It's a huge challenge for us to come in and, hopefully, to make the team and contribute right off the bat," the 20-year-old forward said. "That's our goal. Any way we can help the team and build on it would be great."
The "us" Carter mentioned included rookie teammate Mike Richards, who also skated yesterday.
High expectations have followed the pair since they were chosen in the first round of the 2003 draft.
Carter, chosen 11th overall, and Richards, selected 24th, went from junior standouts to AHL stars during the Phantoms' run to the Calder Cup. Carter led all AHL players in postseason goals (12) and points (23), while Richards added seven goals and eight assists. Between now and when training camp opens Sept. 13, the pair will spend time getting to know some new teammates.
And in Carter's case, a new position. An early look at the depth chart had Carter, who played center in juniors, at right wing on the team's top line, centered by Peter Forsberg and with Simon Gagne on the left side.
"Whatever they think is best for the team," Carter said of the possible move. "If I play right wing it's going to be a good learning experience for me and something I can build on."
Flyers captain Keith Primeau said he wasn't worried about any undue pressures the team's prize rookies might feel.
"We're excited about having both those guys, but we don't want to put too lofty expectations on what they're trying to do and accomplish," Primeau said.
At the same time, though, Primeau said the pair easily could exceed the lofty expectations.
"It'll be interesting to see how the year is going to unfold. There's been so much talk of (top overall pick) Sidney Crosby, but in talking to some people with the Canadian world junior team last year, the order was Mike and Jeff 1-2 - not necessarily in that order - and Sidney was the fourth-best player on that team.
"As much pressure as has been heaped on them, they're really not getting their due recognition at this point, but they'll get it."
-- -- --
A few former Flyers joined yesterday's workout: Eric Weinrich, Justin Williams and Todd Fedoruk. Fedoruk skated in a black Anaheim jersey, while Weinrich and Williams had no problem wearing their former team's colors ... Besides Gagne-Forsberg-Carter, other possible forward lines at training camp include Primeau centering Branko Radivojevic and Patrick Sharp, Michal Handzus between Mike Knuble and Sami Kapanen, and Richards centering Donald Brashear and Turner Stevenson.
NOTE:
Contact Adam Kimelman at akimelman@njtimes.com.
NJ.com (http://www.nj.com/flyers/times/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112504392731410.xml&coll=5&thispage=1)