Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Defensemen Brandon Manning and Matt Konan recalled from Adirondack

After Kent Huskins suffered a concussion against the Canadiens the Flyers have recalled Brandon Manning, who played four games with the Flyers last season, and Matt Konan, who the Flyers signed as an overage player last off-season.

Manning has had some issues this season with the Phantoms this season. Though he was the Phantoms only representative to the All-Star game he has one of the worst +/- in the league. Part of that is due to a weak Phantoms team and Manning usually playing against other teams top offensive lines. The Flyers are obviously hopeful that Manning will develop into a solid NHLer and all the injuries have given him another opportunity with the team.

Recalling Matt Konan is an interesting move. I saw Konan at Flyers prospect camp last summer and was very impressed. The first day that I was there the only player who scored with as much regularity as Konan was Scott Laughton. Konan has great good size, standing 6'3 but only weighing around 190 lbs, and good speed. He started this season in the ECHL; forced down by an overabundance of defenseman with the Phantoms. His point production this year with the Phantoms has been nothing special scoring only 6 points in 42 games. But the fact the Flyers are bringing him up shows that they have faith in him and that he posses a defensive ability that doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

These players may be a little while from being full time NHLers but any experience they get this season will definitely help and quicken their development.

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