Which Phantoms could get a shot with the Flyers this season?

Due to the lockout the AHL season ends a week before the NHL season. Due to the underwhelming performances both the Flyers and their AHL counterparts are outside of the playoff picture as the season is winding down. This gives the Flyers a great opportunity to give a few of their young prospects there first look at the NHL. They've already been forced to use some of there AHLers this season, like Tye McGinn and Oliver Lauridsen, because of injuries.

JASON AKESON - RIGHT WING - 19 G, 32 A, 51 P in 59 GAMES in 2012-13

Jason Akeson made a name for himself back in 2010-11 when he ended the OHL season tied for the league lead with 108 points; tallying a whopping 84 assists. During his rookie year in the AHL he finished 2nd on the team in points behind Matt Ford who spent half his season in Hershey. He has followed up that season by leading the Phantoms in goals and points even though he spent the early part of the year in the ECHL; forced down by the influx of lockout players. Akeson has been a great passer and playmaker during his time in both the Ontario and American hockey leagues but the knock against him was that he wasn't much of a goal scorer. Though his 19 goals may not be jaw dropping it does lead the team and show his ability to improve his game. Paired with the right player, like Sean Couturier who he showed great chemistry with during the lockout, Akeson could be a great asset going forward.

MARCEL NOEBELS - CENTER/LEFT WING - 12 G, 9 A, 21 P in 40 GAMES in 2012-13

Last year Marcel Noebels centered one of the best lines in junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks. Along with Calgary Flames prospect Sven Baertschi and St. Louis' Ty Rattie he helped the Winterhawks to the WHL final. He started this season in the ECHL where he put up 30 points in 31 games before getting called up to the Phantoms. He started making an impact as soon as he got to Glen Falls. His 12 goals ties him for 4th on the team behind Jason Akeson, Braydon Schenn, and Tye McGinn. He has NHL ready size (6'2, 205 lbs) and defensive ability though his skating may still need some work. His defensive ability and positionable flexibility could make him the most likely call up candidate.

BRANDON MANNING - DEFENSE - 6 G, 15 A, 21 P in 65 GAMES in 2012-13

Manning might seem like the most likely candidate to be called up. He laced up the skates 4 times for the Flyers last season. He was the Phantoms only representative at the AHL All-Star game due to the end of the lockout out and an injury to Erik Gustafsson. But Manning has had a lack luster year. His play has been undisciplined, his point production has been down, and his -28 is the worst on the team. Still the Flyers may want to give him a shot with all the injuries on the blue line.

MARK ALT - DEFENSE - 0 G, 7 A, 7 P in 39 G for U. of MINNESOTA in 2012-13

Though Alt had a down year statistically in 2012-13 he had a strong 2011-12 campaign with the Golden Gophers scoring 5 goals and totaling 22 points. He's got great size (6'3, 203 lbs) and good mobility. He had an assist in his first AHL game and scored the shoot out winner in his second. Alt could get called up and play in place of Kent Huskins or Bruno Gervais towards the end of the season.

NICK COUSINS - CENTER - 27 G, 76 A, 103 P for SAULT. STE. MARIE in 2012-13

Cousins would likely have been the OHL points leader this season if he wasn't suspended for four games near the end of the season. He likely also would have been on the Canadian World Junior team if he hadn't been charged for sexual assault in the off-season, charges which have since been dropped. Cousins has the ability to put up points, at least at the junior level, but he could make the biggest impact in the NHL as a pesty forward, maybe be a bit of both and end up like an Alex Burrows type. Cousins amateur resume is much more impressive than his limited professional work, he has yet to register a point in 4 AHL games this season, so maybe the Flyers want him to stick in the AHL for the rest of this season. But maybe they bring him up to supply an angry little spark for the last couple games of the season.

Obviously a player like Tye McGinn has a great chance at getting called up again. I didn't include him because everyone knows him and knows how he plays. Scott Laughton is currently playing with the Phantoms, but if he were to play another game with the Flyers it would burn a year off his Entry Level Contract which the Flyers would never do. Eric Wellwood could be out a long time after cutting his leg open and losing a scary amount of blood. Outside of Noebels, Cousins, McGinn, Laughton, and Wellwood there are no Flyers draft picks on the Phantoms.