Monday's Catch Up & Links 1/25

Adam Comrie is back with the Phantoms.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms have a busy week ahead of themselves prior to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic in Syracuse on Sunday and Monday.

Their only game on the schedule last week - Saturday in Hershey - was postponed due to inclement weather and re-scheduled for tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET. That leaves the Phantoms with four games in six days this week, with a home match up against a Binghamton team that has had their number this season and a home and home series with division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The team taking the ice tonight will also be quite a bit different as two names are no longer on the roster and two new names have been added.

The weekly update on the Phantoms, complete with news, notes and weekly links after the jump.



Lehigh Valley Phantoms (18-21-2-1)

Last Week

No games. The Phantoms' lone game scheduled for last week was the Saturday game in Hershey that had been postponed and rescheduled for tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET

The Week Ahead

Monday 1/25, Lehigh Valley at Hershey - 7:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday 1/27, Binghamton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Friday 1/29, W-B/Scranton at Lehigh Valley - 7:05 p.m. ET
Saturday 1/30, Lehigh Valley at W-B/Scranton - 7:05 p.m. ET

News/Notes

• Defenseman Matt Lashoff was released from his professional tryout contract last week. He appeared in 17 games with the Phantoms this season, registering two assists, but was often an odd man out due the the AHL's veteran rule and the team's over abundance of veterans.

• Defenseman Adam Comrie has been called up from ECHL Reading to give the Phantoms eight healthy defensemen on the roster. In 39 games with the Royals, Comrie has been potent offensively with 15 goals and 19 assists.

• Veterans Andrew MacDonald and Tim Brent are both on the team's injured list with what head coach Scott Gordon called on-going injuries. Brent practiced with the team this week, while MacDonald did not. Both injuries seem like minor nagging issues that have been lingering.

• Forward Sam Gagner is back with the Flyers after nine games with the Phantoms. Gagner was more noticeable with each passing game during his AHL stint. After six points (1G-5A) and an injury to Sean Couturier, Gagner was recalled and played his first game back against Pittsburgh Thursday night.

• The Phantoms signed forward Phil DeSimone to an AHL contract for the remainder of the season on Saturday. DeSimone had played the last three years overseas, most recently with Graz EC in Austria where he tallied 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 39 games.

Weekly Links

Last week at The Home News, I featured Taylor Leier and why he's playing with a world of confidence this season - his second at the pro level. This week's story on newly signed forward Philip DeSimone and the return of Adam Comrie.

He might have been undrafted, by Flyers prospect forward Danick Martel is making progress with the Phantoms in his rookie season.

Over the weekend, I posted my weekly look around the AHL's Eastern Conference in Saturday's Morning Skate (1/23).

After Wednesday's practice, head coach Scott Gordon confirmed that leading goal scorer Petr Straka is going to be out for awhile.

On Thursday, the Phantoms roster saw quite a few changes with Sam Gagner recalled by Philadelphia, Matt Lashoff released from his PTO and Adam Comrie called up from ECHL Reading.

My latest AHL story at Hockey's Future features Portland Pirates rookie Kyle Rau, a former college standout at Minnesota who is looking to translate his success to the pros.