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The 2026-27 American Hockey League season is right around the corner. In Allentown, the big question is whether the Lehigh Valley Phantoms improved sufficiently to return to the Calder Cup playoffs.
While their NHL parent in Philadelphia had an encouraging 2025-26 season, the Phantoms took a step in the wrong direction. The Phantoms won a playoff series in each of the two previous years. They proceeded to get off to a strong start for new head coach John Snowden through the first quarter of last season.
Unfortunately, things came unglued as the year progressed. Injuries and NHL recalls took a toll. Furthermore, the goaltending , after a promising beginning, became unreliable. When all was said and done, the Phantoms missed the playoffs.
Keep in mind that six of the eight Atlantic Division teams qualified for postseason play. In 2026-27, the division contracts to seven teams. The Bridgeport Islanders relocated to Ontario as the Hamilton Hammers of the eight-team North Division.
Key Phantoms Departures
Speedy winger Anthony Richard was arguably the Phantoms most creative player. He’s no longer with the team. Richard left for Switzerland, signing with HC Fribourg-Gotteron.
Likewise, big two-way center Rodrigo Abols is no longer an option. Abols suffered a season-ending injury while in the NHL with Philadelphia. Like Richard, the 30-year-old Abols will play in Switzerland (SC Bern) in 2026-27.
The Phantoms also lost Christian Kyrou, Lane Pederson, Phil Tomasino, Adam Ginning and Max Guenette. That’s a significant volume — and quality — of players who will wear different uniforms this upcoming season.
Playmaking veteran forward Cooper Marody, who finished last season with Coachella Valley, missed a lot of time with injuries the past two seasons. He’s off to Sweden for the 2026-27 season.
Phantoms additions
On July 1, the opening day of Free Agency season, Flyers general Daniel Briere and his management staff signed some notable talents as lead dogs for the Phantoms and depth pieces for Philadelphia.
Start with Jack Studincka, a 27 year old forward who split time with the Florida Panthers and the Charlotte Checkers last season. A smooth skater with good size, Studnicka has plast NHL experience in Boston as well as Florida. He will be a good addition to the upper end of the Lehigh Valley lineup.
Damila Klimovich, a big-framed (6-foot-2, 203 pound) Belarus native is a
23 year old forward with a lot of juice.Over his last five seasons spent with the Abbotsford Canucks, he amassed 123 points (70 goals. 53 assists).
Zack Aston-Reese, a 32 year old center/winger, should add some penalty killing and checking prowess to Snowden’s squad. The veteran spent time with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Cleveland Monsters during the 2025-2026 season. At 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, Aston Reese is another big-framed addition to the team. He can help stabilize the bottom six.
Meanwhile, the Phantoms also added 28-year-old defenseman Cam Dineen. The blueliner, who is not related to former Flyers captain Kevin Dineen or the late coach Bill Dineen is a somewhat smallish (5-foot-11) left-shot defenseman, He has spent the last few seasons with the Bakersfield Condors. Overall, Dineen has 38 NHL games with the Coyotes and the Oilers.
Overall, the Phantoms have added three veteran players with NHL experience to their credit. Collectively, they can help stabilize a locker room in transition from last year’s group.
Staying put in Allentown
Hunter McDonald signed a two-year (two-way. one-way) contract extension earlier this month. He’s likely to spend most or all of the 2026-27 season with the Phantoms. However, he’s a potential depth NHL option for the Flyers.
At the AHL level, McDonald’s retention was an important stabilizer. He’s emerged as a team leader and a galvanizing presence in the locker room.
Additionally, a year ago, some thought veteran Phantoms captain Garrett Wilson was headed to retirement after the 2025-26 season. Instead, Wilson will stay put in Allentown. The rugged winger even saw a late-season NHL stint with the Flyers to help the parent team cope with the trade departure of Nicolas Deslauriers.
Wilson is universally known for being a tremendous teammate and mentor to young players. He makes everyone feel welcome and accepted as part of the team, but also helps bring accountability. Whatever he lacks in pure ability, Wilson makes up in work ethic, toughess and willingness to pay the price to win.
A younger power forward, Zayde Wisdom, brings some of the same traits as Wilson and perhaps a tad more offensive upside. Players such as Wilson, Wisdom and Jacob Gauther are all good examples for incoming teammates.
Nothing has ever been handed to these players. They’ve earned their keep. That’s the same mentality the organization wants to impart in prospects who come through Allentown.
Is it good enough?
Will Lehigh Valley’s additions and retained veterans provide enough spark to help propel the team back to the playoffs? On paper, the Phantoms are a bubble team to reach a mini-series round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Ultimately, the Phantoms’ fate will depend heavily on two other factors.
1) How will the youngsters perform? The Phantoms will need breakout years from at least some of their young talents. Incoming rookies include Jett Luchanko and Spencer Gill. Other key developmental players range from defenseman Oliver Bonk (a second-year pro) to Cole Knuble and Noah Powell. We’ll discuss these players in an upcoming article.
2) The goaltending has to hold up. However, the work split plays out between Aleksei Kolosov, Carson Bjarnason and/or Yaniv Perets, the Phantoms will need steadier and more consistently reliable goaltending for the duration of 2026-27. If last year’s solid start/ early fade repeats, it could be a long year.
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