Grading the 2009 Flyers: Jared Ross

by Travis Hughes on May 5, 2009 8:48 PM EDT in Philadelphia Flyers Season Grades

Grade: C

2009/09 Salary: $500,000 - 2008/09 Cap Hit: $500,000

2009/10 Status: Restricted FA, Arbitration Eligible

Linemates
Riley Cote and Arron Asham 25% of the time
Asham and Josh Gratton 17.1% of the time

Depth Chart Ranking: #4 at Center

[Broad Street Hockey Profile Page] - [Hockey Reference Profile Page]

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Jared Ross	10	0	0	0	-4	2	0	0	0	0	12	0.0

The 26-year-old AHL lifer made his NHL debut on opening night against the New York Rangers, playing just five minutes, but he would only play in nine more games with the Flyers the rest of the year. He spent most of 2008/09 with the Phantoms, and he lit up the scoreboard there. He averaged more than a point per game with 69 points in 64 games in the AHL and he was selected to the Planet USA all-star team. In the all-star game, he tallied a goal and six assists to pick up game MVP honors.

Ross, the first Alabama born-and-trained player to make the NHL, took a while to reach the big time, and in the AHL, he's considered a veteran. He was a major piece of the Phantoms' offensive core and they missed him terribly during their first round playoff exit this season.

It's tough to give a grade to a guy who only played 10 games plus playoffs in a Flyers uniform. So, Jared Ross gets a C grade for not doing anything fantastic in his time with the big club. He wasn't good, he wasn't bad. He was average.

But with more ice time in the NHL, could Ross be a force? It's unlikely. He could be a strong fourth-line player -- like he was in the playoffs this year -- but it's doubtful that he'll be anything more than that. He's a very small player that compensates for that with hard work, but he simply doesn't have enough skill be any more than a fourth line player.

Still, in that role, Ross may be able to provide the kind of offense and hard work that could keep him around with the Flyers, very similar to how Darroll Powe has worked his way into the NHL roster.

Next up in our Grading the Flyers series is Simon Gagne.

Poll

Does Jared Ross have a chance at sticking with the big club?

Yes, he's a lock

25 votes

He's got the skill, but it's hard to tell

114 votes

He has a chance but there's work to be done

178 votes

No way, a career AHLer

66 votes

383 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I guess I'll be the first of 120 voters to comment...

I think this is an accurate assessment: There isn’t much to assess.

Ross clearly has talent (evidenced by his 1+ pt/g AHL clip and AHL A-S Game MVP) but what has he done to earn one of 20 roster spots? I’m a fan of Ross, I personally think he can be a Darroll Powe-type guy, but does this club have room for two of those? (I know, if we have room for Cote and Carcillo, why not Powe and Ross?) The only way I see both Powe and Ross on the roster next year is with Ross winning his job in camp (probably having to beat out this year’s Metro-FA) and Powe becoming more of an Upshall-type player. Right now, Powe is more agitator than potential (Upshall is the opposite) and who really knows what Ross can do at this level?

Personally, barring any FA signings, I’d love to see the Flyers fourth line have Asham and Ross together, rather than Carcillo, Cote, and Asham (Who is your center???) but Ross needs to earn that job first.

Either way, great job scoring Alabama’s first NHL Playoff goal.

by Geoff Detweiler on May 6, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

I'd rather we get a veteran...

… unless Ross becomes an awesome face-off guy. That way, he can be the next Mike Zigomanis.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on May 6, 2009 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

All I’m sayin is that I wouldn’t throw him out of the top 12 for just any veteran. It would have to be a veteran who plays similar to Joel Otto, then I’d be all for it.

by Geoff Detweiler on May 6, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

cote and his impeccably hot wife need to go. we’ll miss you riley, for all you’re stupid fights when the flyers were being mediocre.

by kolparty on May 6, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

your*

by kolparty on May 6, 2009 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

I agree.

I never thought I’d see the day when I’d regret giving up Ben Eager. If the Flyers kept him and ditched Cote instead, we’d have three tough guys who have hockey skill instead of two.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on May 6, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting choice of Blackhawks you regret giving up…

by Geoff Detweiler on May 6, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

@Shagg

Yea Sharp for Ellison hurts…I think Ellison is my bagger at the Acme now…Eager does hurt too but not as much as Sharp.

by Vilneus2 on May 7, 2009 2:58 PM EDT reply actions

“I think Ellison is my bagger at the Acme now…”

- ouch…

"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Gretzky

"Never turn your back on friends..." - 'Nightfall' by Blind Guardian

by dwarvenpanzer9 on May 7, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions

i dont know...

I watched him develop from about when he was peewee and he’s got “that” thing, some call it gifted or a sense or anticipation etc…call it what you will, he’s got it in spades. Every season people would acknowlege how talented he was which was almost always followed with a “but this or but that” for the next year, be it size, speed, being able to handle the physical etc….and it never stopped, year after year there was always an insurmountable “but”. The biggest question i can remember was when he went to play at UAH, there were a lot of, not what i would call doubters but people that just couldn’t “see it happening”. As far as I know, it never affected him and every year he would blow peoples minds…i think the key is if Philly give’s him a good solid chance which it appears they just might. That said, I don’t know if he can accell at the top echelon of this sport, the stats (age, size, etc) certainly aren’t in his favor but then again, they’ve never been and he’s dominated at ever level every time, I don’t see what makes this time any different from any of the others…and most of all, i truely believe that there’s not even a hint of doubt in his mind that he can compete very well in the bigs… Oh and on a side note, he is one of the coolest, down to earth, level headed people I’ve ever known, a true class act.

David

by dtdionne on May 21, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

Give him a shot.

If I am correct the Flyers webpage lists him on the major league roster for the upcoming season….unless the Flyers can grab a cheap veteran Centermen…I don’t see why they wouldn’t give him a shot at being the fourth line center….he didn’t play much with the big club, but in the post season he did get his first (and only) goal. What a better way for a newbie to get his first goal….in the playoffs against the high powered Pens.

The Flyers have 5 Centers on the current Roster……Briere, Richards, Carter, Powe, and Ross…..but I think they are going to play Briere at Winger (which I disagree with)…and I think Powe played at Right? Wing quite a bit last season….

So, I say give Jared Ross a shot…let him prove himself…based on his performance in the AHL and other levels….I think he’s earned it.

by FlyersGoalies1and27 on Aug 9, 2009 4:54 PM EDT reply actions