Lehigh Valley Phantoms head coach John Snowden met with the media Friday prior to the first game of the Rookie Series between the Flyers and the Rangers. Here’s what he had to say about some of the players at the camp, particularly Alex Bump (who had a great showing Friday night in the opening game of the Rookie Series) and Nikita Grebenkin (who scored the game winner against the Rangers Friday night).
On Alex Bump’s time with Lehigh Valley last season and his growth coming into Rookie Camp:
I think he’s made a lot of gains body-wise and maturity-wise with his off-season. I’ve talked about it a little bit before with him is that when he came in right away, he had a lot of success in the regular season games. I think he had a lot of success in that first-round series against Wilkes-Barre. Then when we played against Hershey, whose a veteran, older, tight-checking team, the conversations that we had was that his pace off the puck needed to be a little bit quicker. Getting into spots because they close quick, they are hard at defending. He had a little bit more space in the regular season games and the first round of the playoffs as opposed to what he did in Hershey.
Right now, what I’m seeing is that his pace looks pretty good. He’s jumping into the holes when he needs to be there, he’s always attacking the interior of the rink, he’s not afraid to go there. So what we’ve talked about, that constructive criticism and the teaching points that we had for him, he’s really trying to make sure he’s got the effort for that.
On whether Snowden is surprised by Bump’s growth or potential:
I’m not surprised by it at all. He’s a cerebral, intelligent hockey player, especially when it comes to the offensive side of the game. He’s so strategic as far as where he needs to go. He never puts himself outside of a scoring area, he always reroutes back inside, into the interior. He’s putting himself into good spots, he understands how the plays are developing, he understands the D-zone coverage and how he can jump into holes where they are vulnerable.
I think a lot of those high-offensive minds, it’s just natural for them. So for him to grab the information that we had for him — ‘Your pace just needs to step up a little bit to get to those spots a little bit quicker’ — and for him to adjust in the off-season and take it in, it’s not surprising to me. But sometimes that’s hard to do because when you’re coming from junior and college, you haven’t had to do that all the time. So you’re wired, especially if you’ve been there for three or four years — however long you’re there — you wire yourself (to think), ‘Well I’ve got a little bit more time than I’m used to than I would get at the pro level.’ He’s adjusted quickly. You can see it on the ice, he looks really good right now.
On Bump’s confidence:
I think players with that skillset, and having that confidence is what they need. I think it’s important to be confident and be an offensive threat. I think if you look at the NHL almost all of those guys have that confidence and that swagger. The greatest thing about him is that he’s confident when he steps on the ice, yet he’s the most incredibly calm, reserved, and nice person off the ice. It’s like he’s got a personality that when I’m on the ice that’s who I am and when he’s off the ice he’s one of the nicest human beings you’ll ever be around. He’s so respectful, he’s quiet, he’s inclusive with everybody. It’s an impressive trait to go from being so calm and being such a good, quiet presence off the ice, and then stepping on the ice. He’s got that mindset where, ‘I want to take over, I want to dominate.’ I don’t think there’s an ego part of him, he just knows he’s a good hockey player. I think that’s what should happen when you step on the ice, you should have that confidence that, ‘I’m here and I belong here.’
On whether Bump is stronger on his skates in Rookie Camp versus last season with the Phantoms:
I thought there were moments in the Hershey series when some of the bigger guys got into him. And I think that’s anybody moving into that from college into the pro level, things are going to be harder and quicker. The one skill that he has that is — I don’t know how you teach it, I’ll be completely with you — is he has that ability to just slide through checks. Some players just have that. He’s like an eel, he just slides through things. But now we’re trying to build that part where he can bring guys into him and use that body and that frame to get some space for himself to get out of it and not always have to slide through things. Maybe he can bait a guy in, make contact then create space and make a play through guys. He’s been focused on doing that. I think he’s been really strong on his skates in the couple of days we’ve been on the ice, the last two days.
On how Bump needs to keep his head up going through the neutral zone, avoiding a big hit:
The best thing you can say about him is I don’t think he looks down at the puck very much. His whole game is with his eyes up. And that’s what makes him who he is and that’s what gives him the confidence to be able to step inside in those situations. I think if his eyes are up all the time and he sees an open space to go there, he’s not going to go there because he knows he’s going to put himself in a vulnerable spot. But his eyes are up all the time. There’s nothing he’s not seeing when the puck’s on his stick and it’s not on his stick. I don’t think he looks at the puck very much. It’s a pretty impressive skill.
On Bump calling Wilkes-Barre “soft” during their playoff round:
I think it was a good learning moment for him. I thought he handled it well after it, he didn’t think too much after it.
On what Nikita Grebenkin needs to do to make the Flyers this season:
I think he just needs to continue being who he is. One of the greatest strengths about him is he can extend and O zone like crazy. His ability to bring guys in and cut back, hold onto pucks and fend guys off, then beat two checks with a little slip play. He’s a passer, he likes to pass the puck.
I think the big thing with him is his foot speed, those first two or three strides. I think he’s done a good job at gaining some traction on that. He looks pretty good right now when his first two strides are going. Once he gets into his top end speed he’s good but his success is when he gets below the dots. That’s where he takes the game over and where he can make a ton of plays down there. And it’s hard to close him off because he’s always getting a guy on him, he’s saving space and getting out of there. If his foot speed continues to grow he’s a pretty good player. One we’re very excited about.
