An unlikely surprise for the Phantoms…Adam Ginning (Flyers)

Photo Credit: TheAHL.com

When the Flyers announced the signing of a prospect from Sweden Adam Ginning to a two-year entry-level contract, it came as a shocker to some. He became the fourth member of the Flyers 2018 draft class to ink an ELC with the orange and black: Wyatte Wylie, Joel Farabee, and Sam Ersson are the others. Some questions remain are what’s Ginning’s ceiling, as he struggled to find a home in the AHL (Swedish Hockey League) at times, to is he for real? Ginning has emerged as an unlikely surprise for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Ginning has widely been known as a defensive defenseman (Stay at home), with little offensive production. He’s very inconsistent offensively, and that is due to the lack of mobility on his behalf. Ginning is not the best skater, but he has excelled at the AHL level. He’s become a smarter hockey player, and knows how to keep up with players. He also has benefited from a change of scenery in Sweden, and he loves laying the open ice hit. Ginning’s not over the top with it, but he’s successful with it.

With Samuel Morin no longer in the plans for the Flyers at least as a player, the Flyers are trying to replicate his physical play on the defensive side of the puck. Ginning does not shy away from physicality, rather he embraces it.

The young 23-year-old won the SHL Championship with Färjestad BK last season, and he tallied five points (3g, 2a) in 19 playoff games. For his efforts, he only registered one goal and four assists for in 51 regular season games.

“I always just try to work hard and play my game. You work hard and battle that makes a good defense.” – Adam Ginning said at Training Camp

This 6’4, 205 pound defenseman was a ping pong ball between Linköping HC and HC Vita Vasten, before finding a home with Färjestad BK in 2020-21. This is why some, including myself, really thought that Ginning would not earn a ELC with the Flyers. Ginning’s development stalled mightily, but he managed to become a solid defensive defenseman, as he finally found his niche with Färjestad BK. Believe it or not he’s actually been one of the most consistent/best Phantoms defenseman this season. He has good gap control and Ginning just plays a smart two-way game. Ginning does have the size to excel with the Flyers. Given his size, I actually think he’s better suited in North America due to the ice rink size.

He is often lauded with laying the big hit or dropping the mitts, but he actually leads the Phantoms with a plus 23 rating this season. In addition, he has netted three goals and registered 15 assists, while sitting with the fourth most penalty minutes for the Phantoms with 57 in 60 games played.

Ginning is a native of Linköping, Sweden, and he has captured two bronze medals in the World Junior Championships for Team Sweden. Most recently he led Team Sweden as Captain to a bronze medal in 2020, and Ginning also captured a bronze medal in 2017-18 for Team Sweden.

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Personally, with how well Ginning has done this season. He actually could become a 6th/7th defenseman in the NHL. Some people compare him to Robert Hägg, and that is false. Hägg was more talented offensively in his tenure while playing in the SHL. Ginning’s skating is no longer a concern for me at the professional level, and that was something I was concerned about when he initially signed his ELC.

All in all, Head Coach Ian Laperrière and his staff have done a tremendous job with Ginning. His development has not been stalled like other prospects in the last, rather he has flourished under the fairly new regime in Lehigh. Maybe Ginning receives a call-up for his efforts before the season concludes for the orange and black, in the end it would be a well deserved one.