Photo: Nina Weiss/Sports Talk Philly
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
While the Flyers look to improve on a playoff appearance from last season in the upcoming 2016-17 season, their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, will be home to some of the team's rising stars.
With several notable prospects joining the professional ranks full time as well as some solid veteran depth signings by Ron Hextall, the Phantoms have the looks of a formidable contender at the AHL level.
On Monday, the AHL schedule was released for the 2016-17 season, including the 76-game slate for the Phantoms.
The Phantoms open the season on Saturday, Oct. 15, by hosting the Springfield Thunderbirds.
80 percent of the Phantoms home games fall on weekends as 31 of the 38 games at PPL Center will be on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.
The team will play six games in October before things start to pick up with 13 games in November and 12 in December. The Phantoms will also play 14 games in March, their most in a month this season. The season concludes with eight games in April, including the regular-season finale on April 15 on the road against the Binghamton Senators. The schedule also features eight occurrences of the AHL's 3-for-3 weekend, where the team will play three games in three nights.
In addition, the Phantoms and PPL Center are serving as hosts for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic, taking place on Jan. 30.
