Grading the 2009 Flyers: Jared Ross

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]

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.

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