Flyers Preseason Injuries Affect Phantoms Forward Depth
Just as the Philadelphia Flyers' NHL training camp and preseason is approaching its end, the first injuries in the organization (excluding goaltender Anthony Stolarz's pre-camp knee surgery) have surfaced. And it's not good news for their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley.
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall delivered some unsettling news to local Philadelphia media Saturday afternoon after the team's practice, announcing that forwards Cole Bardreau (upper body) and Colin McDonald (lower body) - two key cogs in the Phantoms' forward core - will miss significant time due to injuries suffered in preseason action earlier in the week.
Bardreau, a source close to the situation revealed to Inside AHL Hockey, suffered a broken hand in Wednesday's split squad game against the New York Islanders in Brooklyn. Hextall said Bardreau is expected to miss three to four weeks with an upper body injury. He was in Allentown skating with the Phantoms Saturday afternoon, but in a limited capacity. He was seen wearing some extra padding under his gloves.
McDonald, the Phantoms' team captain the past two seasons, will also miss several weeks due to injury. McDonald will also need to begin the season on the NHL roster on season-opening injured reserve. According to CapFriendly.com, McDonald's cap hit on the opening roster is $14,166.
Dave Isaac, Flyers beat reporter for the Courier-Post, reported Saturday afternoon that Bardreau won't affect the Flyers' cap even though he's technically still on the NHL roster as an injured/non-roster designation. Bardreau will be assigned to Lehigh Valley after he's healthy and ready to return to action.
Flyers trim camp roster to 26
The Flyers officially sent seven players to Lehigh Valley Saturday - goaltender Alex Lyon, defensemen Mark Alt, T.J. Brennan and Will O'Neill and forwards Greg Carey, Corban Knight and Phil Varone. All players with the exception of Lyon were placed on waivers and cleared at noon.
The moves leave Philadelphia with 26 healthy bodies in camp, with only three more cuts needed to get to the NHL's 23-man maximum roster limit. It appears the final cuts will be two forwards and a defenseman, with forwards Taylor Leier and Mike Vecchione on the outside looking in. On defense, it will come down to the youngsters - two spots for Robert Hagg, Sam Morin and Travis Sanheim to battle for in the Flyers' final preseason games.
