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Training Camp: Injuries (Hayes, Allison, Morin), Roster Implications, ATOs |
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Pre-Camp Injury Report: Hayes, Allison, Morin, etc.
Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault addressed the media on Tuesday ahead of the start of the team's NHL training camp. The team also issued an injury report that included an unpleasant surprise.
* Yesterday, center Kevin Hayes felt something awry while working out with teammates on the ice at the Flyers Training Center (FTC) in Voorhees. Today, the player underwent abdominal surgery. He will be out six to eight weeks from today. During the offseason, Hayes underwent core muscle surgery and was said to be fully healed heading into training camp.
* Right winger Wade Allison has a high ankle sprain to his right ankle. This is a particularly tricky injury (6-to-8 weeks is a best-case scenario) and the player is currently listed as being out indefinitely. Vigneault could only say "he'll be out awhile."
* Defenseman Sam Morin underwent right knee surgery on Sept. 10 to remove loose bodies. He is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks from the time of the procedure. This is the same knee to which Morin twice suffered ACL tears.
*The diagnosis has not changed for power forward prospect Zayde Wisdom, who underwent shoulder surgery in August. Still listed as being out indefinitely, he could be ready to be cleared to play at some point in December.
* 22-year-old Phantoms defenseman Cooper Zech, signed by the Flyers to a two-way contract as a free agent this offseason, has an upper body injury. He will miss six to eight weeks.
The bad news on the injury front has significantly changed the outlook for the Flyers during training camp and the start of the season. Vigneault acknowledged that Morgan Frost, who appeared to be on the roster bubble heading into camp, will get an opportunity to show what he can do during Hayes' absence.
Additionally, the sheer length of Hayes' absence could result in him being placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) which would provide relief of a maximum $7.142 million of allowance to temporarily exceed the salary cap until he returns. LTIR space cannot be banked.
The absence of Allison (who wasn't a lock to make the team out of camp but appeared to have an inside track) increases the chance that Tanner Laczynski or perhaps Linus Sandin could open the season in the NHL. It also seemingly strengthens the security of Nicolas Aube-Kubel's hold on an NHL roster spot; at least for now.
Morin's absence opens up competition for the seventh spot on the NHL blueline depth chart. The team signed a pair of veterans with previous NHL experience -- Adam Clendening and Nick Seeler -- to two-way contracts this offseason. It is more likely that the Flyers would prefer a veteran for the 7D spot rather than placing a rookie (such as Cam York or Egor Zamula) in a depth chart spot in which they might go weeks at a time without playing in any games. If there's an injury within the starting six that's more than just a day-to-day issue, one of the young players is more likely to come up and be given the chance to start.
Flyers Release Two Forwards from ATOs; 3 Players Remain
The Flyers have released two undrafted rookie free agent tryout forwards who were with the team in Development Camp and Rookie camp: 18-year-old right wing Ethan Burroughs will return to the OHL in 2021-22 and be eligible to go back into the NHL Entry Draft in 2022, while 19-year-old Nolan Ritchie will head back to the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.
One amateur try-out (ATO) forward remains: speedy 18-year-old Peterborough Petes (OHL) center J.R. Avon. If the Flyers elect to sign him to an entry-level contract, his deal can slide to the OHL for each of the next two seasons while under NHL contract. If the team releases him from his ATO without signing him, he will go into the 2022 NHL Entry Draft pool.
Two ATO defensemen remain in camp: 20-year-old Quinn Schiemann and 20-year-old Jackson van de Leest. Schmiemann was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning (6th round, 182nd overall) in 2019 but was never signed. His rights expired earlier this year and he became an unrestricted free agent. van de Leest was never selected in the NHL Draft.
For these two players, there are three options:
1) Sign to an ELC.
2) Sign to a minor league contract. The player would still be a UFA for NHL rights purposes but the Flyers could continue to evaluate his development at the AHL level with the Phantoms or the ECHL level with the Reading Royals.
3) Release the player from his ATO. If the player is unable to land a pro contract elsewhere, he could return to junior hockey for an over-age season.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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