Philadelphia Flyers: Chuck Fletcher provides updates on injured players

Before the NHL pause took effect, the Flyers had three active players rehabbing recent injuries.

Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher spoke yesterday afternoon for the first time since the NHL decided to temporarily suspend the season. He spoke on a variety of topics that included the salary cap, the format once the league returns and keeping in touch.

Those were just a few of the major points Fletcher discussed during his conference call. He also gave updates on the Flyers injured players and where they were at in their rehab.

Nate Thompson

Nate Thompson had the least serious injury of the group. He suffered a mild knee sprain during a game against the Boston Bruins. Thompson got caught up in the corner with Ondrej Kase. His diagnosis at the time was at least two weeks.

That would’ve brought him to the Flyers’ game against the New York Islanders on the 24th. It doesn’t seem as if he would’ve needed longer. Fletcher mentioned first that Thompson is fully recovered and medically cleared.

James van Riemsdyk

James van Riemsdyk was the first of the group to suffer an injury. He had been sidelined since March 4th. He blocked a shot off his right hand against the Washington Capitals. It would end up breaking his index finger. His timeline was set at four to six weeks.

According to Fletcher, JVR remains on target for that initially expected timetable. And with the extra time off, the team may get him back right away when they resume.

Phil Myers

Phil Myers suffered a fractured right kneecap during a game against the Buffalo Sabres. His timeline, four weeks, was similar to that of JVR. So the two were likely to return around the same time.

Fletcher confirmed that by saying Myers was on target to be cleared right before or at the start of the playoffs if the season had not paused. With that news, it looks as if Myers will also be ready to go whenever the season resumes.

Fletcher also gave an update on Nolan Patrick, Oskar Lindblom, and Samuel Morin. While Morin’s progress is simpler to speak on, the other two are obviously harder to predict. Nonetheless, it was good to hear how both of them were doing.

Starting with Patrick, he has missed the entire season with what was diagnosed as a chronic migraine disorder. He had been working to return to the team in recent weeks. Fletcher mentioned that he had been trending in the right direction. And that he has been feeling well recently. But of course, it’s hard to say what that will mean whenever the league resumes.

As for Lindblom, he has remained in Philadelphia to receive treatments. There wasn’t much to report other than that he has continued to progress in his fight against Ewing Sarcoma.

For Morin, he suffered a torn ACL early in the season, another tough blow to his comeback. After his surgery in the fall, he has remained on a rehabilitation program.

So all in all, it was good news for the three active players looking to return to the lineup as soon as the season resumes. And it was positive news for the other Flyers who have faced tough battles of their own.