Chuck Fletcher provides Flyers organizational injury updates

Before Chuck Fletcher began to talk about the season as it currently stands, he was first asked about providing injury updates. The Flyers, and Phantoms as well, have been hit hard by injury during the beginning parts of the season.

Kevin Hayes, Derrick Brassard, Ryan Ellis, Patrick Brown and Nate Thompson are all currently sidelined for Philadelphia. As for Lehigh Valley, the list is even longer. Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison and Ryan Fitzgerald have all been on non-roster injured-reserve since the beginning of the season. Tyson Foerster, Linus Sandin, German Rubtsov have all been injured during the season.

So both squads have had to find a way to power through some tough circumstances. There is some light at the end of the tunnel for a few of the Flyers injured players, though.

Kevin Hayes close to return, Derrick Brassard tweaked hips

This was the second time that Hayes was forced out of the lineup due to injury. He began the season on LTIR after undergoing a second abdominal surgery just before training camp began. In his second games, Hayes was re-injured and given a week-to-week timeline. He recently traveled with the team to Tampa as he was set to undergo some more tests and treatment.

Back at practice on Tuesday afternoon, it’s possible he could return to the lineup for Wednesday’s matchup with the Rangers. Hayes was centering the third line with Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny as his wingers. Fletcher mentioned that Hayes has made tremendous strides in his recovery.

As for Brassard, he was out on the ice for some time. He was spotted between Claude Giroux and Cam Atkinson. But it doesn’t look like he will be back just yet. He has missed the last three games after only play 2:42 against the Lightning.

"Derick’s got a bit of a hip issue. He skated for a bit today, felt some tweaking in his lower body. So I think we’ve got a little bit of time here after tomorrow. We don’t play until Sunday so hopefully he’s day to day and not week to week. He’s not quite ready.”"

Status quo for Ryan Ellis, Wade Allison skating with Phantoms

Ellis has made progress in his recovery but his recent treatment has required him to step away for about a week. He will return to his rehab program on Wednesday but it is still at a week-to-week timeline. This is something he has been battling since the preseason, specifically since the team took on Washington at the end.

Fletcher didn’t expect him to return in the next week or so, but stressed that there has been progress. It’s been a tough go for Ellis as he had returned against the Stars after missing nine games and was subsequently injured in his first game back. He has now missed the last seven and looks like it’ll be a bit more before he’s back.

Wade Allison, who suffered a high ankle sprain during a rookie game, has returned to Lehigh Valley. There is a possibility that he could return to game action with the Phantoms this weekend. He has been skating recently with the team.

High ankle sprains are tough injuries to set an exact timetable on but Allison has been working hard to come back. He impressed during his stint with the Flyers last season, grabbing four goals and seven points in 14 games.

Nate Thompson undergoes surgery, Patrick Brown seeing specialist

After suffering what was likely a dislocated shoulder during the Flyers loss against Carolina, Thompson will be undergoing surgery. He is expected to miss a significant amount of time, but there is no current timetable on his recovery.

This is Thompson’s second stint with Philadelphia as he was with the team briefly towards the end of the 2019-20 season where he recorded one point in seven games. This season, he has appeared in 19 games and has one goal.

For Brown, he’s expected to see the hand specialist on Wednesday. If all goes well, he could resume skating after that. There is a hope he can play next week but it’ll all depend on his ability to hold the stick and the amount of pain he has with it.

Brown was claimed off waivers earlier this season and has appeared in just six games this season. He also wasn’t able to play when first claimed due to testing positive for COVID as well. So it’s been a tough start to his Flyers career.

Zayde Wisdom back to Kingston, Tyson Foerster out for most of season

Looking at some of the Flyers younger prospects, Wisdom was sent back to juniors to play with Kingston. According to Fletcher, that was the only place that Wisdom was eligible to play. The NHL and CHL did have an agreement that junior players who appeared in 20 games could stay and Wisdom did play 28 games for Lehigh Valley. So it was likely more so his injury that had him sent back.

Nevertheless, he is back with his junior squad and has been skating with the team. It may be another week before he is able to play, something his surgeon has recommended.

Foerster had shoulder surgery and is expected to be out for a few months. He dove for a puck on a five-on-three power play to try and keep the puck in the zone and ended up dislocated his shoulder. The team hopes they can get him some games at the end of the season. But long term, they feel as if his shoulder will be even stronger when he comes back.