Derick Brassard “doubtful” for Flyers after one game return

And the cycle continues once more. It seems as if the Flyers can’t escape injuries that have fallen over the team since the beginning of the year. Players go out, come back, and almost seemingly miss more time after that. It’s been that way for Derick Brassard during the last month or two.

After rehabbing and nursing a hip issue for a month, Brassard was finally able to rejoin the lineup after the team returned from their West Coast trip. Maybe a bit sooner than he should’ve, though. Not that the team really had much choice as they’re currently out six of their regular starters to either COVID protocols or injury. The team would’ve liked to get Brassard into a full practice before his return, but they weren’t afforded that luxury.

"“He’s been dealing with a lingering issue. We came back from this trip and he had been skating, he felt good. Went into the game last game and today he didn’t feel good. I would call him doubtful, I’d call him day to day. And we’ll go from there.” Mike Yeo said after Friday’s practice."

That is now the second time that Brassard has returned from an injury, only to go back out playing just a single game. After first injuring his hip again for the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 23rd, he was out for two weeks before returning to the lineup on December 8th. It wasn’t a long stay as he was right back into the rehab process after that game.

He would go on to miss almost the next month. He had a chance to come back after the Flyers’ extended holiday break. But he was almost immediately put into COVID protocol when the team returned. While Carter Hart and Scott Laughton, who went in with him, joined the team in Anaheim, Brassard stayed back to continue skating and rehabbing. The team played on Tuesday, had a day off on Wednesday, and was back on the ice for a morning skate ahead of Thursday’s game against the Penguins.

It was then that they lost Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny, putting them in an even tougher position to let a player like Brassard rest a bit more. He returned to the lineup and was out there for as much as he typically it. He was on the ice for just under 17 minutes and also saw some power play time as well. So there had been nothing out of the ordinary in his play.

The same has happened to Ryan Ellis, having only played in four games with his last being on November 13th. There hasn’t been much positive news on his progress. Kevin Hayes also returned from his abdominal injury, played in two games, and then was sidelined for almost two weeks. He hasn’t left the lineup since, though it’s clear he still isn’t fully healthy.

Even with all of this going on, the Flyers can’t make excuses as every other team in the league is dealing with this in some capacity or another. But it does become even tougher when you’re also trying to adjust to a new system as the Flyers are with Mike Yeo.

"“You can’t make excuses and it is difficult with the coaching change, not many practices days, and guys in and out of the lineup. Don’t know who they’re gonna be playing with, you don’t know who’s gonna get called out that day where they can’t play,” Justin Braun said Friday. ”It is tough, but it comes down to work ethic and attention to detail. Those are the things that are important that you just gotta make the little plays to get the job done.”"

The Flyers likely won’t get any of their players back before they take on the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Nick Seeler and Jackson Cates are on the fifth day of their quarantine and could potentially test out and be available for said game. But to be safe and not have to make too many adjustments, the team is going with the lineup they had in practice. They’ll make the changes if need be, though.