We’re only one game into the season, but the Flyers are already making roster changes. After a dominating opening season victory over the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers have placed Hayden Hodgson on waivers. In his place, the Flyers will call up Jackson Cates, the brother of Noah.
The news is surprising, and yet unsurprising. Hodgson had been a career minor leaguer in the ECHL and the AHL. Due to injuries, the 26 year old made his NHL debut last season, playing in six games, scoring a goal and two assists. He had impressed the team enough to make one of the roster spots, but apparently John Tortorella was never seemingly in his corner.
"“I didn’t think he had a great camp. I don’t know him as well as the others. I know he’s come a long way, in talking to the organization, Chuck and everybody. I believe he was in the East Coast Hockey League a couple of years ago and he’s battled, and I appreciate that….I don’t want Hodgy sitting here, playing four, five minutes a game, when he could be developing down there and getting a ton of minutes. It’s unfair.”"
During the season opener, Owen Tippett left the game with an upper body injury and did not return. He is listed as day-to-day and will not play on Saturday’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. Even with Tippett’s injury, Hodgson played only five minutes of game time.
Tippett isn’t the only Flyer not playing on Saturday. Cam Atkinson is still sitting out as he recovers from his preseason injury. Rasmus Ristolainen is also being scratched with an undisclosed injury.
Along with Jackson Cates being recalled, it is also possible that Zack MacEwen, whom Hodgson had beaten out for the last forward spot, could also rejoin the team on the fourth line.
As the Flyers season develops, it would make sense that this team makes roster changes often. Tortorella is still trying to see how this team gels together and reacts well to adversity after players get injured. He will be constantly reviewing this team and its progress and will adjust as necessary so he can put the best product out there on the ice. So, except some adjustments to this team, especially early on.
Finally, it would appear that Linus Sandlin’s time as a Flyer is done. The forward played in one game last season. He was placed on unconditional waivers and now will be released by the team. It is expected that he will return to Sweden, where he had more success there than he did over here in the AHL.