Flyers News: Hart placed on IR, Willman waived

It’s the worst possible news for Flyers fans. Carter Hart has been placed on injured reserve. The one player who has been steady this year…the one player who has stayed healthy…the one player who has kept them in every single game is now going to be out.

Hart last played on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Samuel Ersson had started the game but had quickly given up five goals to start the game against a first-place Carolina team. Hart had been given the night off after playing the previous game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But called into duty, Hart was immediately jumped upon by the Canes and faced a flurry of shots right off the bat. However, that wasn’t the shot that got him injured.

Nope, that one belongs to Flyers defender Rasmus Ristolainen. Risto was on the penalty kill and had shoved Carolina’s Seth Jarvis right into Hart. Hart fell backward and a shot found its way into the back of the net. Hart had to be helped off the ice and Ersson had to be called back into the game. With the holiday break, every Flyers fan had to sit, wait, and hold their breath.

Flyers made some key roster moves during the holiday break

Now we know. He is labeled with an “upper-body injury”. Coach John Tortorella did say that Hart is in concussion protocol, which if you saw the hit makes sense as Jarvis slammed right into Hart’s head.

He is placed on IR retroactively to last Saturday, but this means he still will not be able to play in tomorrow night’s game against the San Jose Sharks. Hart will still be making the trip with the team as it is possible he could appear against the Anaheim Ducks or Los Angeles Kings later on during this California trip.

Still, there has been no timetable for his return as of yet. As of right now the Flyers’ goalies will be Ersson and Felix Sandstrom, with Ersson getting the green light for the start against the Sharks. Hart has played in more games than any other goalie with 27. He has a record of 10-11-6 with a 2.89 GAA and a .911 save percentage this season.

In other roster news, the Flyers have placed Max Willman on waivers. Willman, a 27-year-old forward has appeared in nine games this year, averaged about nine minutes of ice time, and has not registered a single point. He was a call-up last year as the team was battered with injuries.

In 41 games, he scored four goals and had two assists. Given his age and point totals this year, he will most likely go through waivers and be reassigned to Lehigh Valley where he has scored two goals in 11 contests this year.

In his place, Ollie Lycksell will return. The 23-year-old winger has played in three games for the Flyers this year. The 2017 sixth-rounder has performed well in the AHL scoring five goals and 13 assists in 19 games.