Egor Zamula last played a game for the Phantoms on March 31. He had been sidelined with an upper body injury since then. Well, we now know what had been ailing him for a few weeks. Zamula underwent successful left shoulder surgery on April 10. He is expected to make a full recovery for Flyers training camp.
This surgery means he will miss the remainder of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Phantoms are looking to sweep the Charlotte Checkers after Tyson Foerster’s two goals gave them the win in the opening game.
Zamula appeared in 44 games for the Phantoms this season. He registered one goal and 19 points overall. He also appeared in 14 games for the Flyers, posting four assists. Zamula is someone that Tortorella has spoken about numerous times in regard to his interest in the defensive prospect.
"“He’s long, takes up a lot of space. The thing that caught our eye was his ability to see the ice. It looks like he has the ability to make a play. I thought, before we sent him back down, I thought it was a struggle for him at the speed the game was being played here,” Tortorella said when the team called Zamula up in March. “Again, all situations down there, a team that’s banged around and kept on playing, has played some really good hockey. He’s been involved in all of it. We’re gonna bring him up here and see where he is at this pace.”"
The Flyers had been extremely pleased with the muscle that Zamula had added on last offseason. That was always one of the biggest critiques given towards Zamula. It was about being able to withstand the physicality of the NHL. He added on 12 pounds that summer.
His stint with the Flyers at the end of the previous season showed him how much he needed to add on in order to be able to battle with other players. He earned a look at the beginning of this past season, making the team out of camp. But as mentioned, Tortorella felt he wasn’t necessarily able to keep up with the pace of the NHL.
He returned to Lehigh and played big minutes and in all situations for the team. As the team did toward the end of the season, they gave some of their younger players a few looks. Zamula played in three games and had the first multi-point game of his career with two assists in his first game back.
Zamula is a restricted free agent this summer as he hits the end of his entry-level contract. With the Flyers in a rebuild situation, there will be plenty of opportunity and competition. Assuming Zamula is back, he has another good shot at making the team out of camp next season.