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Flyers announce seven cuts, including rookie camp star

By Jonathan Bailey

ELMONT, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Zayde Wisdom #60 of Philadelphia Flyers skates against the New York Islanders during a preseason game at UBS Arena on September 27, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ELMONT, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 27: Zayde Wisdom #60 of Philadelphia Flyers skates against the New York Islanders during a preseason game at UBS Arena on September 27, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Ahead of their 7 p.m. preseason game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (NHL Network, 97.5 The Phanatic), the Philadelphia Flyers announced seven early but unsurprising roster cuts.

Forwards Zayde Wisdom and Alexis Gendron were sent down to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, as were defensemen Mason Millman, Will Zmolek, and Ethan Samson. The Flyers had welcomed the competition for their blueline, and even though the lackluster preseason performances opened that up even further, GM Danny Briere clearly found this group in need of more seasoning.

The same can be said for Wisdom and Gendron, although the former was noticeably strong throughout Flyers rookie camp. That’s not an indictment on him, but rather a strong indication that the Flyers’ fourth line of Nicolas Deslauriers, Ryan Poehling, and Garnet Hathaway will remain together. The 21-year-old Wisdom had a poor 2022-23 that saw him finish the year with the ECHL Reading Royals, and he’ll take time this season to rediscover his game like we saw in rookie camp.

After spending the last three seasons in the QMJHL, 2022 seventh-round pick Gendron will make his AHL debut with the Phantoms. He’ll be a welcomed addition for Ian Laperriere’s squad as they prepare to graduate forwards like Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink to the big leagues.

The Flyers also released former Notre Dame captain Adam Karashik from his professional tryout, and they did the same with goaltender Nolan Maier. Maier made his Phantoms debut last season, going 5-2-2 in nine games but posting a subpar 0.886 save percentage. Karashik has played parts of two seasons with the Flyers’ minor league affiliate, but he’ll aim to spend his first full season there with defensemen like Yegor Zamula and Cam York expected to stick in Philadelphia for the year.

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So far, the Flyers have avoided any controversial cuts, and it’s likely Briere and co. want a better look at their younger players after all of the inconsistency and otherwise disappointing play this season. The team needs some players to start standing out, for better or for worse, and their first chance to do that comes against the Bruins tonight.

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