Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier were officially acquired from the Calgary Flames just after midnight on Jan. 31. While the two players sent back, Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee played the next day for their new team, the process for the newest Flyers has been much longer.
Because Kuzmenko and Pelletier have never played for an American team before, the process of obtaining a U.S. work visa was long and tedious.
Even after that was taken care of, their plane was canceled and delayed multiple times. The pair left Calgary on Wednesday, traveling to Toronto to make a shorter trip to Philadelphia. Instead, their 9 a.m. flight on Thursday was canceled.
"We were supposed to fly [to Philly] at 9 yesterday so we showed up at the airport at 7:30," Pelletier said after practice on Friday. "They told us our flight got cancelled and our next flight was at 2. And then got delayed until 4:30. It was a long day, but we made it on time for the second period so it was nice."
Being on the ice with their new teammates on Friday was a welcomed sight after the long delays it took to get there.
"After the trade, it was a terrible time," Kuzmenko said. "It was seven days, there's no practice with the team. You wait, wait, wait. Yesterday, I wanted to play, but my flight was canceled. I thought, 'Why, why is this happening? I really want to play and I miss practice with the team.'"
Kuzmenko took advantage of the ice time, staying out later than any other Flyer. It doesn't help that Saturday's game against the Penguins is the Flyers' final game before the two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
"After tomorrow, then a break. Why? It's how many days? Twenty days, just one practice with the team. It's so bad. But this is my life. It's okay. I enjoy the work, I enjoy talking with the guys. Very good first day."
Kuzmenko is auditioning for a role past this season as he will be an unrestricted free agent. He's looking to regain that spark he had with the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23. In his rookie season, Kuzmenko had 39 goals and 74 points.
Since then, he's posted 26 goals and 35 points in 109 games between the Canucks and the Flames.
Kuzmenko described himself as a player with a "good shot and a good hockey IQ." Pelletier, who will not debut with the Flyers due to ongoing paperwork issues, talked about himself as someone willing to do whatever it takes to win games.
"I’m a dog on a bone. I’m a guy who plays each shift like it’s the last one, Pelletier said. "I’m not the biggest guy, but I’m going to hit guys, I’m going go in front of the net. I’m going to do everything in my power to win each game here.”
Pelletier, when he eventually gets into the lineup, will also be auditioning for the Flyers. He will be a restricted free agent. Unless Pelletier falls on his face in the next 20-something games, there's a good chance he could be a part of the Flyers' future.
The 23-year-old has shown promise. He's an energetic player that is all about his teammates. That's something that will endear him to his new teammates rather quickly. As for on the ice, Pelletier does need to find a way to translate his AHL success to the NHL level.
He was a consistent scorer in both juniors and the AHL. He's had a few stints with the Flames where he's held his own, though he only has 21 points in 61 career NHL games. The Flyers will try to unlock the potential that is there.
Philadelphia has lost five straight and continues to be without multiple players due to injury. But they'll hope their newest additions can make an impact the rest of the way.