The Flyers gave Egor Zamula what he wanted, sort of. Being buried in the AHL after appearing in just 13 NHL games, the two agreed on a move that would give the defenseman a fresh start.
Except, it doesn't appear that he was given the opportunity that he wanted. After being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zamula was immediately sent to the AHL. Since he had recently cleared waivers, it was easy enough for his new team to do so. The Penguins also didn't have room for him on their roster at this time.
So Zamula did the only other thing he could. He refused to report to the AHL, and the Penguins followed suit by suspending him. It's the second defenseman this season that the organization has suspended for failing to report to one of their minor league teams. Emil Pieniniemi originally returned overseas after failing to report after training camp, but has since returned and has played two games in the ECHL.
Recently acquired defenseman Egor Zamula has been suspended by the #Pens for failure to report to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. #WBSPens down 3-0 4:34 into the 1st period tonight in Syracuse in their lone game on the weekend. @InsideAHLHockey
— Tony Androckitis* (@TonyAndrock) January 4, 2026
Before the trade, there were rumors that Zamula preferred to have his contract terminated instead. That would have given him the option of signing with any team that had an open spot for him. There was also the option of returning to the KHL, a league he last played in during the 2016-17 season. He had recently changed agencies to Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey, which signified he was ready for a move.
It appears as if the Penguins already knew this was a possibility when they acquired him, though, according to Josh Yohe of The Athletic (subscription required)
"The team is unsure if Zamula will ultimately head to Wilkes-Barre."
"Either way, the Pittsburgh front office doesn’t seem likely to lose sleep over his decision. According to one source in the organization, the Penguins are still happy to give Zamula an opportunity to play in Wilkes-Barre.
"If he opts against it, that’s OK with the Penguins, too. His exclusion would open even more budget space for a franchise that’s already rolling in it and would open a roster slot, something the team considers quite valuable."
Danny Briere's trade has organization looking like bandits
So the Penguins are willing to lose Zamula for nothing after trading Philip Tomasino to acquire him. If that were to happen, the Flyers would make out even more like bandits, getting rid of a disgruntled defenseman and bringing in a young forward who has a chance to revive his career. There is still time for Zamula to change his mind, but the damage may already be done.
Tomasino made his Phantoms' debut on Saturday, working as the center between Anthony Richard and Cooper Marody. It will be interesting to see if the Flyers organization gives him more of a chance to stick at the center position. He hasn't had much success there, though he's played a limited amount of time at the position.
He broke out in his rookie season with the Nashville Predators and came close to replicating that in his first year with the Penguins. He fizzled out with both, being relegated to the AHL with the latter last season. He adds more offense to the Phantoms and continues to show that Danny Briere is paying equal attention to the organization's minor league team.
At worst, Tomasino is a fine AHL addition, helping the Phantoms toward the playoffs. He could help other younger players work toward the NHL as a player who has been there before and seen what it takes. But at best, he turns things around with a few weeks in Lehigh Valley and becomes a solid NHL contributor for the Flyers moving forward.
Regardless of what happens with Tomasino, the Flyers have to be happy with how this situation worked out. Briere may not be focused on their rival team looking a bit silly in this acquisition, but there's no doubt that deep down, it is a nice bonus.