Vladar will make his first start of the season Thursday at Buffalo after going 14-6-5 with a .895 SV% and 2.91 GAA in 2022-23. He will be looking to get Calgary back in the win column after their dropped their previous two matchups to Pittsburgh and Washington. He faces the Buffalo Sabres on the road Thursday, who won their last game vs. Tampa Bay 3-2 in overtime and are 25th in the NHL in goals for (2.0).
Andrea was a healthy scratch for the Flyers' previous game but will draw back into the lineup Thursday vs. Edmonton. The 21-year-old defensemen has only played in one game so far in 2023-24, playing 23 shifts for 16:27 TOI and a -1 plus/minus. He replaces Egor Zamula in the Flyers' third defensive unit.
Andrea made his NHL debut in the Flyers' previous contest vs. Ottawa and was a -1 plus/minus through 23 shifts and 16:27 TOI but will be a healthy scratch Tuesday as Philadelphia hosts Vancouver. The 21-year-old defensemen will be replaced by Egor Zamula in the Flyers' lineup.
Couturier missed the Flyers' practice Monday as he is banged up with an undisclosed injury but will return Tuesday as Philadelphia hosts Vancouver after being a game-time decision originally. The 30-year-old centre missed the entire 2022-23 season with a back injury but has been off to a solid start so far in 2023-24 with an assist, three SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus while averaging 20:19 TOI in two games. If he does play Tuesday, expect him to be atop both Philadelphia's top line and power play unit.
Couturier missed the Flyers' practice Monday as he is banged up with an undisclosed injury but is showing positive signs of returning Tuesday as Philadelphia hosts Vancouver. The 30-year-old centre missed the entire 2022-23 season with a back injury but has been off to a solid start so far in 2023-24 with an assist, three SOG, four PIMs and a +3 plus/minus while averaging 20:19 TOI in two games. If he does play Tuesday, expect him to be atop both Philadelphia's top line and power play unit.
Jiricek probably would have made the team out of training camp if he wasn't waiver exempt but because he was it was an easy decision to send him back to the AHL. With Zach Werenski out for at least one week, Jiricek was recalled and Eric Robinson was waived to make room for him. The 2022 No.6 overall pick had 38 points (6G / 32A) in 55 AHL games last season.
Andrae was a healthy scratch in the Flyers' season opener but will replace Egor Zamula on the blueline on Saturday. After coming over from Sweden in 2022-23, Andrae posted six points (2G / 4A) in 10 games with Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Foerster was a healthy scratch in the Flyers' season opener but will replace Bobby Brink in the lineup on Saturday. Foerster figures to replace Brink on the Flyers' top line next to Sean Couturier. He made a strong impression a season ago, posting seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games with the Flyers.
Jiricek was recalled by the Blue Jackets after their star defenseman Zach Weresnki was placed on injured reserve earlier this morning. The talented young Czech defenseman had 38 points (6G / 32A) in 55 games with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL. Jiricek was the sixth overall pick of the Blue Jackets in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and could be an interesting piece on the back end if Werenski is forced to miss significant time.
After originally being listed as a game-time decision, Ristolainen has officially been ruled out for the Flyers' season opener. In 74 games last season, Ristolainen tallied 20 points (3G / 17A) and 162 hits. Egor Zamula is expected to slot onto the third defensive pairing in his absence.
Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice and is beginning the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury but is a game-time decision for Philadelphia's opener Thursday vs. Columbus. If the 28-year-old defenseman is unable to go it will leave a large gap in the Flyers defensive pairings. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.
Ristolainen skated with the Flyers this weekend in practice but will begin the 2023-24 season on the injured reserve as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old defensemen will miss an undisclosed amount of time leaving a large gap in the Flyers defensive unit. In his first season in Philadelphia in 2022-23 he had three goals, 17 assists, 86 SOG, 32 PIMs, and a -4 plus/minus through 74 games played.
The Blue Jackets 2022 first-round selection (6th overall) has failed to make Columbus' opening day roster and has been assigned to Cleveland (AHL) for the start of the 2023-24 season. The 19-year-old mega prospect appeared in only four games with Columbus in 2022-23, failing to pick up a point while collecting two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus. He returns to Cleveland where he spent most of last season and picked up six goals and 38 points in 55 games played.
Drysdale missed 74 games in 2022-23 after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder but has signed a three-year deal worth $6.9 million ($2.3M AAV) with Anaheim. The 21-year-old was limited to only eight games last season and failed to pick up a point while posting a -3 plus/minus with two PIMs. He was Anaheim's 2020 first-round pick (6th overall) and has seven goals, 40 points, 24 PIMs and a -41 plus/minus through 113 games played across three NHL seasons.
Zebras had 23 goals, 42 assists, 88 PIMs, 184 SOG, and a -24 plus/minus through 81 games played in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, $17.25 million contract extension worth $5,750,000 AAV. The 22-year-old was Anaheim's 2019 first-round pick (9th overall) and has 49 goals and 139 points in 180 games played across three seasons in California.
Schmidt was Tampa Bay's 2021 third-round pick (96th overall) and was expected to report to Syracuse (AHL) for his first professional season but is now not expected to be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season and is out indefinitely as he deals with an undisclosed injury. The 20-year-old defensemen had four goals, 24 assists, 74 PIMs and a +6 plus/minus through 64 games played with Kitchener in 2022-23.
Bjarnason was Philadelphia's 2023 second-round pick (51st overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $2,850,000 ($950,000 AAV). The 18-year-old goaltender went 21-19-5 with a .900 SV% and a 3.08 GAA with Brandon (WHL) in 2022-23. He also represented Canada at the Under-18 World Championships this offseason where he led the squad with a 4-2-0 record, .849 SV% and 3.51 GAA.
Bonk was drafted by Philadelphia in the 1st round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft (22nd overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers worth $950,000 AAV. The 18-year-old son of NHL legend Radek Bonk, had 10 goals, 30 assists, 38 PIMs, and a +17 plus/minus through 67 games with London (OHL) in 2022-23. He is expected to return to London for the 2023-24 season.
