Philadelphia Flyers News

Woll makes his season debut as the starter for the Maple Leafs on Monday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. As -333 home favourite, Woll and the Maple Leafs should have no issue securing a victory tonight. In 11 games at the NHL level over the past two seasons (9-2-0), Woll has amassed an impressive 2.38 GAA and .924 SV% along with one shutout. Despite winning their first two games, the Maple Leafs have struggled defensively (9 GA) but will look to shut things down against last year's 31st-placed Chicago Blackhawks.

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.

Aston-Reese was recently signed and started the season in Grand Rapids, where he was held off the scoresheet in his debut. He was recalled ahead of Saturday's game with Robby Fabbri out, but he is not expected to play vs. Tampa Bay.

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.

Benoit has been sent down and recalled frequently, most likely as a paper transaction. He is expected to serve as the Maple Leafs' No.7/reserve defenseman for Saturday's game against the Wild.

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.

Vancouver played their opening night victory vs. Edmonton with only 17 skaters and have been granted the right to recall Jack Studnicka on an emergency basis from Abbotsford (AHL) without it effecting the teams' salary cap. The 24-year-old centre had four goals, four assists, 65 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus in 48 games with Vancouver and Boston in 2022-23 and will be looking to stick with the team longer than his original emergency call up.

Benoit was recalled from Toronto (AHL) ahead of the Maple Leafs' season opener Wednesday vs. Montreal but was a healthy scratch and has been loaned back to Marlies on Thursday. The 25-year-old defensemen signed a one-year contract worth $775,000 during the offseason with the Maple Leafs after three goals, 10 points and 60 PIMs in 78 games played with Anaheim in 2022-23.

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.

Benoit cleared waivers yesterday but has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) Wednesday. The 25-year-old defenseman signed a one-year, $775,000 contract during the offseason after three goals, seven assists, 82 SOG, 60 PIMs and a -29 plus/minus in 78 games played with Anaheim in 2022-23.

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.

Aston-Reese was released on a PTO earlier in the week by Carolina and has now found himself a spot on Detroit's roster after signing a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 29-year-old forward had 10 goals, four assists, 89 SOG, 25 PIMs, and a -6 plus/minus through 77 games with Toronto in 2022-23. The Red Wings will make his fourth NHL team in seven seasons.

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.

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.

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened camp Thursday with the news that Simon Benoit is day-to-day with back spasms. The 25-year-old had three goals, seven assists, 60 PIMs, 82 SOG and a -29 plus/minus in 78 games played with Anaheim in 2022-23. Benoit signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Maple Leafs in the offseason and will hope to be back soon as he makes a push to make their opening night roster.

Benoit played his first full NHL season in 2023, posting three goals with seven assists (10 points) in 78 games. The 6-foot-3, 203 lbs. blueliner is known more for his rugged defensive play, blocking 128 shots and laying 216 hits for the Ducks. Given the Maple Leafs' depth, Benoit will likely serve as an extra defenseman or head to the AHL.

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.