Last night, prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the implementation of a lockout by the NHL and its teams, the Flyers assigned 26 players to the Adirondack Phantoms. The most notable players (indicated in bold) are the ones on entry-level contracts who played for the Flyers during the 2011-12 regular season and also appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Jason Akeson
Tyler Brown
Sean Couturier
Cullen Eddy
Matt Ford
Erik Gustafsson
Shane Harper
Cal Heeter
Ben Holmstrom
Tyler Hostetter
Niko Hovinen
Andrew Johnston
Blake Kessel
Matthew Konan
Oliver Lauridsen
Matt Mangene
Brandon Manning
Tye McGinn
Marcel Noebels
Luke Pither
Zac Rinaldo
Brayden Schenn
Danny Syvret
Mike Testwuide
Eric Wellwood
Harry Zolnierczyk
Now that the CBA has expired, Marc-Andre Bourdon is eligible for play for with the Phantoms -- or, technically at least, any other AHL team -- on a minor-league contract. This is because of the AHL's ruling earlier this week to allow such deals for players who are on two-way contracts in 2012-13 and who were on the AHL's 2012 Clear Day List.
In addition, the Flyers have assigned 2012 first-round pick Scott Laughton (Oshawa Generals), center Nick Cousins (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) and right winger Derek Mathers (Peterborough Petes) back to their respective OHL clubs. This was an on-paper formality, as they've already played preseason games with their junior teams.
In the days and weeks to come, we'll see how many Flyers veterans start to sign with European teams. The first signing: Ruslan Fedotenko has
agreed to a contract with the KHL's HC Donbass for the duration of the NHL lockout.
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Following are updates on Flyers prospects in junior hockey (preseason) and overseas (regular season). The NCAA season does not start until October.
Scott Laughton and Colin Suellentrop's Oshawa Generals wrapped up their exhibition game season with 4-3 loss to the Belleville Bulls. Neither player figured in the scoring. The regular season starts on Thursday with a visit to Derek Mathers' Peterborough Petes.
Fredric Larsson's Brynäs J20 team opened the regular season yesterday with a victory over Modo J20. Larsson was paired with Marcus Törnström, finishing the game as a minus-one. He did not record a point. Brynäs is back in action today, trailing Timrå J20 by a 3-0 score late in the second period as of this writing. Larsson has been out for two goals against, one at even strength and one on a Timrå power play.
Taylor Leier will miss the start of the Portland Winterhawks regular season with an abdominal muscle tear sustained in late August. He is expected to return to action by the middle of October.
Valeri Vasilev is still sidelined for MHC Spartak Moscow with a suspected concussion. He will be re-evaluated in the days to come.
Nick Cousins scored a goal in his preseason return to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The regular season starts on Friday with a home game against Plymouth. Cousins' court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1.
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