The Flyers may be staring at a numbers problem once Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen are back in the mix. Both defensemen are currently on IR, and when they’re ready to return, Philadelphia will have to make room on the blue line.
There are two waiver-exempt defensemen on the roster in Oliver Bonk and Hunter McDonald, but The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz wrote that “it’s difficult to see the Flyers reassigning Bonk back to the AHL soon,” even after York and Ristolainen are activated.
That leaves another name in the mix: David Jiricek. Kurz floated the idea that the Flyers could place him on waivers in order to send him to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and he added that “the Flyers shouldn’t worry about waiving Jiricek,” as he “can’t imagine he’ll get claimed with the Flyers already being his third organization.”
Jiricek is 22 and was the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, but he hasn’t matched that billing. Columbus drafted him originally, then sent him to the Minnesota Wild for a package of draft picks in November 2024.
Minnesota later moved him to Philadelphia near last season’s trade deadline in a deal for winger Bobby Brink. This season, Jiricek is averaging 14:48 of ice time per game, including 2:07 on the power play, and he was a healthy scratch in the Flyers’ most recent game.
Around the league, the Red Wings and Canadiens are keeping a close eye on each other. On TSN’s Insider Trading, Pierre LeBrun said Detroit is “actively scouting” Montreal in case former captain Dylan Larkin changes his mind and agrees to include the Canadiens on his trade list. LeBrun also said the Red Wings are “fully aware” of the kinds of trade packages Montreal has “aggressively put in front of” other teams in its long hunt for a difference-making top-six addition.
Montreal has reportedly pursued Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko before, though those two were eventually traded for one another. Now, the Canadiens are said to be interested in Detroit’s No. 1 center. There’s no clear sign yet of what Montreal would put on the table, but one possible centerpiece would be University of Michigan center Michael Hage.
Dreger also reported that Winnipeg has reached an agreement with Connor Hellebuyck to push back the date he’ll report to the team and take a physical until after this weekend’s Heritage Classic outdoor game. Hellebuyck has been suspended without pay after failing to report to training camp, and he wants to end his holdout and rejoin the Jets while he waits for the team to fulfill his trade request. Winnipeg appears willing to bring him back, but it does not want the attention around his return to overshadow the Heritage Classic.
In Other News...
Red Wings Cruise In Vancouver As A Late Goalie Twist Steals Focus
Lucas Raymond helped set the tone early in Rogers Arena, scoring twice as the Red Wings jumped out to a fast start and rolled past the Canucks 5-2. Detroit looked in control for most of the night, getting the kind of balanced road result that can settle a team in a long trip and give its top players a chance to steer the pace from the opening shift on.
The more unusual part of the evening came in net, where John Gibson exited after two periods because of an eye issue. Michal Postava then stepped in for the third period and made his NHL debut, turning a comfortable win into a night that will be remembered for more than the scoreline as Detroit waits to see how the goalie situation settles after the trip. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Finally Get A Road Win But One New Concern Looms
The Red Wings finally came home from Vancouver with a road win, and it was built early. Lucas Raymond scored twice in the first period to give Detroit a quick cushion, William Wallinder picked up his second career goal, and the 5-2 result gave the club a much-needed boost away from home.
John Gibsons night ended before it should have, though, and that changes the feel of an otherwise encouraging win. Michal Postava was pressed into duty after being called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins, and the situation was made trickier by the fact that Daniil Tarasov was already unavailable, leaving Detroit to sort through another goaltending question heading into the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Edvinsson Standoff Puts Real Pressure On Red Wings Front Office
Simon Edvinssons contract situation has turned into one of the more delicate items on the Red Wings checklist, with no extension in place and a growing sense that the conversation has drifted beyond the usual back-and-forth of negotiations. The young defensemans name has become a real talking point around Detroit because this is no longer just about term and dollars, but about whether the two sides can find common ground at all.
Edvinsson has not filed a formal trade request, but the possibility of a move is clearly part of the backdrop as the calendar moves deeper into the season. Detroit also has a practical deadline hanging over the situation, since he needs to sign by Dec. 1 to be eligible to play in the NHL this season, and the front office has already been exploring young centers as possible trade targets if an agreement never comes together. [Read more 🡒]