The Philadelphia Flyers are dealing with a handful of injuries that are starting to test their depth, with three players currently sidelined and one on injured reserve. As they prepare for Saturday’s clash with the Rangers, here’s where things stand.
Let’s start with Bobby Brink, who’s inching closer to a return. Brink remains on injured reserve for now, but there’s a glimmer of optimism. He skated Saturday morning, and according to head coach Rick Tocchet, there’s a chance he could be back in the lineup as soon as Monday when the Flyers face off against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Brink landed on IR retroactive to January 6 after leaving the first period against the Anaheim Ducks with an upper-body injury. Because of the retroactive designation, he’s eligible to be activated at any time, which makes his status a day-to-day watch. In the meantime, Aleksei Kolosov is holding down his roster spot.
Now, turning to Dan Vladar - the goaltender is still considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. While the team hasn’t confirmed specifics, the nature of the injury looked to be lower-body based on his movement during the first period against Buffalo.
Tocchet didn’t rule out Vladar joining the Flyers on their upcoming road trip, but emphasized that it depends on how his therapy progresses over the next few days. If it becomes clear he won’t be available for any of the three games out West, he’ll stay back in Philly.
One player who definitely won’t be making the trip is defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Tocchet confirmed that Ristolainen will remain behind as the team heads west, calling it “more of a week-long thing.”
He avoided putting a firm timeline on the injury, noting it could stretch beyond seven days. The issue is an upper-body injury, and while the Flyers aren’t rushing him, it’s clear they’re preparing to be without him for at least the near future.
Injuries are always part of the grind, but with key contributors like Brink, Vladar, and Ristolainen all in varying stages of recovery, the Flyers will need to lean on their depth and adaptability - especially with a challenging road swing ahead.