After two preseason games, the Philadelphia Flyers have cut down their roster to 54 players. The team announced Wednesday morning that Egor Zamula, Mason Millman, Wyatte Wylie, and Egor Serdyuk have been returned to their respective junior teams. With the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL seasons set to begin this weekend, the timing makes sense.
Additionally, Ben McCartney, Max Gold, Sean Comrie, and Mika Cyr were released from their amateur try out. They too will head back to their respective junior teams for the start of the season.
For the most part, all of these moves were expected. Considering Zamula’s age, the young defenseman would have to make the NHL if he wasn’t going to be sent back the Calgary Hitmen. Of course, that was not a realistic possibility at this time. Both Seryduk and Millman were just drafted this past summer. Philadelphia knew very well they’d be spending at least this season in the juniors. Having them start the season there makes the most sense.
As for the amateur try out candidates, none of them showed enough to warrant an entry-level contract. Seeing that they were not originally drafted by the Flyers, it was the only way they could remain. Philadelphia’s prospect pool is deep enough as it is and adding McCartney, Gold, Comrie, and Cyr to the mix was simply unnecessary.
The only someone head-scratching cut involves defenseman Wyatte Wylie. Entering his overage year in the WHL, Wylie was a candidate to man Lehigh Valley’s blueline if signed. For a team in need of some young defensemen and a player ready to take the next step in his development, an entry-level contract made complete sense. However, the cut can’t be seen as a complete shock due to Fletcher overstocking the Phantoms with veteran minor leaguers this offseason.
For Wylie, Zamula, Millman, and Serdyuk, the focus now shifts to competing for their junior squads. This season will not only be about helping their team win but proving to the Flyers organization that they deserve a longer look next training camp.
Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images
