The Philadelphia Flyers released their first round of roster cuts on Wednesday morning before practice at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. Three Flyers prospects will rejoin their affiliated Canadian League Junior clubs, while nine skaters were reassigned to the American Hockey League training camp. Forward Josh Zakreski and goalie Sam Hillebrandt were released from their preseason tryouts leaving the training camp roster at 44 players.
2024 First-round pick Jett Luchanko remains near the Traning Center for at least another week as the Flyers brass takes a longer look at including the speedy center in the plans this season. Luchanko can play 9 NHL games before his entry-level NHL contract begins if Philadelphia decides not to send him back to the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
Phantoms Traning Camp Starts on Sunday
According to Philly Sports Network’s, Haley Taylor Simon, nine players were reassigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms training camp. Forwards Nick Capone, Alex Gendron, Sawyer Boulton, Matthew Miller, and Zayde Wisdom will join Matteo Mann, Emile Chouinard, Ethan Samson, and Sam Sedley. These athletes will report to Allentown, Pennsylvania by Sunday, Sept. 29.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ first preseason game is Monday, October 1. There will be three preseason games for Lehigh Valley before the AHL season begins on October 12.
Flyers prospects returning to the Canadian Hockey League
Goaltender Carson Bjarnason returns to Brandon Wheat Kings where he was 24-14-4 with a 90.7% save percentage last season. The Wheat Kings reached the playoffs but were promptly swept by the Moose Jaw Warriors in four games. Bjarnason was also a member of the Canadian Under-18 squad that won gold with a 4-2 record at the IIHF World Juniors Championship. The 19-year-old goalie should have an opportunity to represent his country again this winter.
The Flyers netminder is once again league rivals with defenseman Carter Sotheran, who heads back to the Portland Winterhawks. Portland was 48-15 last season and reached the WHL Finals before being swept in four games by the very same Moose Jaw Warriors in the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Sotheran appeared in 66 games scoring 13 goals and 40 points overall in the 2023-24 campaign.
Defenseman Spencer Gill was reassigned to the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior League. The physical 6-foot-4 defenseman appeared in 65 games for Rimouski last season contributing 12 goals and 34 assists for 46 points in the 2023-24 season. Gill won gold with Jett Luchanko on Team Canada at the Under 18 World Junior Championships last year.
PSN’s Haley Taylor Simon reported that while Gill’s ultimate goal is to reach the NHL, the 18-year-old defenseman has unfinished business in the QMJHL saying “This is kind of our year. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish as a group.”
Makiniemi Earns Two-Way Contract
Finnish goaltender Eetu Makiniemi earned himself a one-year contract with his performance at the 2024 Flyers Training Camp. The contract is for $775,000 according to Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere. The 25-year-old played for the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League last season with an 8-and-8 record and a .900 save percentage.
Makiniemi, a 2017 fourth-round pick by Carolina, made his NHL debut for the San Jose Sharks in a relief appearance on Dec. 7, 2022 against the Vancouver Canucks. The 6-foot-2 netminder earned his first NHL win two days later in a 6-1 Sharks victory over the Anaheim Ducks.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
