The Flyers aren’t wasting any time getting veteran “prospect” Hayden Hodgson into NHL action.
Hodgson, who was signed to a one-year, $750,000 contract on Monday, was called up under emergency conditions from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday and is scheduled to play in the Flyers-Blues game at St. Louis on Thursday.
The Flyers went with only 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Tuesday night’s game at Detroit. So the plan is to go back to the conventional 12-6 alignment for the Blues game.
The right wing will wear No. 42.
Hodgson, 26, has spent most of his pro career in the ECHL with teams such as the Reading Royals, Wheeling Nailers, Cleveland Monsters and Florida Everblades.
In 44 games with the Phantoms this season, Hodgson has registered a career-high 18 goals and also has a new best in points with 29.
>Laczynski moving up?
Tanner Laczynski, injured for most of the season but finally close to good health, could be coming up from the Phantoms shortly. Laczynski, a left wing, has four goals/eight points with the Phantoms. The 24-year-old had a brief five-game trial with the Flyers in the 2020-21 season.
>Bigger leadership role for Konecny
During his post-NHL trade deadline press briefing, general manager Chuck Fletcher disclosed that with the departure of captain Claude Giroux in a trade to Florida, some of his younger players will have to step in to take up the slack in the leadership department.
One name he emphasized was Travis Konecny.
“I know (interim head coach) Mike (Yeo) challenged them yesterday (Sunday),’’ Fletcher said. “It’s now their time to take on a little bit more leadership, too. They’re guys who have been here a long time now. Especially Konecny. It’s time not to follow and maybe set an example.’’
Konecny and Joel Farabee, another potential leader, each contributed greatly in the Flyers’ 2-1 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday.
“I thought both were outstanding,’’ Fletcher said. “Not just because they got two assists but I thought their effort, their energy. . .it just looked like they were enthusiastic contributors. That bodes well for us.’’
>Flyers acquire Menell
On Wednesday night the Flyers acquired defenseman Brennan Menell from the Toronto Maple Leafs for future considersations. He has been assigned to the Phantoms. Menell recorded five points in 20 games with the AHL Toronto Marlies this season. Prior to that he spent three seasons in the Minnesota Wild organization, getting most of his playing time with the AHL Iowa Wild where he registered 15 goals/116 points in 199 games.
>Short shots
Kevin Hayes recorded two assists in the loss at Detroit and now has four goals/nine points in nine games since returning from injury on March 5. . .Joel Farabee has two goals/11 points in 12 games since returning from injury on Feb. 26. . .Cam York led the team in ice time with 23 minutes, 36 seconds against the Red Wings. Paired with Ivan Provorov, the 23:36 was the second-highest total of York’s career. He also led the team with four blocked shots. . .The Flyers still haven’t won a road game since Dec. 29, 2021, a winless streak of 13 games which is the longest such skid since 1971. . .The Flyers traded Justin Braun to the Rangers for a third-round pick and Derick Brassard to the Oilers for a fourth-rounder. Both picks are in 2023. The reason for that? Neither team has those picks available in 2022. Fletcher said the Flyers’ preference was the 2023 draft anyway.
Wayne Fish has been covering the Flyers since 1976, a stint which includes 18 Stanley Cup Finals, four Winter Olympics and numerous other international events.
