East Notes: Morin, Shaw, Sabres

Though all of the turmoil that gone on in Philadelphia this season, injuries may be the least appreciated. One of those injuries that has had an effect on the team this year has been that of Samuel Morin, who underwent knee surgery in May and hasn’t been on the ice since. Today that all changed, as according to Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Morin got back on the ice with teammates today for the first time.

Morin, 23, was the 11th-overall pick in 2013 but has played just three NHL games so far in his career and saw his 2017-18 season decimated by injury. If he can get back this season—the team expects some time in February—there’s a good chance he would be an immediate upgrade on their blue line and could offer a stylistic counterpoint to some of the team’s more offensive options.

• The Flyers’ opponent tonight will be without one of their leaders, as the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that assistant coach Brad Shaw was hospitalized and will not be at the game. Shaw became ill yesterday, and the team relayed it is an abdominal issue keeping him out. He’ll be replaced by skills coach Kenny McCudden behind the bench tonight, but will rejoin the team when he is able.
• The Buffalo Sabres were missing quite a few players from practice today, but luckily it was just a maintenance day for Zach Bogosian, Jack Eichel and Carter Hutton. Not so lucky were Jake McCabe and Casey Nelson, who have been ruled “week-to-week” in their recoveries from upper-body injuries. The Sabres are back in action on Saturday night when they’ll welcome Philadelphia into town.