With the Philadelphia Flyers at home through the weekend and Rasmus Ristolainen back on the ice today at practice, Louis Belpedio has been loaned back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. Even with James van Riemsdyk’s injury news earlier today, the team has decided to open up the extra roster spot with Ristolainen and Owen Tippett close to returning.
Belpedio, 26, didn’t actually play in a game for the Flyers, despite being recalled over a week ago. The AHL standout, who mixes offensive upside with physicality (even from a relatively small frame), is the prototypical quad-A player – one that is excellent in the minor leagues but can’t lock down a full-time role in the bigs. He has just four NHL games in his career so far.
The Phantoms will be happy, though, after going 2-1-1 through their first four games of the season. Belpedio should give them another weapon on defense to go along with the likes of Ronnie Attard and Cam York. The Flyers meanwhile will be down to six roster defensemen until Ristolainen is activated.