After a wild game against Detroit on Friday, the Flyers have reached their holiday break. Accordingly, they’ve made a pair of transactions this morning, announcing (Twitter link) that they’ve assigned goaltender Cal Petersen and forward Rhett Gardner to AHL Lehigh Valley. Since both players were recalled after December 11th, they were allowed to be sent down even though the roster freeze is in effect.
Petersen has been shuffled back and forth in recent days with Carter Hart briefly missing time but Hart did return to action last night meaning Petersen’s presence on the roster is no longer needed. Petersen was acquired as a salary cap dump from the Kings over the offseason and after clearing waivers for the second straight year, the 29-year-old has spent most of the season with the Phantoms where he has a 3.20 GAA and a .898 SV% in 11 games. He made a pair of starts with the Flyers back in November, stopping 60 of 67 shots.
As for Gardner, he was recalled back on Tuesday but didn’t get into any game action with Philadelphia. The 27-year-old is in the first season of a two-year, two-way deal but has struggled with the Phantoms. After putting up 40 points in 70 games with AHL Texas last year, he has just three goals and one assist in 21 contests with Lehigh Valley so far.
The Flyers aren’t back in action until Thursday so if they are going to recall Gardner or another forward, they can wait until then to do so.
Rob Blake hasn’t made many bad moves. Petersen’s contract is probably the biggest egg he’s laid.