- The Flyers announced that goaltender Samuel Ersson has officially been added to Sweden’s entry for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. He’ll take the place of injured netminder Jacob Markstrom. Ersson has a 2.77 GAA and a .893 SV% in 27 appearances this season while picking up 15 of Philadelphia’s 23 wins. As things stand, he’s likely to serve as Sweden’s third-string option for the tournament.
Flyers Rumors
Flyers Reassign Aleksei Kolosov, Olle Lycksell; Recall Anthony Richard
The Philadelphia Flyers will no longer carry three goaltenders on their roster. The team announced that they have reassigned goaltender Aleksei Kolosov and forward Olle Lycksell to their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In a corresponding move, they recalled forward Anthony Richard.
Goaltending has been an issue for the Flyers this year. The team is currently in last place in the NHL, with a save percentage of only .874, and has had difficulty maintaining consistency in net for much of the season.
Since the start of 2025, the narrative has shifted. Samuel Ersson has emerged as the primary goaltender, boasting a 5-1-0 record in six starts and a .920 save percentage since New Year’s. Meanwhile, Kolosov, who hasn’t played for the Flyers since January 2nd, has become the odd man out, especially since he is exempt from waivers.
The demotion appears to be a prudent move for the young netminder. Since finally joining the Flyers organization last season, Kolosov has earned a 2-3-1 record in six AHL games with a .878 SV% and 3.20 goals-against average. Given his similar production in the NHL, it might be time for Kolosov to get more consistent starts to build up his confidence.
In the less noteworthy part of the transaction — Lycksell returns to AHL Lehigh Valley after going scoreless in five straight games in Philadelphia. He’s understandably been much more productive with the Phantoms scoring nine goals and 24 points in 25 games this season.
The Flyers have decided to rely on Richard’s more readily available talent. Although he hasn’t played in Philadelphia since mid to late November, he was one of the team’s highest-scoring players during that stretch. In his previous call-up from November 7 to November 20, Richard scored two goals and recorded six points in seven games, with five coming at even strength.
Flyers Not Actively Shopping Rasmus Ristolainen, Still Receiving Calls
The Philadelphia Flyers are not actively shopping defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, however, that hasn’t stopped teams from calling Flyers general manager Daniel Briere (as per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia). Briere has praised the 30-year-old’s work saying that he’s been good for Philadelphia, and they are in no rush to move him.
Ristolainen has never been an analytics darling and has battled injuries in the past, however, his overall play has improved as of late leading to speculation that Philadelphia would try to cash out while his value is high. The 2013 eighth-overall pick has some term remaining on his contract (two years at $5.1MM) and would not be a rental for any team that acquires him.
Right-shot defensemen are always in demand, and Ristolainen has good size and decent skating ability, even if there are obvious shortcomings to his game. He’s certainly been guilty in the past of defensive lapses and overplaying the puck, but he has sacrificed his offensive numbers in favor of playing a more simplified game the past few seasons. Despite the change in Ristolainen’s numbers, his strengths and weaknesses haven’t changed over the years. He can hit, skate and shoot but is abysmal at retrieving the puck in the defensive zone and struggles when trying to move the puck out of his zone. Any change of environment likely won’t change what he is, meaning that any acquiring team will have to be conscious of Ristolainen’s limitations.
In 47 games this season, the Turku, Finland native has posted a single goal and 11 assists while averaging 20:35 of ice time per game. He has also registered 77 hits, 74 blocked shots and a 0 plus/minus.
Flyers Place Ryan Poehling On Injured Reserve
Flyers center Ryan Poehling will miss at least two more games after landing on injured reserve Monday morning, per a team announcement. Philadelphia recalled center Rodrigo Abols from AHL Lehigh Valley in a corresponding transaction, keeping their active roster at a maximum of 23.
Poehling, 26, already missed Saturday’s win over the Devils with an upper-body injury. He sustained it last Thursday against the Islanders when New York rookie Maxim Tsyplakov delivered a hit to the head, earning the latter a three-game suspension.
In his second season in Philly, Poehling is delivering arguably the best performance of his six-year NHL career. The bottom-six fixture has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points through 43 games, putting him on track to match last year’s career-high 28 points before the injury but with better defensive play this time.
Averaging 13:18 per game, Poehling has won a career-high 51.2% of his draws, at least over an entire season, and leads Flyers forwards with 51 blocks. He’s started two-thirds of his even-strength shifts in the defensive zone, has seen time on their top penalty-killing unit with Scott Laughton, and his 2.7 GA/60 at even strength is fourth-best among qualified skaters behind Noah Cates (2.5), Garnet Hathaway (2.3), and Emil Andrae (2.0).
The decision to sign the Minnesota native to a two-year, $3.8MM extension midway through last season has turned out prudent for Flyers general manager Daniel Brière. He has 15 goals and 43 points in 120 games as a Flyer since they signed him in 2023.
Up comes the 29-year-old Abols, who receives the first recall of his professional career. A seventh-round pick of the Canucks back in 2016, they let his signing rights lapse before he landed an entry-level contract with the Panthers in the 2019 offseason.
Abols lasted one year in the Florida organization, recording 23 points in 36 AHL games before mutually terminating his contract ahead of the 2020-21 campaign. The Latvia-born Abols returned to the Swedish Hockey League, where he played in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns. He spent four years suiting up with Örebro HK and Rögle BK before generating NHL interest again this past summer.
On the heels of a 14-goal, 26-point campaign for Rögle, the 6’4″, 205-lb Abols landed a two-way deal with the Flyers. He has nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 34 games with AHL Lehigh Valley, tying for fourth on the team in scoring. He’s expected to make his NHL debut Tuesday against the Red Wings, while Laughton is doubtful due to a family matter, Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Islanders’ Maxim Tsyplakov Suspended Three Games
The NHL Department of Player Safety has issued New York Islanders winger Maxim Tsyplakov a three-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers winger Ryan Poehling on Tuesday night. The hit came in the latter half of the first period, with Tsyplakov flying into Poehling while he was crashing the net. Poehling left the game with a head injury, which NHL Player Safety points to as part of the reason why first-time offender Tsyplakov received a multi-game suspension. He did not receive a penalty during the game.
Additionally, Flyers center Scott Laughton has been fined $5K, the most allowable under the CBA, for cross-checking Tsyplakov in retaliation later in the game. Laughton cross-checked Tsyplakov in the back after he made a pass in the offensive end.
The aftermath of the chippy game, which ended in a Flyers win, will see the Islanders move forward without their third-line left wing. Tsyplakov has had a successful rookie season with New York. He has 19 points through 44 games, ranked sixth among all first-year players. The 26-year-old winger signed with the Islanders as an undrafted free agent this summer after spending the last seven seasons with Moscow Spartak of Russia’s KHL. Tsyplakov climbed every wrung of Spartak’s lineup, ultimately working his way up to a top-line role and 47 points in 65 games last season. He’s rotated through the Islanders’ middle-six in his first NHL season, ultimately averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time each game – seventh-most among New York’s forwards.
The Islanders will likely turn towards Hudson Fasching in Tsyplakov’s absence. Fasching has served as New York’s extra forward this season and hasn’t played a game since January 5th. He’s totaled 19 appearances but is still searching for his first point of the season.
Flyers, Comcast Spectacor Announce Plans For New Arena
9:39 a.m.: Comcast Spectacor has officially announced the plan, a joint venture between them and Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, to see a new arena for the Flyers and 76ers open in 2031 at the latest. They’re also investing “in the revitalization of Market East in Center City,” where the 76ers were previously set to construct a new home.
8:33 a.m.: The Flyers, along with ownership group Comcast Spectacor, are expected to announce plans to construct a new arena in South Philadelphia later today in conjunction with the NBA’s 76ers, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports.
After recently completing major renovations of theirs and the 76ers’ current home, the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers’ future in the South Philly district was somewhat murky after the latter announced plans to build a new home downtown. Our sister site, Hoops Rumors, relayed a report from Jake Blumgart and Sean Collins Walsh of the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday that the 76ers had reversed course and reached a deal with Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Wells Fargo Center, to remain in the complex.
The Flyers have called the South Philadelphia Sports Complex for the entirety of their 58-year existence, playing at The Spectrum from their inaugural season in 1967-68 until moving into the newly-constructed, nearby Wells Fargo Center (then the CoreStates Center) in 1996.
After nearly 30 years in their second home, the Flyers’ third home will remain at 3601 S. Broad St. A new arena would come in conjunction with a $2.5B renovation of the entire complex that Comcast Spectacor announced in conjunction with MLB’s Phillies in March 2024, following in the footsteps of many other NHL markets with non-downtown arena in creating more living and retail space immediately adjacent to arena property.
Samuel Ersson Day-To-Day With Lower-Body Injury
New York Rangers defenseman Zac Jones voiced his frustration when discussing his recent stretch of healthy scratches amid the Rangers losing skid (as per Sean O’Leary of The Score). Jones, who will sit for the fifth time in six games tomorrow, said that he feels as though he is rotting away. The 24-year-old was a regular for the Rangers prior to the team bringing in Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen.
Jones added that it is tough for him to improve when he isn’t playing, and he feels as though he has done some good things, but his playing time isn’t reflecting that. In 26 games this season, Jones has posted a goal and seven assists while averaging 16:42 of ice time per game. Jones has been with New York since the team took him in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in 95 games over the past five seasons, posting four goals and 21 assists.
In other Metropolitan Division notes:
- Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary did not skate today during the team’s optional skate and is officially listed as day-to-day after taking a stick to the face from teammate Tom Wilson in yesterday’s win over Boston (as per Tarik El-Bashir of the Monumental Sports Network). He will be reevaluated tomorrow morning before the team takes on the Minnesota Wild in the evening. Fehervary has played every game this season after having injuries limit him to just 66 games last year. The 25-year-old is averaging the third most minutes of any Capitals skaters and has become a big piece of their defense core.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that goaltender Samuel Ersson is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The netminder left last night’s game after two periods with an undisclosed injury and did not return. The Flyers have said it is likely a short-term injury and he will be evaluated daily. The 25-year-old missed time earlier this season with a groin issue, meaning that he could have reaggravated that injury yesterday. Ersson is 9-6-2 on the season with an .884 save percentage and a 3.02 goals-against average.
- Matt Vensel of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jesse Puljujarvi hinted that he may have asked the Penguins for a trade prior to him being put on waivers earlier in the week. The former fourth-overall pick cleared waivers and remains with the Penguins, but he has been a healthy scratch in ten straight games. Puljujarvi had a long road back to good health, and it’s hard to fault him for wanting to play. He was at Penguins practice again today, and once again he was the odd man out during their line rushes. The 26-year-old has three goals and five assists in 21 games this season but hasn’t been able to get into the lineup after Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said that he needed to play better defense and have more attention to detail.
Flyers Recall Olle Lycksell
Dec. 27: Lycksell has been recalled from Lehigh Valley again with the holiday break soon to be in the rearview mirror, the team announced. He’ll be on hand for the Flyers’ West Coast road swing over the next week. Philadelphia’s active roster is full again with $2.31MM in current cap space, per PuckPedia.
Dec. 22: Philadelphia announced they’ve reassigned Lycksell to their AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He skated in 10:58 of last night’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, registering three shots on net.
Dec. 21: The Flyers have added a bit of forward depth to their roster heading into tonight’s game against Columbus. Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia relays (Twitter link) that Philadelphia has recalled winger Olle Lycksell from AHL Lehigh Valley. They are now carrying the maximum of 23 players on the roster.
This move comes on the heels of center Sean Couturier not being at the morning skate today. It’s unknown if Lycksell’s recall is related to that or if someone else’s availability for tonight is in some question.
The 25-year-old has had plenty of offensive success in the minors but it hasn’t translated to much production with the Flyers. Last season, Lycksell had 19 goals and 20 assists in 38 games with the Phantoms which earned him 18 appearances in Philadelphia. However, he wasn’t able to muster up much with them, collecting just one goal and four helpers in those outings while logging just 9:57 per game. That lack of production contributed to Lycksell clearing waivers back in October.
This season, it has been more of the same for Lycksell in Lehigh Valley as he has nine goals and 15 assists in 25 appearances which has helped him earn his first promotion of the season, even if it’s likely to be a brief one with the holiday break fast approaching.
Philadelphia Flyers Assign Emil Andrae To The AHL
The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned defenseman Emil Andrae to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. The move comes as somewhat of a surprise as the 22-year-old Andrae has been solid in 20 NHL games.
The 2020 second-round pick has a goal and four assists in the NHL this year, as well as a +3 plus/minus rating, 22 hits and 28 blocks. His underlying numbers are even better, particularly on the possession front where Andrae has posted a CF% of 54.2 at even strength. The Flyers have leaned on Andrae quite a bit during his time in the NHL, as he has played 19:18 per game which makes his demotion all that more surprising.
Despite being undersized at just 5’9” Andrae did a good job winning puck battles and using his small frame to gain body positioning on opponents. His edge work remains solid, particularly in the offensive zone where he has been able to walk the blue line and get pucks to the net at a good rate.
Andrae had sat for several games as a healthy scratch, with the Flyers preferring to use Yegor Zamula over him. Now that he is back in the AHL, Andrae will have an opportunity to continue his development, and he should receive a recall at some point in the new year
Flyers Sign Jacob Gaucher To Entry-Level Deal
The Flyers announced that they’ve signed center Jacob Gaucher to a two-year, entry-level contract. PuckPedia later reported that Gaucher’s deal carries an $872.5K cap hit and breaks down as follows:
2024-25: $775K NHL salary, $80K signing bonus, $85K minors salary
2025-26: $800K NHL salary, $90K signing bonus, $15K games played bonus, $85K minors salary
Gaucher, 23, lands his first NHL contract amid his third professional season, all of which have been spent in the Philadelphia organization on an AHL contract. The older brother of Ducks first-rounder Nathan Gaucher is now eligible for a call-up and counts against their 50-contract limit, which now stands at 45 with five open slots.
The 6’3″ pivot has stuck in the AHL with Lehigh Valley full-time this season after seeing action with ECHL Reading in each of the last two years. He’s broken out for 10 goals and five assists for 15 points in 23 games, leading the team in goals and ranking fourth in points.
The former captain of the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar is just one point shy of tying the 16 he had in 59 games with Lehigh Valley last season, his first in the AHL. Gaucher spent the entirety of 2022-23, his first professional season, on assignment to Reading, where he racked up 22 goals and 39 assists for 61 points in 71 games.
Gaucher certainly still qualifies as a prospect, albeit one on the older end – he was initially eligible for the 2019 draft. He’ll be a restricted free agent upon expiry of his ELC in 2026.