With their newest players unavailable due to visa issues, the Flyers have brought in some extra reinforcements. The team announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled defenseman Emil Andrae and center Jacob Gaucher from AHL Lehigh Valley. To make room on the roster, Egor Zamula was placed on injured reserve while newcomer Andrei Kuzmenko has a non-roster designation.
Andrae has split the season between the Flyers and Phantoms. With Philadelphia, the 22-year-old has suited up in 20 games, picking up five points along with 28 blocks and 22 hits while averaging 19:18 of playing time. He has been a bit more productive with Lehigh Valley with nine points in 15 outings with them. With Erik Johnson absent from practice today, it’s possible that Andrae could be counted on for Sunday’s game in Colorado.
As for Gaucher, it’s his first recall after his minor league deal was converted to an entry-level pact in December. The 23-year-old has done well this season with the Phantoms, notching 14 goals and 13 assists in 44 games, well surpassing his rookie-year numbers in fewer games. Gaucher’s 27 points put him in a tie for second on Lehigh Valley in scoring, two behind leader Samu Tuomaala.
As for making roster room, Kuzmenko and winger Jakob Pelletier were acquired from Calgary on Thursday. However, both players are dealing with visa-related concerns and are not yet available to the team. Their debuts may have to wait until Tuesday in Utah. Zamula, meanwhile, has missed the last week with an upper-body injury. His retroactive IR placement came on Friday, meaning he’s eligible to be activated at any time.