Flyers place Hayden Hodgson on waivers, have more shuffling among forwards

VOORHEES, N.J. — John Tortorella expected a good bit of roster movement.

With injuries and the head coach wanting to see what he has, the Flyers' lineup was not going to stick off the bat.

"I think there could be some rotating people coming in and out of here until we kind of settle what they are when they're playing in a National Hockey League game or a couple of weeks that mean something in the National Hockey League," Tortorella said Monday. "I can't make predictions. We're just going to see how they react."

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After beating the Devils, 5-2, in their 2022-23 regular-season opener Thursday, the Flyers will have changes for Game 2.

Fourth-liner Hayden Hodgson was placed on waivers following practice Friday at Flyers Training Center. He played only 4:46 minutes Thursday and had just one shift in the third period. The Flyers lost Owen Tippett in the first period to an upper-body injury, so Tortorella worked with 10 forwards to close out his first win as Flyers head coach.

"Hodgy struggled. He did, he struggled," Tortorella said Friday. "I have to make those calls along the way. When Tip went down and Hodgy struggled, it kind of hurt [Nicolas Deslauriers] a little bit because I just felt the flow of the game, I ended up going three lines quite a bit there that second half of the game."

Hodgson somewhat surprisingly edged out Zack MacEwen for the season-opening fourth-line role. MacEwen, who cleared waivers Monday, could be right back this Saturday when the Flyers host the Canucks (4 p.m. ET/NBCSP).

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Last season, the 26-year-old Hodgson "emerged out of nowhere," general manager Chuck Fletcher said in May. Hodgson opened eyes with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley and then earned an entry-level contract in March. He had an impressive NHL debut and played six games for the Flyers. The season prior, he was placing for two different teams in the ECHL.

In Thursday night's opener, it became clear Tortorella felt Hodgson wasn't ready to help the Flyers right now.

"I didn't think he had a great camp," the head coach said. "I don't know him as well as the others. I know he's come a long way, in talking to the organization, Chuck and everybody. I believe he was in the East Coast Hockey League a couple of years ago and he's battled, and I appreciate that.

"I have to make decisions: can he handle the National Hockey League right now? It's not one particular thing, it's just in a general sense: is he ready to play in the National Hockey League? Last night, I decided he wasn't for that game when I shortened the bench after the injury and all that. These are decisions we have to make.

"I don't want Hodgy sitting here, playing four, five minutes a game, when he could be developing down there and getting a ton of minutes. It's unfair."

If Hodgson clears waivers Saturday afternoon, he'll report to the Phantoms.

Hayden Hodgson clears waivers, reports to Phantoms.https://t.co/6Yjj1nvi0P
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) October 15, 2022

Jackson Cates was back with the Flyers on Friday after being loaned to Lehigh Valley four days ago. With Tippett out and being considered day to day, Cates was recalled and is expected to center the fourth line against Vancouver. To make room for Cates on the roster, defenseman Ronnie Attard was sent to the Phantoms.

After missing the opener, Cam Atkinson (upper body) and Rasmus Ristolainen (undisclosed) are expected to be out again Saturday. Both the winger and defenseman are considered day to day.

Here's how the Flyers looked at practice Friday. On Saturday, the club will have a call-up — possibly MacEwen — to fill Hodgson's spot against the Canucks.

Olle Lycksell called up and looks like he'll make his NHL debut. Owen Tippett (upper body) has been placed on IR.
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) October 15, 2022