John Clark talks with general manager Chuck Fletcher about the new additions to the Flyers and how they will factor into team chemistry.
In hopes of identifying their 12th forward to start the 2021-22 regular season, the Flyers claimed Patrick Brown off of waivers Monday from the Golden Knights.
The Flyers had to submit their roster by Monday at 5 p.m. ET. The club will open the season with 21 players because of its tight salary cap situation, meaning the Flyers' only extra is Kevin Hayes, who is not available as he recovers from abdominal surgery.
More: Flyers announce season-opening roster with a new acquisition, one extra player
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Prior to Brown being claimed off of waivers, the Flyers' 12th forward spot was coming down between Garrett Wilson and Jackson Cates. By the look of last weekend's practices, Wilson appeared to be the favorite to land the final job in the Flyers' season-opening lineup. The 30-year-old winger was on a professional tryout, so the Flyers needed to sign him to an NHL contract if he had made the roster.
The Flyers decided to go with Brown. With the process of claiming a player off of waivers, Brown had to be added to the Flyers' roster. If the club wanted to send him to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, it would have to clear him through waivers. With the Flyers going with a 21-man roster, as of right now, Brown is slotted as the 12th forward and expected in the season-opening lineup.
The Flyers will have to get him up to speed. They are scheduled to practice three more times before Friday's season opener against the Canucks at the Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
A 29-year-old who is more of a center than a winger but can play both, Brown has 33 career NHL games on his résumé between time with the Hurricanes and Golden Knights. He has two goals and an assist in 10:05 minutes per game.
NHL
The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder appeared in 12 playoff games for Vegas last season and scored two goals. He's in the first year of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $750,000.
The Flyers' depth at forward has been hit by injuries to Hayes, Wade Allison and Tanner Laczynski.
Subscribe to and rate Flyers Talk
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | YouTube