The Flyers, not quite defenseless but seemingly moving toward that distinction, will be without yet another blue-liner when the NHL season is scheduled to begin in October.
General manager Paul Holmgren confirmed Monday that the team's already shallow pool of defensemen will be minus Andreas Lilja, who underwent surgery in his native Sweden late last month to correct a degenerative condition in his left hip.
Lilja, 37, won't return until late October or early November at the earliest, according to Holmgren. The veteran, however, told a Swedish newspaper that his return might not be until December.
