Young Flyers may play for Phantoms if lockout occurs

By Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: September 09, 2012

If there is an NHL lockout, the Flyers may send a handful of their young players to the AHL Adirondack Phantoms to start the season.

Players who are exempt from waivers could be sent down, and that list features Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn, Erik Gustafsson, Eric Wellwood, and Zac Rinaldo, general manager Paul Holmgren said on Friday.

The Flyers would have to loan the players to the minors before the possible Sept. 15 lockout.

The Phantoms will report to camp at the Skate Zone in Voorhees on Sept. 28, and their first day of on-ice practice will be Sept. 29.

If the NHL avoids a lockout, veterans will start training camp on Sept. 21 in Voorhees.

A handful of Flyers, including goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and center Danny Briere, have been informally working out at the team's practice facility.

Bryzgalov said on Friday he is undecided if he will play in Russia if there is a lockout, saying it is a family decision that is complicated by the fact his children have started school.

In an unrelated matter, a Flyers official confirmed that the Phantoms' new arena in Allentown, scheduled to open in 2013, probably won't be ready until the start of the 2014-15 season.

Cousins reinstated. Three players from the Soo Greyhounds, including highly regarded Flyers prospect Nick Cousins and Sicklerville's Mark Petaccio, went through a 10-day behavioral-wellness program and can return to the OHL team, GM Kyle Dubas said in a statement.

Cousins, Petaccio, and Andrew Fritsch were charged last month with sexually assaulting a female who was known to them. They have an Oct. 1 court date.

Contact Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @BroadStBull.

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