Flyers Recall Five Players

The Philadelphia Flyers have shored up their depth with a series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Philadelphia has recalled forwards Oscar Eklind and Jacob Gaucher, defensemen Helge Grans and Hunter McDonald, and goaltender Carson Bjarnason to serve as black aces. The five will join the Flyers roster following the end of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ season in the AHL.

Gaucher is the only call-up who played multiple NHL games this season. He stepped into four games with the Flyers, split between a three-game call-up in January and a one-game stint earlier this month. Gaucher posted no scoring, no penalty minutes, and a minus-one in those appearances. He was a fixture of Lehigh Valley’s middle six and finished the AHL season with 20 goals, 36 points, and 44 penalty minutes in 69 games. His scoring ranked second on the Phantoms in goals and third in points.

McDonald received his NHL debut near the end of Philadelphia’s regular season. He recorded one assist, four penalty minutes, and a plus-three while only playing in 15 minutes of ice time. It was a high-energy performance from a player who seemed to only find the penalty box in the minor-leagues. The second-year pro racked up just six assists to go with 92 penalty minutes in 65 AHL games this season. That mark fell just under his rookie AHL season last year, when he notched 18 points and 99 penalty minutes in 71 games.

While the big presence of Gaucher and McDonald earned an NHL look, Philadelphia’s remaining call-ups spent the season in the minor-leagues. Eklind racked up nine goals and 15 points in 49 games with Lehigh Valley. It was his second season in North America after rising the ranks of Sweden’s pro leagues over the last eight seasons. Grange scored 14 points in 61 games, a step down from his 23 points last season. Grange also played the first six games of his NHL career last season, marked by one assist and two penalty minutes. Bjarnason played through his first pro season this year. He split results in two ECHL games, with a .881 save percentage, and recorded 14 wins and a .877 save percentage in 32 AHL games.

Philadelphia will also bring up an overwhelming amount of size in these recalls. The 6-foot-3 Gaucher is the only one of the five under 6-foot-4. Where he brings an impact in front of the net, Eklind offers shooting from the flanks, and both Grange and McDonald bring imposing physicality on the blue-line. In the mix, Bjarnason will stand as the young prospect with upside. Even with that range of talent, it is unlikely any of the five will step into Stanley Cup Playoff action unless Philadelphia faces multiple injuries.