The Philadelphia Flyers finally snagged their first win on Saturday night, but man, the injury bug is absolutely brutal right now. Owen Tippett missed that victory with an upper-body injury, and then Tyson Foerster blocked a shot with his hand before returning for the second period. Now, both Tippett and Foerster, along with Sean Couturier, are all game-time decisions for Monday night’s showdown against the vaunted Colorado Avalanche. With those three joining Travis Konecny on the injured forwards list, everyone was thinking the Flyers would call up another forward to help out. But nope, that’s not what happened. The Flyers have officially recalled defenseman Hunter McDonald from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
A Defensive Move When Forwards Are Dropping Like Flies
This move is a head-scratcher on the surface, right? You’ve got four forwards dealing with injuries, and you bring up a defenseman? The team announced this Sunday evening, also noting that defenseman Cam York is now on injured reserve with his own upper-body injury. They also sent Jack Studnicka and Helge Grans back down to the AHL. McDonald is a big 6-foot-4 defenseman who’s been on the NHL radar for a few years now, grinding it out in the AHL. This is his third full professional season, having played 71 games with the Phantoms in 2024-25 and another 65 last year. So he’s put in the work.
McDonald’s Impressive Start and Steady Game
So, who is Hunter McDonald and what’s he bringing? Well, he actually made his NHL debut in Game 82 last season, picking up an assist and four penalty minutes. He also blocked a shot and dished out five hits, all while being a plus-three in 15:11 of ice time. That’s a solid first impression. This season in the AHL, he’s been even better. Through six games, McDonald’s got a goal and two assists for three points, with two penalty minutes and a plus-four rating. Our very own Phantoms expert, Maddie Campbell, has been watching him closely and says he’s had a “quite good start.” He’s worked his way up the lineup, playing in more meaningful even-strength minutes alongside Oliver Bonk and then Spencer Gill. He might not be flashy , though that shorthanded goal he scored on Friday in Springfield was pretty darn flashy , but he brings a “no-nonsense, steadying approach” to his game, both at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. And that’s exactly the kind of play the Flyers are gonna need against a tough team like the Avalanche.
This call-up is a wild card. The Flyers already have six healthy defensemen. So either someone’s getting benched, or the team is rolling with an 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineup. Coach Rick Tocchet is NOT a fan of that formation, but with so many forwards banged up, he might not have a choice. Get ready to see how this shakes out Monday night against the Avalanche. This game just got a whole lot more interesting to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Broad Street Hockey.
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