VOORHEES, N.J. — It looks like the Flyers are getting an important piece back in their lineup.
Cam York is expected to be activated off injured reserve for Thursday when the Flyers host the Jets (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP). The 24-year-old missed the first three games of the season with a lower-body injury.
York took part in morning skate Monday and practiced the last two days. On Wednesday, he skated alongside Travis Sanheim, his regular top-pair defensive partner.
Rick Tocchet said there was a possibility York could return Thursday, but it appears to be highly likely. That’s because the Flyers opened up a roster spot. They sent Emil Andrae back to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, a source confirmed Wednesday.
Here were the Flyers’ pairs in practice, with Andrae and Egor Zamula appearing to serve as the extras.
Cam York-Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeer-Jamie Drysdale
Adam Ginning-Noah Juulsen
Emil Andrae-Egor Zamula
Andrae played well in limited minutes of the Flyers’ 5-2 home-opening win Monday over the Panthers. But he’s the only defenseman the Flyers don’t have to risk losing on waivers, so he has become the odd man out for now.
“I thought Andrae did a really nice job,” Tocchet said Wednesday.
The 23-year-old was called up Sunday after being somewhat surprisingly assigned to the Phantoms before the final two preseason games.
“Of course I was disappointed to get sent down, I didn’t play well enough to make the roster,” Andrae said Monday after morning skate. “I just had the mindset to get back here. Go down to Lehigh, even if it takes one game or two months, I want to get back here. It’s my goal. Now I’ve got an opportunity and I’ve got to take it.”