Harry Zolnierczyk’s suspension may have cost him the rest of the NHL season. The Flyers announced today that they’ve sent him to the Adirondack Phantoms with two games still remaining on his four-game suspension.
According to NHL.com, he will be able to play in the Phantoms game Friday night against the Springfield Falcons. It’s at the AHL’s discretion whether they let him play despite the ongoing NHL ban.
It’s hard to justify a spot on the 23-man roster to a player who is a) not a vital piece on your team and b) still serving a suspension, so in that sense it’s not shocking that the Flyers have sent Zolnierczyk to the AHL. But he’s already served two of those games on his suspension because they have had space on that 23-man roster.
Harry Z was the 23rd man, and they have a spot open with him demoted. So … we have to ask? A move coming?
It’s possible that Andrej Meszaros could be ready to return to the lineup and he’d take that 23rd spot on the active roster. Him, or potentially Tye McGinn is ready to come back from his eye injury, even though he’s reportedly due out for a few more weeks after surgery on his orbital bone. Either of those returns would be good news.
