It’s heartbreaking: A very talented Philadelphia Flyers player has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters a heartfelt farewell.

It’s heartbreaking: A very talented Philadelphia Flyers player has announced his sudden retirement, sending a powerful statement and bidding the team and supporters a heartfelt farewell.

The Philadelphia Flyers made seven early but expected roster cuts prior to their preseason game against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (7 p.m.; NHL Network, 97.5 The Phanatic).

Defensemen Mason Millman, Will Zmolek, and Ethan Samson were sent down to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, along with forwards Zayde Wisdom and Alexis Gendron. The Flyers had welcomed competition for their blueline, and while their dismal preseason showings had further exposed that, general manager Danny Briere evidently believed this group needed more experience.

Though Wisdom was notably dominant during Flyers rookie camp, the same can be said for Gendron. That’s not a criticism of him; rather, it’s a clear sign that Nicolas Deslauriers, Ryan Poehling, and Garnet Hathaway, who make up the Flyers’ fourth line, will stick together. It will take the 21-year-old Wisdom some time this season to rekindle his game the way we saw it in rookie camp after his dismal 2022–23 campaign, which saw him end the season with the ECHL Reading Royals.

2022 seventh-round selection Gendron will join the Phantoms in the AHL for the first time after playing the previous three seasons in the QMJHL. He will be a valuable addition to Ian Laperriere’s team as they get ready to send forwards like Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster to the major leagues.

Along with Adam Karashik, the former captain of Notre Dame, the Flyers also cut goaltender Nolan Maier from his professional tryout. In nine games during his debut season with the Phantoms, Maier went 5-2-2 but had a poor save percentage of 0.886. Although Karashik has spent parts of two seasons with the Flyers’ minor league affiliate, he intends to play his first full season there because it is anticipated that defensemen Cam York and Yegor Zamula will remain in Philadelphia.

Next, the Flyers might extend an offer to the Lightning to replace Vasilevskiy. dark

The Flyers have avoided making any contentious cuts thus far, and given all of the inconsistent and generally underwhelming play this season, it’s likely that Briere and company want a closer look at their younger players. For better or worse, the team needs some players to start making an impression, and tonight’s game against the Bruins is their first opportunity to do so.