‘I’d Rather Be Home’: Lukas Sedlak Leaves Flyers; Cam Atkinson to IR

The Philadelphia Flyers had plenty of news to share ahead of their game against the Rangers.

Kevin Hayes will be a healthy scratch against New York. Both John Tortorella and Hayes declined to comment on the situation.

In more permanent news, Lukas Sedlak announced he would be leaving the Flyers’ organization to return home to the Czech Republic. He will potentially play for the club Pardubice once he returns. It was a decision that Sedlak came to on Friday for various reasons.

“I just felt overall that me playing in the NHL didn’t bring me what I expected it to bring me. I would rather be home with my family. Stuff like that, so it’s more than one reason. They kind of all combine together. That’s why I made the decision.”

It is not the first time that Sedlak has decided to return home. He did the same thing during his time in Columbus. He is getting to the age where it is more about simply playing in the NHL. It’s more about what brings him joy.

Sedlak’s parents, brother, and fiance are all back home, and he hasn’t seen them much over the last 12 years. His fiance is currently in school, so she could not join him in Philadelphia.

The Flyers acquired Sedlak off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche. Before that, he spent three seasons under Tortorella in Columbus and three seasons in the KHL. With the Flyers, Sedlak posted three goals and eight points overall.

While Sedlak said Tortorella did originally try to convince him to stay, once he gave the reasons for his departure, there was no pushback. And even though Tortorella initially announced it first, he wanted to allow Sedlak to explain the personal reasons.

“He’s a good man,” Tortorella said. “We’re going to miss him.”

Cam Atkinson on IR, Kieffer Bellows Returns to Flyers

Also on Saturday, Cam Atkinson was placed on injured reserve. The veteran forward was cleared as of Nov. 28 but needed more time to feel he could add value to the team.

It seems as if that will not be anytime soon. There was no word if Atkinson suffered a setback or not. He was practicing with the team and was taking contact as well. Atkinson has yet to play a game for the Flyers this season.

Kieffer Bellows will make his return to the Philadelphia Flyers lineup this evening. Acquired off waivers from the New York Islanders, Bellows appeared in 11 games, posting no points. He was placed on waivers again and sent to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

He took the move in stride, recording seven points (3-4) in five games with the Phantoms.