Flyers Place Important Forward on Injured Reserve, Bring Back NHL Preseason Standout

When it rains, it pours for the Philadelphia Flyers, as injuries are starting to mount up at a crucial point in the season. On Wednesday afternoon, the Flyers announced that center Ryan Poehling has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Nov. 2, and forward Anthony Richard has been re-called from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms to replace him.

Poehling, 25, has developed into an important forward for the Flyers, featuring in heavy defensive zone minutes and becoming a strong contributor on the team’s elite penalty kill unit. Although Poehling had only eight shots on goal and zero goals in his 12 games, he did manage to produce five assists in his limited ice time for the Flyers.

Flyers head coach John Tortorella told the media on Tuesday that Poehling was dealing with a “family situation” and was already a bit banged up, so it is currently unclear when the key center will be feeling ready to return to the ice.

It is worth noting that Poehling is third among all Flyers in blocked shots (20) and leads all Flyers forwards in that category. Morgan Frost is the next-closest, with 14.

Flyers replace Ryan Poehling with Anthony Richard

Attentive Flyers fans will remember Lehigh Valley Phantoms forward Anthony Richard as the dynamite skater who regularly impressed with his speed, forechecking, and pace of play in the NHL preseason.

It is a bonus that Richard, a 2015 fourth-round pick, comes with 24 games of NHL experience and a wealth of AHL experience, with 488 games played there. Richard has scored 55 goals, 67 assists, and 122 points over his last two seasons in the AHL, and he has four goals, five assists, and nine points in only seven games for the Phantoms so far this season.

From a stylistic point of view, Richard is a perfect Ryan Poehling replacement for the Flyers at this time.

In the preseason, Richard was often used on the penalty kill and power play and moved up and down the lineup, at times playing alongside Sean Couturier.

Poehling will be eligible to return from injured reserve on Saturday, Nov. 9.