Gustafsson could make his NHL debut this Thursday.
According to Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Flyers have recalled 22-year-old rookie defenseman Erik Gustafsson from Adirondack. Gustafsson leads the Phantoms in points (26) and assists (22) in 33 games.
Gustafsson could make his NHL debut on Thursday in Los Angeles as the orange and black continue their crucial west coast swing against the Kings if defenseman Kimmo Timonen cannot play.
Timonen suffered an injury in Tuesday’s loss to the Canucks. No update has been released on his injury status has of yet.
The decision to call up Gustafsson over former Flyer Danny Syvret, who was reacquired via trade with Anaheim earlier in the season, is a little surprising considering a few factors.
Syvret, 25, played in 21 games with the Flyers last season. You may know him as the lone Flyer to score a goal in the 2010 Bridgestone Winter Classic. He had two goals and two assists for four points for Philly.
In six games this year, Syvret has one goal and one assist while playing for the Ducks. Since being acquired in November, Syvret has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in 14 games for the Phantoms.
Another reason why he made sense is because he earns $300,000 less than Gustafsson. Although the Flyers have roughly under $2 million in cap space, Syvret also has NHL experience over the offensively gifted Gustafsson, who makes $900,000 counting against the cap.
