Flyers’ O’Reilly to join camp; Philadelphia cuts five

The Philadelphia Flyers reduced their training camp roster to 67 players today. There were 71 players on the roster at the beginning of camp last Thursday.

Forwards Mikael Huchette and Tyler Savard were released from their ATO, and Alexis Gendron, a seventh-round selection in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, heads to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL.

Huchette is undrafted and spent the 2021-2022 season with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, scoring 33 points (12G, 21A) in 62 games. 

Savard is also undrafted, and he spent 2021-2022 with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, scoring 28 points (9G, 19A) in 49 games. He had a breakaway goal in the second scrimmage yesterday.

Gendron has spent the past two seasons with the Armada. He registered 46 points (30G, 16A) in 66 games during 2021-2022. His wrist shot generates power and is accurate from the perimeter. In addition to a quick release shot, Gendron sets up his teammates with good scoring chances. Martin Gendron, a current Flyers scout, is his father.

On defense, Ethan Samson will go to the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, and Brian Zanetti heads to the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

Samson was a sixth-round selection from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and has spent the past three seasons with the Cougars. During 2021-2022, Samson scored 43 points (15G, 28A) in 68 games. He received a bona fide offer from Philadelphia in June and is the only unsigned RD in the system drafted by Chuck Fletcher.

Zanetti was selected during the fourth-round by Philadelphia during the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. On the Petes last season, Zanetti scored 26 points (4G, 22A) in 56 games. Zanetti was a part of Team Switzerland during the 2022 World Junior Championships. In four games, Zanetti registered two assists.

Philadelphia has also added Cal O’Reilly, C, to the training camp roster on a PTO. O’Reilly is the captain of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and has been a part of the organization since 2019. He scored 53 points (21G, 32A) in 75 games with the Phantoms last season.

O’Reilly re-signed with the Phantoms in July and is on an AHL-only contract. He’s ranked eighth all-time in AHL assists with 535 and 26th in points with 686 over a sixteen-year career, making him the current leading scorer in the AHL.

(Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)