Flyers to take another look at defensive prospect; Tippett has maintenance day originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
When the Flyers last saw Egor Zamula in their lineup, John Tortorella felt the 22-year-old defenseman struggled with the speed of the NHL game.
Over three and a half months later, the Flyers want to see how handles it again. The club has put an emphasis on evaluating its youth over the remainder of this season and Zamula will be the latest to get a crack with the Flyers.
“We feel he’s ready to be looked at,” Tortorella said Monday after practice. “I just want him to play and we’ll see where we go.”
Zamula was called up from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley and is expected to play a couple of games this week with the big club. The Phantoms are pushing for the postseason but don’t play again until Saturday. Lehigh Valley has lost three straight games and the rebuilding Flyers want to see their top prospects augmenting its playoff race.
For that reason, once the weekend arrives, Tortorella said the plan is for Zamula and 21-year-old winger Tyson Foerster to probably rejoin the Phantoms.
The Flyers have a pair of home games before the weekend: Tuesday against the Panthers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP) and Thursday against the Wild (6:30 p.m. ET/ESPN).
With Lehigh Valley, Zamula has played in all situations.
“I play like 27, 28 minutes every night,” the undrafted product said Monday after practice. “It’s pretty good for me.”
In 42 games for the Phantoms this season, Zamula has recorded a goal, 15 assists and a minus-5 mark. In 11 games with the Flyers this season, he has two assists over 13:45 minutes per game. His last game with the Flyers was Dec. 1.
“I think I just need to play my game, how I’m playing in Lehigh,” Zamula said. “Good stick, simple plays. If I see I need to go on the offensive side, I’ll go on offense, too. I need to play hard every shift.”
The Flyers have always liked Zamula’s length and puck-moving poise. He’s skinny but the organization was pleased during September with the strength he added last offseason.
“He’s long, takes up a lot of space,” Tortorella said. “The thing that caught our eye was his ability to see the ice, it looks like he has the ability to make a play.”
How has Zamula’s body held up playing big minutes down in Lehigh Valley?
“Sometimes it’s hard, but it’s a professional hockey league, it’s normal for everybody,” Zamula said. “I need to be smart with recovery after games and in the morning. Good experience.”
Owen Tippett, one of the Flyers’ younger players who has taken some of the biggest strides this season, did not practice Monday. He was on the ice warming up but then headed to the locker room a couple of minutes before practice started.
The Flyers called it a maintenance day. Tortorella expects Tippett to play Tuesday.
“Not serious, nicked up, day off,” the head coach said. “He’ll skate tomorrow.”
It seems possible that Tortorella could roll with 11 forwards and seven defensemen Tuesday. Fourth-line center Tanner Laczynski did not appear to take line rushes in practice Monday. After practice, Tortorella said he has not seen progress from the 25-year-old Laczynski and wants to see more.
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