Had the chance to catch up with Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren as he prepared to watch the Adirondack Phantoms take on the Springfield Falcons here at Glens Falls Civic Center.

There were a couple items of note from that conversation.

First, he said that Phantoms winger Eric Wellwood faces an expected nine-month road to recovery after undergoing surgery this week to surgically repair multiple tendons and ligaments that were severed in that freak accident in Sunday's game at Bridgeport. Most notably, Holmgren said that Wellwood's Achilles tendon was approximately 70 percent severed. It is believed Wellwood accidentally cut himself with his own skate as he stumbled to the ice while killing a penalty.

Nine months from today would be January 12, 2014.

Secondly, he said the Flyers organization is not currently considering having Oshawa Generals defenseman Colin Suellentrop, a fourth round draft pick in 2011, join the Phantoms on an amateur try-out contract. Suellentrop's junior season ended earlier this week, but Holmgren noted how the Phantoms already have eight healthy defensemen on the team. Things could get crowded back there.

Scott Laughton, the Philadelphia Flyers top pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, is making his American Hockey League debut tonight, centering a line with Tye McGinn and Jason Akeson. Mark Alt, the defenseman the Flyers acquired in the Luke Pither trade, is making his pro debut. He's paired with Andreas Lilja. Their arrivals give the Phantoms a total of nine rookies in uniform this evening.

The Phantoms have also switched up the lines a bit.

Garrett Roe, who had been centering McGinn and Akeson, dropped down to fourth-line duty. Zack FitzGerald and Derek Mathers are flanking him. The Marcel Noebels-Kyle Flanagan-Jon Sim and Rob Bordson-Nick Cousins-Brandon Alderson lines remain unchanged from practice this week.

More after the game.
-- MC