Coburn, Pronger Putting Flyers in Tough Spot with Salary Cap

PHILADELPHIA For all the head-scratching issues the Flyers have had with the salary cap in recent years, here comes another curveball.

Actually, two.

Standing in the batter's box is rookie general manager Ron Hextall, who dealt with little salary-cap space to open the season. Kimmo Timonen was put on long-term injured reserve along with Chris Pronger, so the Flyers have $2 million in cap space.

After only one game this season, the Flyers are deeper in trouble.

Defenseman Braydon Coburn is out of the picture for a while with what the team is calling a lower-body injury.

The top blueliner for the Flyers blocked a slapshot from Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug at the 7:22 mark of the third period in Wednesday's season opener and was on crutches the next night when he was announced as part of the team to a sold-out Wells Fargo Center crowd.

"It's not gonna be day-to-day," Hextall said. "I believe this is going to take some time, but I don't have a final diagnosis."

Coburn, 29, carries a $4.5 million cap hit and was replaced Thursday night by free-agent signee Nick Schultz. It looks like Schultz will have to be the guy unless Hextall makes a call-up or picks up a bat and takes a swing with his first in-season trade.

Young defensemen like Shayne Gostisbehere, Sam Morin and Robert Hagg were impressive in training camp. Morin survived until the last round of cuts and made Hextall seriously reconsider his plan of patience that he remains fully committed to.