Flyers Notes: Vladar Day-to-Day, Barkey Skating, More Cuts

Forget the results of the first two preseason games for the Philadelphia Flyers. Forget the final score in Boston. On Wednesday morning, all anybody wanted to know was what the update was on Dan Vladar.

Vladar left Tuesday’s game, his first in the preseason, after allowing the first goal to Boston at 13:31 of the first period in apparent discomfort around his right arm and shoulder.

Vladar was not on the ice on Wednesday, but the update was mostly good news. Vladar is considered day-to-day.

“I think we dodged a bullet,” head coach Rick Tocchet said on Wednesday. “He’s in good spirits today.”

Tocchet would not commit to Vladar being ready for the season opener in another week, mainly because day-to-day lacks some certainty in the timeline.

“I don’t know at that point,” Tocchet said. “Day-to-day could be 48 hours or 72 hours.”

Tocchet did stand behind using Joseph Woll in a heavier role in the circumstances require it with Vladar’s condition.

“Very comfortable,” Tocchet said. “He’s got a really intelligent mind and he actually looks at the systems. So I think with Woller, he studies what we’re doing, even with PK, so that helps. I think he knows how important he is and he’s going to play some games for us.”

Barkey Back on the Ice

In Monday’s preseason opener, it was Denver Barkey who left early with an injury and did not return. Barkey was skating again on Wednesday, wearing a non-contact jersey. He is also considered day-to-day.

Barkey was expected to make the team out of camp this season after playing in 43 games last season after his mid-December call-up. With the potential to play center, a position where the Flyers remain thin and experimenting with options, Barkey was certainly an asset to the roster in the early part of the season and any missed time would be unfortunate for the 21-year-old.

Flyers Make More Cuts

With one week to go until puck drop on the 2026-27 regular season, the Flyers roster got a lot closer to completion. The Flyers placed six players on waivers, assigned six more to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and returned one player to juniors.

Forwards Noah Powell and Riley Thompson, along with defensemen Spencer Gill, Hunter McDonald, Ty Murchison, and goalie Carson Bjarnason were all sent to the Phantoms camp roster.

In addition, the Flyers placed forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Nolan Foote, Carl Grundstrom, Danila Klimovich, and Jack Studnicka, along with defenseman Cam Dineen on waivers.

Matthew Gard was returned to his junior team in the WHL, the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Assuming all six players on waivers clear and are then assigned to the Phantoms, that will leave just 29 players on the training camp roster, with only six cuts to be made to establish the final roster.

One of those decisions will involve Vladar’s health, and whether Aleksei Kolosov stays up or goes to the AHL with both goalies healthy to start the season.

The remaining forwards include camp standout Cole Knuble and former first-round pick Jett Luchanko. Jacob Gaucher also remains on the camp roster. Barkey’s availability may come into play with making final decisions as well.

Defensively, only nine remain and it’s always a possibility that the Flyers keep eight defensemen. Oliver Bonk, David Jiricek, and Helge Grans round out the group of otherwise established defensemen.

The final two preseason games could really look like dress rehearsals of sorts, especially with so many Flyers’ regulars not playing in the two road preseason games earlier this week.

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.