In case you missed it, the Philadelphia Flyers announced on Monday evening that forward Jackson Cates, defenseman Nick Seeler, and a team staff member were placed in COVID protocols.
Seeler has appeared in 23 games with the Flyers this season, mainly spending time on the third pairing with Keith Yandle. With various injuries to the blueline this season, Seeler has seen plenty more action than anyone thought he would. He currently has no points and a -4 rating to this point, and his last appearance was on December 30th at San Jose, where he skated for just 9:52.
Cates has spent most of the season in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The former college standout at Minnesota-Duluth recorded six points in 20 games for the Phantoms before being recalled to Philadelphia. He scored his first NHL goal on December 16th against Montreal in his first action of the season, and it remains his lone point in four games with the Flyers this year.
Seeler was on the team’s taxi squad at the time of his placement on the COVID-19 list, and Cates played Saturday night in Los Angeles and was on the active roster. No new additions from the Flyers have been announced since. Interim head coach Mike Yeo said in his press conference yesterday that defenseman Ryan Ellis was removed from protocols as well, but is still out on an unknown timetable with his lower-body injury. Forward Derick Brassard is also out of protocols but did not travel to Anaheim, as Yeo said they felt it was best that he stay behind and get some skating in since he wants him to practice first and he wouldn’t be playing tonight anyway.
The Flyers will also be getting forward Scott Laughton and goaltender Carter Hart back from the list ahead of tonight’s game against the Ducks.
