Updated: September 23, 2019
Throughout the summer, a hockey front office staff remains hard at work trying to improve the team for next season. As soon as one playing season ends, the attention quickly turns to next year and restocking the roster to give the team the best chance to win a championship. For fans, the summer is usually spent wondering if their favorite player will be back next year or what new players will be taking the ice at PPL Center in October.
Before getting started, keep in mind AHL rosters have the potential to change constantly throughout a season. Most of the players in the ‘Signed for 2019-20’ category are signed by the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) and not specifically Lehigh Valley. They will have a chance to make the Flyers out of training camp or earn a recall at any point during the season. In addition, players can also be assigned to the Reading Royals (ECHL), European teams, or reassigned to their junior club in some cases.
Signed for 2019-20
F Nicolas Aube-Kubel (NHL/AHL) – Signed one-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/16/19
F Connor Bunnaman (ELC)*
F Greg Carey (AHL) – Signed one-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 7/1/19
F Kyle Criscuolo (NHL/AHL) – Signed one-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/1/19
F Joel Farabee (ELC)*
F Gerry Fitzgerald (AHL) – Signed one-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 7/1/19
F Morgan Frost (ELC)*
F Kurtis Gabriel (NHL/AHL) – Signed one-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/1/19
F David Kase (ELC)*
F Pascal Laberge (ELC)*
F Cal O’Reilly (AHL) – Signed two-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 7/1/19
F Isaac Ratcliffe (ELC)*
F German Rubtsov (ELC)*
F Matthew Strome (ELC)*
F Maksim Sushko (ELC)*
F Steven Swavely (AHL) – Signed one-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 9/16/19
F Carsen Twarynski (ELC)*
F Mikhail Vorobyov (ELC)*
D Chris Bigras (NHL/AHL) – Signed two-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/1/19
D T.J. Brennan (NHL/AHL)
D James De Haas (AHL) – Signed one-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 7/1/19
D David Drake (AHL) – Signed one-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 9/18/19
D Mark Friedman (ELC)*
D Eric Knodel (AHL) – Signed one-year AHL contract with Phantoms on 7/1/19
D Philippe Myers (ELC)*
D Nate Prosser (NHL/AHL) – Signed two-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/1/19
D Reece Willcox (NHL/AHL)
D Tyler Wotherspoon (NHL/AHL) – Signed two-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/1/19
G Jean-Francois Berube (NHL/AHL) – Signed one-year, two-way contract with Flyers on 7/1/19
G Alex Lyon (NHL)
G Felix Sandstrom (ELC)*
G Kirill Ustimenko (ELC)*
ELC = entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers
*Waivers exempt (Can be loaned to Lehigh Valley without clearing waivers)
Restricted Free Agents
A restricted free agent usually means it’s up to the Flyers whether or not to bring these players back. Either the Flyers will give them a qualifying offer or they become an unrestricted free agent.
Unrestricted Free Agents
F Justin Bailey – Signed with Vancouver Canucks of the NHL on 7/4/19 (Did not receive qualifying offer from Flyers)
F Cole Bardreau – Signed with New York Islanders of the NHL on 7/1/19
F Chris Conner – Signed with Binghamton Devils of the AHL on 7/17/19
F Byron Froese – Signed with Calgary Flames of the NHL on 7/1/19
F Tyrell Goulbourne – Signed with Vegas Golden Knights of the NHL on 7/1/19
F Michael Huntebrinker – Signed with Florida Everblades of the ECHL on 9/5/19
F Corban Knight – Signed with Barys Astana of the KHL (Russia) on 5/28/19
F Jori Lehtera – Signed with SKA Saint Petersburg of the KHL (Russia) on 6/6/19
F Colin McDonald – Signed with Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL on 7/31/19
F Mike Vecchione – Signed with St. Louis Blues of the NHL on 7/1/19
F Phil Varone – Signed with Montreal Canadiens of the NHL on 7/3/19
D Jacob Graves – Signed with Florida Everblades of the ECHL on 9/10/19 (Did not receive qualifying offer from Flyers)
D Frank Hora – Signed with Rochester Americans of the AHL on 7/24/19
D Nick Luukko – Named Assistant Coach of Reading Royals on 7/1/19
D Zach Palmquist – Signed Professional Try-Out with Toronto Marlies on 9/23/19
D Philip Samuelsson – Signed with Mountfield HK of the Czech Extraliga (Czech Republic) on 8/26/19
D David Schlemko – Contract terminated by Flyers on 7/1/19
G Branden Komm
G Mike McKenna – Announced his Retirement on 8/27/19
Unrestricted free agents are free to sign with any team in the NHL, AHL or anywhere else in the world.
All contracts run through June 30, which means no NHL team other than the Flyers could sign these players before July 1. We will update this page after each transaction is announced. Stay tuned!
Come see all your favorite Phantoms at PPL Center with season tickets offering a wide range of benefits as well as 21-Game and 13-Game plans are available by calling the Phantoms at 610-224-GOAL (4625).
And for the latest Phantoms news, visit www.phantomshockey.com or follow the team on Facebook, Twitter (@lvphantoms) and Instagram (@lehighvalleyphantoms).