Flyers’ Garnet Hathaway to return following 15-game injury absence

Philadelphia Flyers right winger Garnet Hathaway will make his return to the lineup Monday versus the Nashville Predators after missing the past 15 games due to an upper-body injury, Flyers interim head coach Brad Shaw confirmed per Will James of Philly Hockey Now.

Sidelined since late February, Hathaway has made 60 appearances with the Flyers this season in which he has recorded eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points coupled with a plus-four rating and 48 penalty minutes, three shy of fellow forward Travis Konecny for the team lead. Of note, despite his extended absence, Hathaway still ranks 13th league-wide with 218 hits this season. In 2023-24, Hathaway finished second in the NHL with 326 hits, 57 back of Predators defenseman Jeremy Lauzon for top spot.

A veteran of 599 career contests counting stops with the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, and Flyers, Hathaway has collected 73 goals and 84 assists for 157 career points. With the Capitals in 2021-22, Hathaway reached career highs in all major offensive categories counting 14 goals, 12 assists, and 26 points coming in 76 games. Hathaway has also added three goals and three assists for six points through 31 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Per PuckPedia, the 33-year-old native of Naples, Fla., is in the final year of a two-year contract that carries a $2.375-million annual average value and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent this coming offseason.

A graduate of the NCAA’s Brown University Bears, Hathaway originally signed with the Flames in 2015 as an undrafted free agent. Through four seasons in the collegiate ranks, Hathaway totaled 58 points and 178 penalty minutes in 121 career contests.

For the Flyers, on the season the club sits 30-36-9 and eight points shy of the Montreal Canadiens for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2020.