Rhett Gardner News
Gardner made his Flyers debut on Thursday, registering one hit while playing 7:28 time-on-ice. He will return to being a healthy scratch on Saturday as the Flyers will welcome Cam Atkinson and Morgan Frost back into the lineup.
Gardner last appeared in the NHL in 2021-22 with the Dallas Stars and has two points (1G/1A) in 40 career NHL games but will make his Flyers' debut Thursday vs. Columbus. The 27-year-old draws into the lineup as Morgan Frost and Cam Atkinson are surprisingly scratched Thursday.
Gardner has yet to appear in an NHL game with the Flyers this season and was sent back to the AHL with the team done their pre-Christmas schedule. The 27-year-old forward has just four points (3G / 1A) in 21 AHL games this season.
Olle Lycksell was reassigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, allowing the Flyers to recall Gardner. Gardner has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring four points (3G / 1A) and 39 penalty minutes in 21 games with the Phantoms.
Gardner had 10 goals, 30 assists, 75 PIMs and a +26 plus/minus through 71 games with Texas (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV). The 27-year-old left-winger last played in the NHL in 2021-22 with Dallas, and has a goal and an assist across 40 career NHL games.
Gardner had 10 goals, 30 assists, 75 PIMs and a +26 plus/minus through 71 games with Texas (AHL) during the regular season and has been recalled to Dallas for the first time prior to Game 4 vs. Vegas. The 27-year-old right-winger is not expected to suit up but is joining the roster with the recent loss of Jamie Benn (suspension) and Evgenii Dadanov (LBI injury).
Gardner did not have a point in seven games with the Stars earlier in the year and has picked up six points (3G / 3A) in nine games with Texas. His call-up suggests that Cogliano will not play on Thursday after suffering an injury in Calgary on Wednesday.
Gardner nearly made the Stars roster out of training camp but injuries to Jason Dickinson (upper-body) and Blake Comeau (lower-body) has re-opened the door for him. He turned pro last year after finishing his fourth season at the University of North Dakota and recorded five points (4G / 1A) in 11 AHL games.