Flyers Sending Bobby Brink to AHL is Bad for Rebuild

The Philadelphia Flyers announced on Monday evening that Bobby Brink was sent down to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms and called up Olle Lycksell in a corresponding move. This is a bad look for a few reasons.

Brink, 22, has played 38 games for the Flyers this season. His ice time was dramatically reduced in recent weeks, as Brink was a healthy scratch against the Minnesota Wild and then again following the game against the St. Louis Blues.

After three games of being a healthy scratch, the Flyers decided to send Brink to the American Hockey League.

The problem? They’re 1-2-0 in the games since Brink was scratched again.

On the day they were without Owen Tippett against a bad Ottawa Senators team, the Flyers instead turned to Nick Deslauriers and proceeded to play him for just five minutes while the rest of the team was on the second half of a back-to-back.

Brink and Deslauriers both could’ve provided the Flyers with fresh legs. Instead, the team got nothing.

Looking Ahead for Flyers, Bobby Brink

We know at this point that Lycksell is back with the team and replacing Brink, at least temporarily. What we don’t know is whether he’ll actually play or not.

The 24-year-old made his season debut on Dec. 7 against the Arizona Coyotes and played a grand total of eight shifts for 6:11.

If the Flyers’ idea is to get Brink into some games down in the AHL with the Phantoms, should it not be the same for Lycksell, too? There must be a plan for Lycksell; otherwise, there was truly no reason for this.

Indeed, Brink has been held without a point in 2024, but there’s only one way to score points. You can’t do that when you’re not on the ice.

Here’s to hoping Brink kills it in the AHL over the NHL All-Star break and returns to the Flyers in no time.

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