Flyers place injured defenseman Syvret on waiver wire

Unlike most of his teammates - who packed up for warmer climates, visited home or shipped off to the Winter Olympics - defenseman Danny Syvret spent his Olympic break in the friendly confines of the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees.

Syvret skated almost every morning, usually with teammate Ryan Parent, nursing the Grade 3 shoulder separation that has kept him out of the lineup since Jan. 12.

That's why his visit to general manager Paul Holmgren's office yesterday after practice, in which he was told his name was added to the waiver wire for the second time this season, came as a little surprising.

Syvret isn't healthy, yet.

"I was pretty surprised," Syvret admitted. "I know they needed to get rid of money [on the salary cap] and clear some roster spots, but I didn't even know that I could be put on waivers if I was still injured.

"I wanted to get healthy and get back and contribute."

Instead, Syvret will have to continue his rehab in AHL Adirondack if he isn't claimed. The mobile, offensive-minded defenseman is now up for grabs for all 29 teams until noon tomorrow.

On the surface, it looks like the Flyers have a defensive logjam on their roster. Heading into tomorrow's game in Tampa Bay - the Flyers' first after the 2-week Olympic break - only Braydon Coburn, Matt Carle and Lukas Krajicek are sure bets.

Chris Pronger, 35, and Kimmo Timonen, 34, are returning from an arduous Olympic tournament that saw them play a combined 12 games in 13 days.

Oskars Bartulis, who competed for Latvia in Vancouver, returned last week after a 12th-place finish but has yet to return to the ice. A team source told the Daily News that Bartulis is struggling with a groin issue that may keep him out of action.

Parent, who underwent back surgery on Jan. 25, was added to the active roster from long-term injured reserve and was just cleared for contact drills over the weekend, leaving him as a question mark for tomorrow's game.

While Syvret wouldn't have been ready to return tomorrow - and he is unsure when he would be able to - he has experience at the NHL level. Syvret scored the Flyers' only goal in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year's Day.

Tomorrow against the Lightning, the Flyers might resort to using defenseman Joey Mormina, who was recalled from Adirondack over the break for extra help in defensive drills with so many bodies missing. A hulking presence on the blue line, Mormina has played just one NHL game.

Syvret's $550,000 cap hit, a small piece to the overall $56.8 million puzzle, is unlikely to be a catalyst for a major move as Wednesday's 3 o'clock trade deadline approaches. Syvret's salary did not count against the cap, as he was on the long-term injured reserve list. For Syvret, it was just one more turn in an already frustrating season.

"It's tough," Syvret said. "Lots of things go through your head. In your mind, you think you're good enough to play in the NHL. But getting passed over is disappointing.

"It's been frustating. My muscle shuts down when I try to shoot and it's weak. I'm looking for answers."

With the deadline just hours away, you can bet Holmgren is, too.

Fresh off winning the gold medal in a thrilling, 3-2 overtime triumph over the United States, Team Canada's Chris Pronger and Mike Richards won't have too much time to celebrate. Both Pronger and Richards are expected to rejoin the Flyers today but likely will be excused from practice.

But Flyers coach Peter Laviolette doesn't want to hear any excuses from his three Olympic medalists, including Finland native Kimmo Timonen, with regards to the game in Tampa Bay. Laviolette knows that with just 22 games left, no game can be sacrificed.

"This is our livelihood here," Laviolette said. "I've heard stories of the guys coming back and not wanting to play in games right away, wanting a game off. We need all hands on deck.

"It is an honor to play for your country, but this is where our bread is buttered."

Forward Simon Gagne did not skate with the Flyers yesterday. Peter Laviolette called it a "maintenance" day for Gagne, who is believed to be battling flulike symptoms. Gagne, who captured a gold medal with Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, practiced at full speed last Thursday, Friday and Saturday . . . Ray Emery is still nursing a hip injury that has kept him out of action since Feb. 1. Emery did not skate over the Olympic break, leaving the spot in the Flyers' net to Michael Leighton.

For more news and analysis, read Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at http://go.philly.com/frequentflyers.