Flyers call up top prospect Shayne Gostisbehere

[UPDATE - 5:40 p.m.]: The Flyers have called up prospect Shayne Gostisbehere from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, per the Flyers.

FROM EARLIER: What is it, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry?

That has to be what Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is muttering to himself over and over again, after announcing on Friday that his two top defensemen, Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald, will miss the next month of action.

Since July, Hextall has preached patience with the Flyers' young defensemen in the organization. Top prospect Shayne Gostisbehere was sent to the Phantoms to start the season, despite a tremendous training camp.

Recurring foot injuries from blocked shots will now test Hextall's blueprint.

"You know, you come up with a plan and vision, and you have to adjust and be flexible," Hextall said Friday. "We're going to bring up the player that's going to help our team."

If he had his way, Hextall would find an inexpensive defenseman - either through free agency or a trade - to plug into the Flyers' lineup for Saturday night against Detroit.

Even with Nick Schultz in the lineup, the Flyers still have just 5 healthy defensemen.

The problem is that there just aren't many suitable options out there. A few players, namely Edmonton's Jeff Petry, Carolina's Andrej Sekera and Detroit's Jakub Kindl, are reportedly on the market. They don't necessarily fit the Flyers' need, aside from the fact that they are warm bodies.

"Assuming we don't make anything happen real quick here, we'll call up one guy and get through Saturday and go from there," Hextall said.

Hextall admitted he's looked around at various free agents, joking that the team carried extra defenseman Hal Gill all season last year among 8 defensemen and rarely needed him because they are so healthy. Gill, coincidentally, did remain in skating shape through the beginning of training camp - but he isn't what the Flyers are looking for, either.

"I could be skating every day out there but that doesn't mean I'm ready to play," Hextall said. "There's not a lot out there. And with the guys that are out there, you worry if they haven't played or what kind of shape they're in. We've got to do our research here."

Phantoms defenseman Mark Alt had his nameplate fixed atop a stall in the Flyers' dressing room after practice on Friday, but Hextall said he had not made a decision yet and any discussion about Alt would be "premature, to say the least."

Alt, 23, made a name for himself in training camp - but he doesn't have nearly the talent or upside as Gostisbehere. In addition to Alt, other defensemen Brandon Manning and Oliver Lauridsen have NHL experience and could be candidates.

Even if Gostisbehere doesn't play a style of game that would fill the void of Coburn or MacDonald, since he is more an offensive defenseman, is now the time to give the sagging Flyers a shot in the arm?

"It's different if you lose a guy for a game or two, or even a week, so yeah, this does change things," Hextall said. "It makes you think. We're going to discuss that as the day goes on. We've got to take a look what's out there and move on our best option."

On Twitter: @frank_seravalli