Flyers' Travis Sanheim recalled, will likely play vs. Winnipeg
It is an opportunity for Sanheim, who has played well for the Phantoms since getting regular minutes again, to change the narrative that first led to his benching in late December.
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Travis Sanheim is rejoining the Flyers under "emergency conditions''.
The emergency presumably is the continued unavailability of Johnny Oduya, who was injured in the first period of the first game he played with the Flyers after being claimed from Ottawa on waivers.
It also means that another Flyers defenseman will be unavailable when the Flyers host the Winnipeg Jets Saturday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center. Andrew MacDonald held his head and was slow to get to his feet after a collision along the back boards during the second period, but finished the game. Brandon Manning seems to be dealing with some type of lower body injury as well.
In either case, it is an opportunity for Sanheim, the 2014 first-round pick (17th overall) who has played well for the Phantoms since getting regular minutes again, to change the narrative that first led to his benching in late December, and his ultimate demotion to Lehigh Valley on Jan. 23.
In 35 games with the Flyers, Sanheim, 21, had one goal and four assists and was a minus-10. Although his 54.2 Corsi For percentage indicated the Flyers had puck possession more often than they didn't with him on the ice, his misplays and misreads were recurring and often harrowing events that ultimately soured Flyers coach Dave Hakstol.
That has not been the case at Lehigh Valley since. Paired with prospect Philippe Myers, Sanheim has a goal and 14 assists in 18 games since joining the Phantoms and was a plus-14.
"I think if you ask anyone if they get sent down, they're not too satisfied or happy to be going down,'' Sanheim told Philly.com in late February. "The first day or so it kind of takes a little bit of adjustment, just the realization of where you're at. But then you take a step back and assess where you're at. I think I handled it pretty well. I came back here motivated. Right from the get-go I felt like I came down here with a purpose. And I've been feeling good about my game and where it's at…
"The best way to put it is that when I'm playing my best hockey I just go out there and play and do what I do best. I feel like I'm really starting to take off. It's something I want to take with me the next time I get my chance.''