Flyers Notes: Ron Hextall talks Brayden Schenn, injuries and additions

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Updated: 4:16 p.m.

VOORHEES, N.J. — Ron Hextall wasn’t surprised.

In fact, he “expected it.”

That being restricted free agent Brayden Schenn's filing for salary arbitration.

The Flyers general manager knows it’s common. In many ways, it expedites the process.

“It’s actually a mechanism in the CBA that’s a good thing because Brayden will be in training camp,” Hextall said Thursday at Flyers Skate Zone following Day 1 of development camp. “So if you don’t file, then what do you do? There’s no real deadline. Now there’s a deadline and typically things get done.”

Hextall has vowed things will get done with Schenn, the Flyers’ most important free agent. Hextall was right when guessing in late April Schenn wouldn’t be the first name crossed off his offseason to-do list.

The Flyers and Schenn’s camp can still come to terms before reaching an arbitration hearing. If not, the two parties will meet with an impartial arbitrator to settle a deal.

Schenn made $2.75 million last season and could be in for around a $5 million average annual value on his new contract. 

Morin absent
It’s hard to miss Samuel Morin.

The Flyers’ 20-year-old prospect stands at a lofty 6-foot-7.

That massive frame was nowhere to be found when defensemen took the ice Thursday.

Hextall said Morin’s sick and there are no injury concerns.

“Sam’s under the weather,” Hextall said. “We should know more Friday. Hopefully he’s OK.”

Last season, his first as a pro, Morin had 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 76 games for the Flyers' AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley. The Flyers drafted Morin with the 11th overall pick in 2013. 

Lyon unavailable
Alex Lyon, a goalie the Flyers signed in April out of Yale, took the ice in the morning but was unavailable to the media afterward.

Immediately, Hextall knew nothing as to why.

“[I was] just told about it,” he said. “I have no knowledge of anything with Alex. I watched him out there, thought he looked good, so I don’t know at this point. If we find something out, I’ll let you know, but I have no knowledge of it. I’m sure it’s nothing bad or I would have heard about it.”

Lyon partook in the afternoon session and appeared to be fine.

The 23-year-old led the country in goals-against average (1.64) as a junior last season, his final year with the Bulldogs.

Myers’ update
As announced Wednesday, 19-year-old defensive prospect Philippe Myers was not at camp as he recovers from hip surgery.

But Myers should be healthy come the start of next season.

“I think it’s late August,” Hextall said. “That’s my recollection for kind of his timeline to be 100 percent.”

The 6-foot-5 Myers, whom the Flyers signed in September 2015 off an amateur tryout, totaled 17 goals and 28 assists in 63 games last season at the junior level, where he’ll be for 2016-17.

Speaking of blue-line prospects, Terrance Amorosa, 21, is also out of camp recovering from surgery.

‘High skill, good depth’
Hextall wanted to add organizational depth this offseason and feels he has with the addition of 27-year-old T.J. Brennan, whom the Flyers signed Tuesday to a two-year, two-way contract.

Brennan has loads of AHL success and some NHL experience with three teams.

“T.J.’s been a top defenseman at the American League level,” Hextall said. “Real high skill level, really good shot, he’s played NHL games as you know.

“He gives us depth — whether he plays up top or not, that’s got to play out. But we feel like we got real good depth, high skill level, moves the puck well, good on the power play and is certainly going to add to the depth in the organization.”

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