Flyers Send Hunter McDonald to Lehigh Valley
Philadelphia opened two roster spots as Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett move closer to returning from injury.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Hockey
The Philadelphia Flyers sent defenseman Hunter McDonald to the AHL's Lehigh Valley on Saturday, leaving the NHL roster at 21 players. The move came as forwards Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett are poised to be activated off injured reserve.
Why it matters
McDonald was sent down because he is waiver-exempt, which gives the team flexibility to shuffle its defense without risking him being claimed. The roster moves also signal that Konecny and Tippett are nearing a return to the lineup for the Flyers.
McDonald has 21 hits and seven drawn penalties since his October 19 recall, tied for seventh and first in the NHL respectively. He ranks first among Flyers defensemen with a 55.14% Corsi For over the past five games, though the stub does not say how long that sample represents for the full season.
The players
Hunter McDonald
A 6-foot-4, 238-pound defenseman who has been physical and effective in his NHL stint, drawing seven penalties and posting 21 hits since his recall.
Travis Konecny
A veteran Flyers forward who has been one of the team's most productive skaters and is working back from a lower-body injury that kept him out 10 games.
Owen Tippett
A Flyers forward who has been sidelined by an upper-body injury and is expected to return alongside Konecny.
The details
McDonald was sent to Lehigh Valley on Saturday, while forward Jacob Gaucher was loaned to the AHL club on Thursday to open a spot. Konecny, who had three assists in five games before a lower-body injury, and Tippett, who had one goal and one assist in nine games before an upper-body injury that cost him six games, took part in full practice Saturday for a second straight day.
Timeline
October 19: McDonald recalled to the Flyers.
Thursday: Gaucher loaned to Lehigh Valley.
Saturday: McDonald sent down to Lehigh Valley.
Sunday: Konecny and Tippett expected back in the lineup.
Season Trajectory
Because McDonald is waiver-exempt, the Flyers can move him between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley without risking a claim, a flexibility that matters for a roster managing multiple injury returns. The return of Konecny and Tippett would restore depth up front as the team works through a season where roster churn is routine.
Fantasy managers tracking Konecny and Tippett should expect both forwards back in the lineup on Sunday after their injury absences. McDonald's move to the AHL means he will not be in the NHL lineup until he is recalled again.
The takeaway
Roster moves like this one often reflect short-term health and waiver calculations rather than long-term judgments about a player. Watch the Flyers' Sunday lineup to see how quickly Konecny and Tippett slot back in and whether McDonald returns soon.
What happens next
Konecny and Tippett are expected to return to the Flyers lineup on Sunday, when their activations from injured reserve will be finalized.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see Philadelphia Hockey coverage.
