UPDATES: Add Another Name to The Flyers Injury List?

Flyers had some encouraging and not-so-encouraging injury news during today's practice.

First, the not-so-encouraging:

Owen Tippett came out on the ice for practice, but before it could officially get started, he left with a member of the medical staff and did not return. Upon the end of practice, the Flyers PR released a statement to the media saying that Tippett is "a little banged up" but today's practice absence is just labeled as a "maintenance day".

We'll have to see what happens for tomorrow's game against the Florida Panthers, but John Tortorella said he expects Tippett to play against his former team.


Onto the (more) encouraging side of things:

Or at least as encouraging as one can find this information considering the Flyers rebuilding status, anyway. Both Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier took part in the team's full practice session wearing yellow "non-contact" jerseys. The most encouraging part, depending on how you view things, could be that both also took part in special teams practice; Konecny on a PP unit and Couturier on a PK unit.

Given neither player was wearing an orange "regular" jersey, the practice was just that - practice - but special teams practice for an injured player is usually an indication they're creeping closer to a return. That said, we've previously heard from Torts that while both players focus is on returning in a few games this season, his own focus is geared toward next season. He told the media today he's not going to update the two forwards status' on a daily basis, but admits that as he has stated before he believes Konecny is farther away than Couturier. In the end, we'll have to see if the Special Teams practice for them is any kind of sign that either of them is close to a return, or if the practice is just Torts starting a faux pre-season to get a look at what he could have next year, given the team is in "rebuild and see what we have for the future" mode.