Flyers recall Schenn

Center Brayden Schenn was disappointed to start the season in the AHL but figured it was a matter of time before he was promoted to the Flyers.

On Wednesday, his time arrived.

Schenn, the Flyers' most heralded prospect, was recalled from the Adirondack Phantoms, and he is expected to be in the lineup Thursday night against visiting Washington.

In four games with the Phantoms, Schenn had four goals and four assists.

"I'm going to try to do the same thing in the NHL level," Schenn, 20, said in a conference call with reporters. "I got a good opportunity down here to play in every situation and help my game and gain some confidence. I'm feeling pretty good right now after the shoulder injury, and I feel like I'm on top of my game."

The Flyers sent forwards Harry Zolnierczyk, who scored a goal in his NHL debut Tuesday in Ottawa, and Zac Rinaldo to Adirondack to make room for Schenn. That left them with just $21,067 in cap space.

Rinaldo, a feisty forward who supplied energetic shifts, was sent down because enforcer Jody Shelley's 10-game suspension (five in the regular season) ended Tuesday.

Schenn started the season with the Phantoms because of a shoulder injury suffered late in camp, coupled with the fact his salary-cap number dropped from $3.1 million to $1.69 million if he missed the Flyers' first game.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette wouldn't reveal where Schenn would play but didn't rule out putting him on an all-rookie line with Sean Couturier and Matt Read.

"If that were to happen, I can tell you I probably would trust the three guys just based on what I've seen in their performance and the way they play the game," Laviolette said. "Sean is going to be a really good defender. Matt also is used in situations where we're defending the penalty kill and seems to be a smart defensive player. I don't think it's impossible for something to happen like that."

Asked how much ice time he expected to give Schenn, Laviolette said it was "difficult to say. I think the most important thing at the end of the day is that we're getting good contributions from the guys in the room and that we're winning games. That's why we're here."

Laviolette has many different ways to use Schenn. In addition to the all-rookie line, he could put Schenn with Wayne Simmonds - the two have played together with the Kings - and Read. In that scenario, Scott Hartnell might be reunited with Danny Briere (one goal in five games) on a line with Jakub Voracek, and Couturier would center the fourth line.

Schenn was acquired with Simmonds and a 2012 No. 2 draft pick in the June deal that sent captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles.