Philadelphia Flyers place Cal Petersen on waivers; call up Felix Sandstrom

The Philadelphia Flyers have placed goaltender Cal Petersen on waivers on Wednesday.

This is the second time Petersen has been placed on waivers this season, with the first coming just days before the start of the 2023-24 NHL season.

Acquired by the Los Angeles Kings last summer, Petersen was brought in to give the Flyers some extra goaltending depth. But it’s been a struggle for the American-born keeper, posting a 2-2-0 record with a .864 save percentage through five contests. He additionally has a 5-8-2 record with a .890 save percentage in 15 games with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Petersen was once viewed as the future of the Kings’ crease. He was excellent in his first NHl action in 2018-19 and became the team’s No. 1 in 2020-21. It led to Petersen signing a three-year contract with an AAV of $5 million ahead for 2022-23, only for him to get sent down to the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the majority of the first year of his contract. Petersen has one more left on his deal, and seems like an unlikely candidate to get claimed.

In a corresponding move, the Flyers recalled goaltender Felix Sandstrom from the Phantoms. Sandstrom has not played in the NHL this season, but has an 11-6-2 record in 20 games in the AHL. Sandstrom has a 3-16-4 record in 25 career games, often getting the second half of a back-to-back during his career.

Rookie keeper Samuel Ersson has been the team’s best goaltender, posting a 17-11-4 record with three shutouts and a .901 save percentage. Carter Hart is away from the team as he awaits a trial as part of the investigation into members of the 2018 world junior team.

The Flyers currently occupy the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, five points clear of the New Jersey Devils. Philadelphia will look to keep a foothold on a postseason position with its meeting with Washington on Friday before traveling home to host the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.