Ersson has been placed on injured reserve, paving the way for the young defenseman to make his NHL debut.

VOORHEES, N.J. — The Flyers have placed Samuel Ersson on injured reserve as of Monday, allowing for Helge Grans to be promoted from their AHL affiliate, Lehigh Valley. With Emil Andrae sidelined due to a mid-body injury, the team required an additional defenseman for their matchup against the Avalanche this evening at the Wells Fargo Center (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+). Grans, a 22-year-old defenseman from Sweden, is set to make his NHL debut against a formidable Colorado squad featuring stars such as Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. Head coach John Tortorella remarked during the morning skate, "This presents an opportunity to evaluate a sizable, right-handed defenseman against one of the league's elite teams, known for their speed. He will encounter significant challenges right away." Andrae, also 22 and hailing from Sweden, sustained his injury during the third period of the Flyers' 5-2 victory over the Sabres last Saturday. He has impressed in his 10 games with the team. "He has performed admirably," Tortorella noted. "His contributions to our transition game have been beneficial, and his defensive play has exceeded our expectations. We will certainly feel his absence." Ersson's condition remains unchanged; the Flyers have the option to backdate his injured reserve placement. The 25-year-old goaltender has been listed as day-to-day due to a lower-body injury, marking the fifth game he will miss this season and the third consecutively. The organization is exercising caution with their primary goaltender, particularly early in the season. Aleksei Kolosov will take the starting position for the Flyers (8-8-2) against the Avalanche (9-9-0), with Ivan Fedotov serving as his backup.

Grans' NHL debut arrives at an opportune moment, as his parents, Morgan and Maria, are currently in the United States visiting him on vacation. The right-handed defenseman joined the Flyers as part of the three-team trade involving Ivan Provorov. Over the past two seasons, Grans has played 70 games with the Phantoms, accumulating 11 points (two goals and nine assists) along with a minus-3 rating. "I consider myself a two-way defenseman capable of handling the puck," Grans remarked. "However, I prefer to focus on my defensive responsibilities. I believe my offensive skills have improved this year, thanks to increased confidence." He acknowledges the formidable challenge posed by Colorado. "I have only observed them on television, so I am not entirely sure what to expect," Grans stated. "Nevertheless, I will do my utmost to be prepared." The Flyers are anticipated to rely heavily on Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen during the game, as the team has faced injuries on the defensive front. Cam York and Jamie Drysdale, both in recovery from upper-body injuries, participated in the team's optional morning skate. York, who has been fully practicing and skating, last played on October 23, while Drysdale has been skating without contact and will miss his fourth consecutive game tonight.