If it wasn’t enough for the Philadelphia Flyers to deal with injuries to defensemen currently on the roster, one of their top prospects on the blue line is now sidelined for the rest of the season with a significant injury. According to his junior team, the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, Egor Zamula will be out three-to-four months and miss the rest of the season due to an upcoming back surgery. The news comes after Zamula had been one of Team Russia’s top performers at the 2020 World Junior Championship, which concluded earlier this week.
NEWS: Hitmen defenceman Egor Zamula to undergo season ending back surgery
Details ➡️ https://t.co/0BIScstHxW pic.twitter.com/Td60kbIqXK
— Calgary Hitmen (@WHLHitmen) January 10, 2020
According to the team’s news release, the surgery is due to a ‘degenerative condition that intensified’ at the WJC. Considering how well and how much he played at the recent under-20 tournament this development is somewhat shocking. Not only did he accrue two goals (both in the same game) on 12 shots and three assists in seven games, Zamula had the most time of any Russian skater in five of the team’s seven games including 25:49 against Sweden in an elimination game and 24:27 in the gold medal game against Canada.
He also had a strong WHL campaign going with seven goals on 74 shots and 21 helpers for 28 points in 28 contests. Zamula’s 28 points are currently the fifth-most on the Hitmen and the most for any Calgary rearguard. He also currently sits ninth in d-men scoring and tied for 12th with seven goals.
Zamula signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in September of 2018 after a successful training camp and preseason with the Orange and Black. The 6’3”, 170-pound d-man was available after he went undrafted at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft despite being considered a riser and ending up 64th on Central Scouting’s final North American skater rankings. With Zamula turning 20 in March the Flyers will need to decide where he will play professionally next season.
