Flyers, Rathje, and Carter

Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren tells Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Daily News that he is not concerned about the team’s back-up goaltending situation.

“It’s too soon to be concerned,” Holmgren said.

“I think [Antero Niittymaki] knows more than anybody else that he needs to play better. [Brian Boucher] was coming in here needing to find his game again or re-establish his game again and I think he’s on the right track right now. I think he has played very well and [Niittymaki] it is safe to safe could play better.”

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Philadelphia Inquirer’s Tim Panaccio reports that defenseman Mike Rathje’s comeback with the Flyers will have to be put on hold. Coming off an injury-plagued season, Rathje complained of “pain in his right groin.”

“Mike Rathje sustained an adductor injury, which was related to his adductor-release surgery performed this summer,” Holmgren said last night.

“The injury was an adductor issue of the breaking up of the scar tissue from this previous surgery. The injury is not related to his piriformis syndrome. The doctors have recommended he stay off the ice for approximately one week.”

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Unrestricted free agent Anson Carter’s hopes of catching on with the Edmonton Oilers took a real shot Tuesday after suffering a concussion, reports Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun. Carter was on a tryout contract with the Oilers.