from Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly,

General manager Ron Hextall said early Tuesday morning from Finland, where he is at the World Junior championships, that the club will need less than $300,000 in additional salary cap space to keep rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on the roster.

Weeks ago, the club was thinking it might have to clear up to $850,000, but the complexities of daily rate and LTIR calculations have lessened the hit the Flyers will endure.

With less money to clear, it now seems likely the Flyers will move a defenseman rather than a forward off the roster. Streit’s activation would give them eight defensemen. It’s unlikely the Flyers would carry eight at this point.

If that is the route the club takes, then it’s possible Brandon Manning would be placed on waivers because his cap hit is the lightest of any defenseman on the roster: $625,000.

But there’s a risk.

Manning would have to clear waivers and could be claimed by another club, whereas Scott Laughton ($863,333), a forward who doesn’t yet require waivers, could move directly to the Phantoms without risk of being claimed.

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