Flyers' Ryan Ellis likely to miss 2022-2023 season with possible career-threatening back injury

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Veteran NHL defenseman Ryan Ellis will likely miss the entire 2022-2023 season with a "multifaceted" back injury that could potentially be a career-threatening one, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher revealed Thursday. 

Fletcher made the announcement on the first day of Flyers training camp, adding that Ellis’ status isn’t definite. 

Ryan Ellis (94) of the Philadelphia Flyers attempts to break up a pass against David Pastrnak (88) of the Boston Bruins at the Wells Fargo Center Oct. 20, 2021, in Philadelphia. (Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

"Ryan Ellis is out indefinitely, no timetable for his return to play," Fletcher said, via NHL.com. "My assumption is he won't play this season. If he does, it'll be a bonus."

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Ellis, 31, was traded to the Flyers last year after 10 seasons with the Nashville Predators, but he only played four games before being ruled out for the season in November with a pelvic injury. 

Fletcher said Thursday that the injury affects his back and abdominal area. Asked if it could be career-threatening, Fletcher replied, "Certainly that's a possibility."

Ryan Ellis (94) of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates his second-period goal against the Seattle Kraken at the Wells Fargo Center Oct. 18, 2021, in Philadelphia.  (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

"I know we've been probably vague with describing the injury. I think we've called it multifaceted, which it is," Fletcher explained. "There's a psoas component of this, there's a hip component, there's an adductor component. So, I'm not sure that if you go in and repair one