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Holmgren: “Lilja should be back by late October or early November”

Paul Holmgren

FILE - This Dec. 4, 2009, file photo shows Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren at a news conference, in Philadelphia. A person familiar with the deal says the Flyers have given Holmgren a three-year contract extension.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011, because the extension has not yet been announced.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

AP

Earlier we shared a report saying Flyers defenseman Andreas Lilja would be out until December after undergoing hip surgery.

Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com heard from Flyers GM Paul Holmgren to get the update on Lilja’s status and things aren’t quite as bleak as initially feared.

“He did have surgery [and] should be back late October or early November,” Holmgren texted CSNPhilly.com on Sunday afternoon.

Should the season start on time, that means the Flyers will start the year without Lilja, Andrej Meszaros, and Chris Pronger. With the latter two being starters, that makes life a bit harder on Philly along the blue line.

Without an experienced guy like Lilja to help provide depth, the young Flyers defensemen that got a trial by fire last season will again be counted on to carry the load. At least that’s something Philly’s already used to.