Flyers prospect Mikhail Vorobyev suffers ACL injury in KHL game, is out long term

Mikhail Vorobyev's 2020-21 KHL season came to a significant halt last Thursday.

The Flyers' 2015 fourth-round draft pick suffered an ACL injury and is out long term, his agent Dan Milstein confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia on Monday. Russian Prospects Twitter account (@RUSProspects) and The Athletic contributor Alexander Appleyard first reported the news.

Vorobyev, a restricted free agent this offseason, signed a three-year contract with Salavat Yulaev in June while the NHL was near the end of its pause. The Flyers extended Vorobyev a qualifying offer in October, so they still retain his NHL rights. Per PuckPedia.com, if the Flyers qualify Vorobyev each offseason, they'll retain his rights until his unrestricted free agency eligibility in 2024. If they decide to not qualify him one of those offseasons, he'll become an unrestricted free agent.

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The Russian center who turns 24 years old next week has had five different stints with the Flyers over the last two seasons. Vorobyev is a skilled passer with good vision but, in lesser minutes, has struggled to sustain effort and consistency during his call-ups to the Flyers. He had three points (one goal, two assists) over 20 games for the big club in 2019-20.

Through 45 games with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley last season, Vorobyev was tied for first on the Phantoms in shorthanded goals (two), tied for second in plus-minus (plus-9), third in goals (12) and tied for third in assists (16).

In mid-January, Chuck Fletcher said Vorobyev had been the best forward in Lehigh Valley "by far."

"Not even close," the Flyers' general manager said. "When he's down there, he's a star every game. ... That's why we've given him 20 games. He keeps earning it."