The Flyers loaned Rubtsov to Sochi of the KHL on Sunday.

The 2016 first-round pick didn't make the playoff-bubble roster, so he'll look to get on the ice in Russia. Rubtsov's development doesn't match his first-round pedigree, so possibly a change of scenery could help turn around Rubtsov's trajectory.

Rubtsov was sent down to AHL Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

Given the Flyers won't return to action until Jan. 31 against the Penguins, Rubtsov will be better suited to get some ice time in with the Phantoms, who play three times during the team's break. Whether Rubtsov is brought back ahead of the clash with Pittsburgh will likely depend on the health of Michael Raffl (upper body), though Mikhail Vorobyev and Morgan Frost could also be candidates for promotion.

The Flyers recalled Rubtsov from AHL Lehigh Valley on Monday, Adam Kimelman of NHL.com reports.

Michael Raffl sustained an upper-body injury during Saturday's win over the Kings, and his status is uncertain for Tuesday's matchup versus the Penguins. Rubtsov is being brought up in case Raffl can't go. A 2016 first-round pick, Rubstov has accrued 12 points through 28 AHL games this year.

Philadelphia loaned Rubtsov to AHL Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.

Rubtsov only averaged 7:35 of ice time through three appearances during his brief stay with the big club, going scoreless while posting a minus-1 rating over that span. The 21-year-old rookie will likely bounce between levels throughout the campaign, but he won't have any fantasy value in redraft leagues in 2019-20.

Rubtsov was promoted from AHL Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Through the first seven games of the AHL season, Rubtsov notched one goal and five helpers. With Mikhail Vorobyov headed the other way, the 21-year-old Rubstov could get a chance to make his NHL debut, though he will need to beat out fellow call-up Carsen Twarynski for one open spot in the lineup.

Rubtsov says he's fully recovered from the shoulder injury that knocked him out for most of the 2018-19 campaign, Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Enquirer reports.

Rubtsov was playing well at the AHL level before going down last season, so he'll have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot with the big club in camp. The Russian forward was a first-round pick in 2016.

Rubtsov will miss the rest of the season because of shoulder surgery Sam Carchidi of The Philadelphia Inquirer, reports.

That's too bad because the 20-year-old was playing very well with the AHL Phantoms. In 14 games, Rubtsov posted six goals and 10 points with a plus-3 rating. He's still someone worth keeping an eye on in dynasty leagues, but he won't be making an impact this season.

Rubtsov signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers on Thursday. According to Cap Friendly, the deal is worth $2.775 million.

That's the maximum payload a player can earn on an ELC. Rubtsov's road back to the Flyers after hearing his named called with the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 draft had its share of twists and turns. The Russian was able to wiggle his way out of a KHL contract after learning that he'd be used sparingly, and he sustained a broken nose and concussion at the World Junior Championships in early January. An 18-year-old center, Rubtsov headed to the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL once he had his foreign contract voided, picking up eight goals, 12 assists and a plus-10 rating in 14 games. He's regarded as a puck-handling wiz kid with tremendous hockey sense and certainly will be one to watch in the coming years.

Rubtsov (nose) has been medically cleared and has begun playing for QMJHL Chicoutimi.

After having his contract with KHL Vtiyaz voided earlier this month, Rubtsov picked up a pair of assists in his debut with the Sagueneens on Thursday night. He broke his nose while playing for Russia at the World Junior Championship late last month, but the injury is a thing of the past. The Flyers are thrilled that their 2016 first-round pick (22nd overall) will be playing in North America moving forward.

Rubtsov has had his KHL contract voided and will be allowed to join the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL when medically cleared following surgery on a broken nose he suffered during the World Junior Championship, Tim Panaccio of CSN Philadelphia reports.

It was announced last weekend that he was expected to join Chicoutimi but that his KHL club Vtiyaz hadn't terminated his contract. That has now been made official and the youngster will be allowed to sign his entry-level contract with the Flyers. The 18-year-old struggled in his brief stint with the KHL club, but should have a better chance to succeed at a juniors level.

Rubtsov, who the Flyers took with the 22nd overall pick in this year's draft, is still trying to dump his contract with the KHL and play for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL, the Courier-Post reports.

Rubtsov reportedly has been used sparingly in the Russian league, and further complicating matters is that he sustained a broken nose -- which may require surgery -- and concussion at the World Junior Championships while facing Denmark. The Flyers are watching the situation from afar. "It's got nothing to do with the Philadelphia Flyers," GM Ron Hextall said. "This is Chicoutimi and German, his agent and Russia. We're really just kind of a bystander."

After starting his KHL campaign on IR with a broken foot, Rubtsov, the 22nd overall pick in this year's draft, has no points and a minus-2 rating through nine games for Vityaz, a squad located in the Moscow region.

Per Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post, Rubtsov's ice time in the Russian league has been limited, so much so that it's been impeding his chances to improve. The Flyers reportedly have come to terms with the idea that Rubtsov is to remain under contract in Russia for two more years, despite how the two-way forward would be otherwise likely to see his development fast-tracked in North America.

Rubtsov has been placed on IR by his KHL squad, Chekhov Vityaz on Thursday due to a foot injury.

Rubtsov who was selected by the Flyers in the first-round of the 2016 NHL Draft, played in just seven contests in the KHL prior to getting hurt. The 18-year-old is under contract in Russia through the 2017-18 season, so this injury is unlikely to impact his NHL future.