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[Philadelphia Flyers]

History of Flyers trades in the month of August

August isn’t often a busy month for NHL teams. You might see the odd signing, a PTO (Professional Try Out) offer for a veteran looking for one last kick at the can, or early season predictions on the coming year. But there have been trades, and the Flyers have been part of them. Here then is a look at the moves the Flyers have made this month in their history. Some of them have been important, some of them rather forgettable.

The 1960s

With the team starting to play in 1967, and little to show in terms of assets, the Flyers did nothing this decade in terms of August trades. Heck, they didn’t exist for more than half of the decade.

The 1970s

August 3, 1972: The Flyers gave up cash to the Bruins in exchange for forward John McKenzie. McKenzie never played a game with the Flyers. Instead he spent the rest of his career in the World Hockey Association, retiring after the 1978-79 season with the New England Whalers.

August 5, 1977: The Colorado Rockies (not the baseball club) send Barry Dean to Philadelphia while the Flyers give up Mark Suzor. Suzor only played four games with the Flyers and had a lone assist in 1976-77. As for Dean, the winger played 86 games with the Flyers over two seasons, scoring 11 goals and 31 assists for 42 points in those games.

August 31, 1978: Another trade between the Rockies and Flyers. Flyers mainstay Joe Watson turned a new leaf when he was sent to Colorado for cash. Watson, who played 746 games with the Flyers (and won two Stanley Cups), dressed for only 16 games for the Rockies before calling it a career. The defenseman had 32 goals and 162 assists over 11 regular seasons with Philadelphia.

August 16, 1979: Goaltender Wayne Stephenson went to Washington in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1981 draft. Stephenson played five seasons with the Flyers, ending up with an impressive 93-35-23 record in that time. He also had a 2.77 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage.

The third round pick turned out to be Barry Tabobondung. Tabobondung, who attended the 1981 NHL Draft at the Montreal Forum, heard his name and started moving down towards the floor by hopping over seats rather than taking the stairs. Apparently, he got his leg stuck in a seat and couldn’t escape. Two hours later, free of the seat (actually an entire row was removed to help him) Tabobondung met the Flyers brass and was happy to join the club. He never played a regular season game for the Flyers. He did see some exhibition action however (see below). Tragically he was killed in 2000 in a horrific accident, saving his son by getting him out from under a road grader. He was just 39.

The 1980s

August 11: 1980: Philadelphia received cash from the Quebec Nordiques in exchange for forward John Paddock. Paddock, who spent time in the Flyers organization coaching their farm club, played 47 games over three seasons with Philadelphia. He had five goals and eight assists for 13 points in that time. In 32 games with Quebec in 1980-81, Paddock scored twice and had five assists for seven points.

August 21, 1980: The Flyers got a 1982 third-round pick from Washington in exchange for Bob Kelly. Kelly, who played 10 seasons in Philadelphia, had a career year in Washington with 26 goals and 62 points (and 157 penalty minutes) after being dealt. Kelly played 741 games with the Flyers and was four points shy of 300. Meanwhile the third-round pick, Bill Campbell, never played a game for the Flyers. He would make a career of hockey, playing in the minors in North America but also spending time in Europe.

August 19, 1982: Philadelphia made a major acquisition with Hartford. The Flyers acquired defenseman Mark Howe and a third-round pick in the 1983 draft in exchange for Ken Linseman, Greg Adams, as well as a first-round and third-round pick in the 1983 draft. Howe changed the Flyers blueline for the next decade, being one of the top Flyers defensemen while also being one of the best blueliners in the league, if not the most underrated. Howe played 10 seasons with Philadelphia, scoring 138 goals and 342 assists for 480 points. Meanwhile the third-round pick turned out to be Derrick Smith. Smith spent seven seasons with the Flyers, being a decent bottom six winger.

Linseman returned to the Flyers in the 1989-90 season, playing 29 games and scoring five goals with nine assists for 14 points. He played a total of 269 games in Philadelphia with 73 goals and 184 assists for 257 points. He also had 585 penalty minutes, hence his nickname “The Rat.” Adams (not to be confused with the other Greg Adams) played 39 games for the Flyers (seven goals, 15 assists) before spending most of his career in Washington.

August 26, 1987: After a failed attempt at winning the Stanley Cup in 1987 against Edmonton, the writing seemed to be on the wall when it came to defenseman Brad McCrimmon. McCrimmon, Howe and Doug Crossman were the three mainstays of the Flyers back end in their deep playoff runs in the ’80s. But McCrimmon was dealt to Calgary. It worked out for McCrimmon, as he won a Cup with the Flames during the 1988-89 season. In five seasons with Philadelphia, he scored 35 times and had 187 points in 367 games. McCrimmon died tragically in 2011 in a plane crash in Russia while coaching the KHL club Lokomotiv, one of 44 who were killed in the accident.

The Flames dealt a first-round pick in 1989 and a third-round pick in 1988 in return. The third-rounder turned out to be goaltender Dominic Roussel. Roussel played 139 games as a Flyer, with a 62-49-14 record in that time. Steve Bancroft was the first-round pick the following year. Bancroft played six games in the NHL, none for the Flyers. But give him credit, he managed to make a living chasing rubbing around frozen water, retiring in 2005-06 after years spent in the minors and abroad.

August 31, 1987: The Flyers did a bit more housecleaning, trading Daryl Stanley and Darren Jensen to Vancouver. Goaltender Wendell Young came back to Philadelphia along with a 1990 third-round pick. Stanley spent three years with the Flyers, playing 89 games and amassing all of 10 points (and 216 penalty minutes). Jensen, a goaltender himself, only played 30 games for the Flyers (and in his NHL career), with a 3.82 goals-against average and a .879 save percentage.

Young played six games for the Flyers before heading slightly west to Pittsburgh, playing five seasons there. The 1990 third-round pick was Kimbi Daniels, whose promise never materialized. Over two years the under-sized center for the time played a mere 27 games, scoring once and with two assists.

August 28, 1989: The Flyers received the rights to European defenseman Jiri Latal in exchange for a 1991 seventh-round pick. Latal defected from Eastern Europe and looked to be a promising defensemen. However a string of injuries curtailed his career, limiting him to just 92 games and 48 points. As for the seventh-round pick the Flyers gave up, they received the same pick back from Toronto days later when they traded goaltender Mark Laforest to the Maple Leafs.

The 1990s

August 5, 1991: The Flyers got future considerations from the Rangers, dealing off Shaun Sabol. Sabol played two games for the Flyers and got no points. He never played for New York.

August 8, 1991: Similar to the trade days before, the Flyers and Rangers were once again partners. Philadelphia received future considerations and traded away Don Biggs. Biggs played 11 of his 12 NHL games as a Flyer, scoring twice. The other game was as a Minnesota North Star back in 1984-85.

August 5, 1993: Philadelphia got cash in exchange for sending Shawn Cronin to San Jose. Cronin played 35 games with the Flyers, scoring once and adding two assists.

August 30, 1995: The Flyers dealt out what became a decent piece of Toronto’s back end for a few years. Philadelphia traded defenseman Dmitri Yushkevich and a 1996 second-round pick in exchange for a 1996 first-round and fourth-round pick and a second-round pick in 1997. In four seasons (and 215 games) with Philadephia, Yushkevich was a dependable sturdy defenseman, scoring 17 times and earning 63 assists for 80 points.

In exchange, the three picks the Flyers received were each unique. Dainius Zubrus (taken 15th overall in 1996) played almost three full seasons with Philadelphia before he was traded to Montreal. But Zubrus was just getting started, scoring 62 points in 200 regular season games. He played 19 seasons in the NHL (1293 games) with New Jersey, Washington, Montreal, San Jose and Buffalo alongside his Flyers stint. The fourth-round pick was Mikael Simons who never played in North America. As for the 1997 pick, Jean-Marc Pelletier played one game for the Flyers in 1998-99, giving up five goals. He would play six more NHL games with Phoenix, primarily spending almost all his career in the minors and Europe.

August 20, 1997: Possibly one of the biggest trades the Flyers made in August this decade and possibly in their franchise history. Tampa Bay and Philadelphia got together for a deal, with the Lightning acquiring Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis. Renberg, a core part of the “Legion of Doom” with Eric Lindros and John LeClair, played 366 games in Philadelphia over two stints, ending up with 296 points. On the other hand, Karl Dykhuis was a steady, stay-at-home defenseman, scoring 13 times in 227 regular season games as a Flyer.

The return? Four consecutive first-round draft picks (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). The 1998 pick turned out to be Simon Gagne, who was obviously a cornerstone of the Flyers throughout much of the ’90s. The 2000 pick also wasn’t too shabby in Justin Williams. However Williams’ potential never materialized in Philadelphia as he was traded to Carolina during the 2003-04 season. The 1999 pick, Maxime Ouellet, played two games in Philadelphia and allowed three goals in those two contests. Finally, the 2001 pick would be later traded to Ottawa who selected Tim Gleason. A hit and miss return, but home runs with Williams and Gagne.

August 6, 1998: The Flyers dealt future NHL goalie Johan Hedberg to San Jose in exchange for a seventh-rounder in 1999. Hedberg had a decent career with stops in Pittsburgh, Atlanta and the Devils. Philadelphia selected Pavel Kasparik in the seventh round in 1999, but Kasparik never played outside the Czech Republic.

August 25, 1998: The Islanders acquired the rights to Raymond Giroux (not, no relation to you know who) from Philadelphia. The Flyers got a sixth-round pick in 2000 but dealt that pick away. Scott Selig was eventually taken by Montreal with the pick.

The 2000s

August 20, 2001: As huge as the trade was to land Eric Lindros away from Quebec, the trade to deal him to New York wasn’t a blockbuster. The Flyers traded Lindros and his rights to the Rangers along with a conditional first-round pick in 2003 (which never materialized). Coming the other way was Pavel Brendl, Jan Hlavac, Kim Johnsson and a third-round pick in 2003.

Brendl played 50 games in a Flyers uniform before he was traded to Carolina in a 2003 deal that saw the Flyers acquire Sami Kapanen. He scored six goals and had seven assists in his time on Broad Street. Hlavac played 31 games before he was shipped off to Vancouver in a deal that saw Philadelphia get Donald Brashear among other pieces. Johnsson was the only piece that somewhat materialized in Philadelphia. He averaged almost half a point a game (147 in 291 games) before going to Minnesota to play out nearly all of his remaining NHL career. Finally the third-round pick in 2003 was Stefan Ruzicka, who played 55 games with Philadelphia over three seasons, each of which was spent mainly in the American Hockey League with the Philadelphia Phantoms.

In hindsight the trade return for a diminished, injury-riddled Lindros could have been better. But by then it was evident both Lindros and Philadelphia had little in the way of brotherly love.

August 2, 2005: The Flyers did more housecleaning with this trade as Danny Markov was sent to Nashville in exchange for a 2006 third-round pick. At the time the Flyers had or were about to sign a lot of free agents, including Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje and days later Peter Forsberg. So, to make room, Markvov was dealt. The third-round pick they got in return was shipped out days later to Los Angeles in another deal. Markov played 34 games in the regular season for the Flyers, scoring two goals and adding three assists.

August 4, 2005: This is the other deal. The Flyers sent out Jeremy Roenick and the third-round pick from the Markov trade to Los Angeles in exchange for future considerations. It was basically a numbers game, with Roenick getting a bit longer in the tooth and the Flyers wanting to make some room for Forsberg. Roenick will always be a part of Flyers lore as his goal in 2004 eliminated the Leafs in six games, seconds after Darcy Tucker destroyed Sami Kapanen with a hit. The center scored 67 times alongside 106 assists for 173 points in 216 regular season games.

August 2, 2006: Philadelphia traded for Eric Meloche to Chicago for the rights to Vaclav Pletka. Meloche played 13 games with the Flyers, ending up with a goal and two assists.

August 4, 2006: In a hockey trade, Philadelphia again found a dancing partner in Chicago. The Flyers traded Michal Handzus for Kyle Calder. Handzus was a big body up front, averaging about 50 points a season for the Flyers in his three years there. But the return wasn’t great in hindsight as Calder played 59 games and getting 21 points while being a horrid -31 in roughly three-quarters of a season. Calder was traded back to Chicago from the Flyers in February 2007.

The 2010s

Zip. Nada. Nyet. Zero. Rien. Nothing. At. All. Blame it on lockouts, cap ceilings or cap hell. No trades took place in August this entire decade.

The 2020s

August 9, 2023: The last (and most recent) trade the Flyers executed in this month was in 2023, when they dealt David Kase to Carolina for prospect Massimo Rizzo and a fifth-round pick in 2025. Kase played seven games with the Flyers but did get his first and only NHL goal in that time. Meanwhile, Rizzo remains a prospect who will be in the pipeline to come and isn’t expected to make the Flyers out of this coming training camp.

As for the fifth-round pick, the Flyers took Luke Vlooswyk, a big defenseman who spent the last three season with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. The Flyers, who went big at times in the 2025 NHL Draft, are hoping Vlooswyk develops into a big man and a big presence on the blueline.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/history-of-flyers-trades-in-the-month-of-august/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

3 best free agent goalie signings in Flyers history

The Flyers and goaltending are synonymous with playoff failures. But as long as the late owner Ed Snider was around, there was never a goalie that should’ve felt safe or secure tending the Philadelphia net. The Flyers drafted goalies (and continue to draft them), traded for them, or would wait until that magical day when they could sign Unrestricted Free Agents and lock them up. In hindsight, some of the decisions should’ve resulted in the front office being locked up for psychiatric evaluation. In other cases, it was a hard lesson learned…until the next time the same situation arose. And they damn near did the exact same thing!

Having said that, there are better goaltenders the Flyers have had over the years than the three mentioned below. However, these goalies about to be looked at were not traded for and then signed (unlike Martin Biron and Steve Mason). These are strictly UFAs who were signed in the off-season. Perhaps the surprising part is that many off this list are from the Lindros era onward. Most of the goaltenders the Flyers used from expansion through the early ’90s were ones they drafted, traded for, or in some cases received from the NHL expansion draft (Bernie Parent and Doug Favell, both from the Bruins, back in 1967).

Here then are three of the top Unrestricted Free Agent goaltenders that the Flyers signed over the years, in no particular order.

1) Michal Neuvirth — July 1, 2015​

After starting the 2014-15 season with Buffalo, Neuvirth was later sent off to Long Island to play a mere five regular season games with New York. His save percentage went from .918 in Buffalo to a bad .881 with the Islanders, not great considering he’d be looking for work with an expiring contract. However, the Flyers took a rather low-risk chance on Neuvirth, inking him on July 1, 2015 to a two-year contract. In year one, Neuvirth was great, appearing in 32 games and ending up with a highly impressive .924 save percentage and a good goals-against average (2.27). His winning percentage was also .667 (18 wins, 8 losses with four overtime losses).

The playoffs that year, was one of the shorter but stellar performances from a Flyers goalie. In 178 minutes, Neuvirth was 2-1 with a miniscule 0.67 goals against average. He allowed two goals! And a save percentage of .981 on 105 shots on goal! He stole Game 5 in the opening round against Washington. Facing elimination, he made 44 saves as the Flyers (who managed two goals on 11 shots) defeated Washington 2-0 to push it to a sixth game. The Flyers would lose the sixth game at home, but it made many wonder had Neuvirth started the series over Steve Mason would Philadelphia had won that first round?

Neuvirth came back down to earth the following year, posting a .891 save percentage and a .500 winning percentage. His goals against also increased to 2.82 in 28 appearances. But with the potential seen in the goaltender as a backup (or starter if necessary), Neuvirth signed another two-year deal with Philadelphia in March 2017 for $5 million, increasing his cap hit to $2.5 million AAV. The following month Neuvirth collapsed on the ice in a scary situation, sustaining a concussion from what was deemed a fainting spell. Fortunately it ended up being nothing more.

The second deal mirrored the first in some respects, with the goaltender having a strong first year with a 2.60 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. But a problem-plagued second season saw him appear in just seven games for the Flyers, ending up with a .859 save percentage and a terrible 4.27 goals-against average. Neuvirth never played in the NHL after the 2018-19 season.

Of course some would argue that Neuvirth, like any other Flyers goaltender not named Bernie Parent, didn’t get the Flyers to the promised land. And they’d be right. But the Neuvirth signing was generally a good signing. Neuvirth deserved the two-year extension. It’s just that the team in front of him (as Claude Giroux would easily attest to) just wasn’t deep enough to contend.

2) John Vanbiesbrouck — July 8, 1998​

Some might argue that Vanbiesbrouck was a horrible signing and they have valid arguments. At the time the Flyers were deciding on whether Vanbiesbrouck, the veteran Rangers and Panthers goaltender, would be the solution to their goaltending issues. Or would Philadelphia be better off with Curtis Joseph, who remained a solid performer, particularly in the playoffs. The Flyers decided on Vanbiesbrouck. Joseph wanted more money and term. The Flyers weren’t keen to part with that much money as they believed there was generally little difference between both keepers. And while the outcome in the two playoff years he was here were not good, Vanbiesbrouck on the whole was good value for the Flyers.

After signing his two-year deal with Philadelphia, the 35-year-old Vanbiesbrouck would be given the bulk of starts. He played in 62 games, ending up with a 27-18-15 record, a .902 save percentage and a 2.18 goals-against average. But as was the case with most Flyers goaltenders, he could’ve gone undefeated with 50 shutouts and it wouldn’t have mattered. It always has been whether the goalie can be successful in the playoffs. And in both seasons Vanbiesbrouck was a Flyer, the Flyers weren’t. In the opening round against Toronto in 1998-99, the Flyers saw Vanbiesbrouck shutout the Leafs in game one and up 1-0 with under two minutes to go in the second game, close enough to see them take a commanding 2-0 lead heading back to Philadelphia. But Steve Thomas scored at 18:01 of the third, then Mats Sundin scored with 53 seconds to go to even the series at one game apiece. Despite the split, the Flyers swam upstream the rest of the way.

Philadelphia lost in six games, scoring 12 goals in that round. Eight of the 12 goals came in their two victories. So in the four defeats they averaged a goal a game. A few goalies might be capable of pulling off two 1-0 victories in those four games. Vanbiesbrouck wasn’t one of them despite having a .938 save percentage and 1.46 goals-against average. The four losses were by a combined total of four goals, three 2-1 losses (including one in overtime) and a 1-0 defeat in game six. The salt in the wound this entire series was that the Leafs were led by Curtis Joseph in goal, who was still available to Philadelphia when the Flyers inked Vanbiesbrouck. Toronto signed Joseph for four years and $24 million ($6 million AAV) on July 15, 1998. He was there for the taking for Philadelphia, and probably didn’t hate the fact he proved his worth in defeating them.

In 1999-2000, Vanbiesbrouck had a .602 winning percentage with similar numbers (2.20 goals-against average and .906 save percentage) in 50 games. But with the previous season’s playoffs disappointment fresh, the Flyers used Brian Boucher for all 18 playoff games, eventually losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions New Jersey Devils in six games in the conference finals. It was a sad exit to what was on paper a very good stint as a Flyer. To go from a 118-minute shutout streak to start your first playoffs in Philadelphia to not see a second of playoff action the following year proved just how unforgiving the team, and particularly its front office, could be at times.

3) Brian Elliott — July 1, 2017​

Like those before him and a few after him, Brian Elliott was signed to sure up the Flyers goaltending woes, particularly being a veteran back-up. Elliott’s first season in Philadelphia saw him with 43 game appearances, sporting a strong .646 winning percentage, a .909 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. Elliott was supposed to be part of the solution now that Steve Mason was no longer in the picture (although his horrid playoff goal allowed against Washington remains in this writer’s noggin). A good first regular season.

However, the Flyers were in tough against the Penguins. And Elliott, much like the Flyers, got hammered in game one, losing 7-0. Looking like deer in the headlights, the Flyers couldn’t do anything right. Elliott was pulled roughly halfway through the game, seeing five go by him on 19 shots. Elliott and the Flyers split the opening two games, but after that the Flyers were no match for the Penguins the next two games. Elliott was in for game three, a 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh but was pulled in game four (a 5-1 loss) for Michal Neuvirth. Elliott never saw any action the rest of the series as the Flyers lost in six games.

In the second year of the deal, Elliott saw less action, playing in 26 games and having a 2.96 goals-against average despite a similar save percentage as his previous season (.907). However, with the Flyers centering their future in a blue-chip prospect in goal, Elliott saw limited action in the pandemic-delayed playoffs, starting a game against the Islanders in the second round but otherwise being used in relief (essentially garbage time). The Flyers seemed fine with Elliott. And he seemed fine with them. Hence the two continued beyond the two-year deal. In 2019 both sides agreed on a one-year $2 million deal and in 2020 the two sides agreed on a $1.5 million one-year deal. Elliott battled some nagging injuries both of those years, and saw his save percentage drop each season as he ended up playing roughly 30 games each of those two final years.

Elliott wasn’t the savior the Flyers have still aspired to find for decades. Yet for the contract and the value he provided in that time, Philadelphia could say it was money spent far more wisely than foolishly.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/3-best-free-agent-goalie-signings-in-flyers-history/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Trevor Zegras has one special skill that could get Flyers to playoffs

When the Philadelphia Flyers announced they traded for Anaheim forward Trevor Zegras, many rejoiced, believing they had found one credible answer to their lack of depth down the middle. Zegras played both the wing and center, but a talented forward down the middle was something the Flyers desperately needed. However, looking at some other statistics, there’s one specific talent the new Flyer has which could mean the difference between being the Flyers in the playoffs or on the outside looking in for the sixth year in a row.

A look at the NHL all-time shootout success leaders (minimum 10 attempts) shows an incredibly nifty stat. Heading into this season, Zegras is second all-time when it comes to his success rate in the shootout rounds. Topping the list is Petteri Nummelin, a Finnish fifth-round draft pick of the Blue Jackets back in 2000. Nummelin played a season in Columbus, then didn’t play another NHL game until 2006-07 when he joined the Minnesota Wild. After a second season with Minnesota in 2007-08, he was done. But not before scoring eight times on 10 shootout attempts. That’s 80 per cent success, which will be hard to surpass by anyone playing now or down the road.

Meanwhile Zegras has scored 13 goals in just 21 attempts, good enough for second with a 61.9 per cent success rate. During his last season with Anaheim, Zegras had three attempts, and made two of them count, tying Mason McTavish for the team lead with two (Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson each scored once for the team’s total of six). The biggest difference between Anaheim and the Flyers last year was that the Ducks as a team had just 16 shootout attempts all season. The Flyers had twice that amount (32). Philadelphia scored 11 times for a 34.4 per cent success rate.

A look at the 2024-25 shootout results for individuals across the National Hockey League shows some interesting data. For instance, three of the top 15 skaters who had the most shootout attempts were Flyers: Travis Konecny led the league with nine and scored three times. Matvei Michkov was second in the league with seven, connecting on three. In a 13-way tie for third spot was Owen Tippett with six attempts and scoring three times. Should the Flyers be battling for a third-point in a three-point game after 65 minutes of play, knowing you have Zegras and his very high probability of success as one of your three shooters is certainly an ace up Rick Tocchet’s sleeve. It should also be the rule that Zegras will be among those first two shooters during every shootout this season. Saving him for a possible third or fourth shooter would be ridiculous. Two stops by the opposing goalie and two goals by the opponents leaves Zegras, if shooting in the third slot, irrelevant.

But there’s more.

Shootout Goals	Shootout Attempts	Shootout Percentage
Claude Giroux	30	102	29.4
Jakub Voracek	15	48	31.3
Sean Couturier	14	49	28.6
Trevor Zegras	13	21	61.9
Danny Briere	12	33	36.4

To go deeper into the Flyers history with the shootout, they have a record of 66 wins and 103 losses. That works out to a 39.05 per cent success rate. And that’s actually increased or improved in recent years as they been able to score in them. Claude Giroux leads the Flyers all-time with 30 goals (in 102 attempts). Second is Jakub Voracek with 15 goals in 48 attempts and third is Sean Couturier with 15 goals (49 attempts). So both Voracek and Couturier have scored more goals but have had 27 and 28 more attempts, respectively, than Zegras. If you were to plop the total Zegras has he would currently sit fourth at 13, one ahead of Danny Briere. If he had 10 attempts this year, and going by his success rate, scored on six of them, he’d be in second place on that list before the 2026-27 season started. Simply put, the kid can score in the shootout!

In terms of percentages all-time for Flyers skaters and the shootout, here’s how they’d rank with Zegras and his numbers plopped in.

Shootout Goals	Shootout Attempts	Shootout Percentage
Trevor Zegras	13	21	61.9
Jordan Weal	5	11	45.5
Matvei Michkov	3	7	42.9
Nolan Patrick	4	11	36.4
Danny Briere	12	33	36.4

So Zegras would have over a 16 per cent better chance of scoring than the next closest Flyer. And a roughly 20 per cent better chance of being successful than Matvei Michkov which is saying a lot. By comparison, two of the six Flyers all-time with the lowest success percentage (minimum seven attempts) in the shootout are, well, as follows: Konecny is ranked second-worst all-time (5 for 27, 18.5 per cent), he who led the Flyers in shootout attempts this year. The sixth-worst Flyer is Sean Couturier (14 for 49, 28.6 per cent) who failed in three attempts this season. The worst Flyer ever? Jeff Carter was 3 for 19 with a 15.8 success rate.

Of course one could argue that the number of times a team is in the shootout shows the team is competitive and hard to beat in regulation. On the other hand skeptics could answer that a team that ends up involved in many shootouts doesn’t have the killer instinct or simply isn’t good enough to beat their opponent in regulation or in the three-on-three overtime session. But what’s clear from this sample size is that the Flyers now have a better chance of earning that second point than they did before Zegras was acquired.

Without going too deep into the team statistics last season the Flyers finished the year with 76 points (33-39-10), winning six time in the shootout and losing three times. Having another sniper or playmaker like Zegras could result in Philadelphia not needing overtime or the shootout to get those two points each night. That’s not to say they’re guaranteed a playoff spot because Trevor Zegras has been great in shootouts. Not at all. But having that weapon at the Flyers’ disposal is potentially huge coming down the stretch, particularly when teams have a habit of tightening up defensively for closer, low-scoring games.

Zegras could end up going into a funk in the shootouts and see that percentage drop below 50 per cent before American Thanksgiving arrives. The fact that not a lot has been made about Zegras and this shootout success rate could be a huge bonus to the Flyers when the time comes. After all, one only has to go back to 2010 and the season finale against the New York Rangers to show what a shootout victory can mean and do for a team.

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Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...cial-skill-that-could-get-flyers-to-playoffs/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Friday Morning Fly By: Let’s do that commerce

*Sure the experts will tell you that this summer’s Dan Vladar signing was not the best use of the Flyers’ money. Also we will tell you that Dan Vladar was (spoiler alert) not one of the Flyers’ best free agent goalie signings. [BSH]

*Okay so like… acknowledging that this really doesn’t matter and doesn’t affect anything and won’t impact the team we see on the ice, do you roll your eyes a little when thinking about the Flyers hiring a UFC fighter to teach these kids how to fight? Maybe a little? [Inquirer]

*We’re still ranking things because, as you well know, summer is for lists. Next up are the best overtime goals of the season. Of which the pickings were slim. [BSH]

*Too soon to project some World Juniors rosters? Not after the Flyers Kids looked so good at the Summer Showcase, no way. [The Athletic]

*And finally, got any plans on Monday? Might want to buy some stuff! Treasures to be had, surely.

Summer Blowout Sale!
UP TO 90% OFF MERCHANDISE

Wells Fargo Center

Store Hours:
Monday, August 11 | 12-5PM
Tuesday, August 12 | 10AM-5PM
Wednesday, August 13 | 10AM-5PM pic.twitter.com/IrzBlWANSH

— Wells Fargo Center (@WellsFargoCtr) August 7, 2025

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/friday-morning-fly-by-lets-do-that-commerce/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

3 worst free agent goalie signings in Flyers history

If you had a nickel for every time the Flyers, goaltending, and playoff failure were tied together, well…you would have a lot of nickels. Despite trying their best at times, or having the best of intentions on the day the Flyers reached out to sign a goaltender in unrestricted free agency, sometimes things went pear-shaped quite quickly. Looking back, there have been some signings that belong on the Mount Rushmore of lunacy. But because there’s only so much bandwidth, we’ve decided to narrow it down to just three signings.

Here then are the three worst free agent goalie signings the Flyers have made, in no particular order (although after reading you’ll put them in order yourselves).

1) Jeff Hackett — July 1, 2003​

With Roman Cechmanek not capable of doing the job, the Flyers once again needed to find the goaltender who would get them deep into the playoffs and eventually a chance for their third Stanley Cup. They put all their cards on the table, all their chips in the pot, and decided one goalie was capable of doing just that. That goal was, er, Jeff Hackett.

Hackett spent the previous season between Montreal and Boston. In 18 appearances with the Habs, Hackett was a game under .500 with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. Montreal then traded Hackett to San Jose on Jan. 23, 2003 for Niklas Sundstrom and a third-round pick in 2004. San Jose then flipped Hackett off to Boston (along with Jeff Jillson) for Kyle McLaren and a 2004 fourth-round pick. In his regular season stint with the Bruins Hackett had a 3.21 goals-against average and a .894 save percentage. The playoffs were a different story for the goalie, despite playing only three games. The netminder had a solid .934 save percentage, winning one of three games for the Bruins who lost to the Devils in five games in the opening round.

Maybe it was that short playoff spurt that clouded the Flyers judgment. But early in July 2003, Philadelphia pulled the trigger, signing Hackett to a two-year contract. “Our scouting staff, our coaching staff, our whole organization feels that Jeff Hackett will give us the solid and steady goaltending that we will need to take a run at the Stanley Cup,” Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said on signing Hackett at the time.

Hackett started the season with two consecutive shutouts, so clearly the early results demonstrated Hackett was the real deal. Things were rolling along, with Hackett losing only two games in his first two months of play. In November Hackett was 5-0-1 and that ridiculously hot streak continued through the first five games in December where he went 3-0-2. However, beginning with a 2-0 loss to New Jersey on Dec. 13, 2003, Hackett lost six consecutive games to close out 2003. An early January victory temporarily righted the ship. But it was short-lived as Hackett lost the next three games, including a 6-2 loss to on Jan. 13, 2004.

Sadly for Hackett (and the Flyers) it wasn’t just poor positioning and terrible rebound control that was affecting him. It was a serious medical condition: vertigo (a sense that your spinning or moving causing dizziness). Hackett was kept off the ice for about a month, then decided to go to the American Hockey League to play a game for the Phantoms (then playing in Philadelphia). After that Feb. 6 game, Hackett simply couldn’t hack it anymore. He announced his retirement on Feb. 9. He finished his season going 10-10-6, posting a .905 save percentage and a 2.39 goals-against average.

Clearly nobody could foresee the problem Hackett encountered that ended his career. But the Flyers ran into a bit of good fortune thanks to the 2004-05 lockout, effectively giving them a year to try to figure out how to move forward after Hackett and the resulting disaster. By the time the 2005-06 season rolled around, few were thinking of Hackett, instead focusing on what Robert Esche and Antero Niittymaki would do. It started off so well, but it ended miserably for all concerned.

2) Ray Emery — June 10, 2009​

After former Senators goaltender Ray Emery wore out his welcome in Canada’s capital, he ended up playing in Russia in the KHL. But due to KHL rules giving Russian-born goaltenders a chance to play, Emery was only able to play approximately two-thirds of games that season. That’s not a lot considering there were fewer than 60 regular season games that year (56 to be exact). But he managed to start fresh, particularly after how the Senators situation steadily unraveled following getting dinged for speeding in Ottawa and reportedly one instance of road rage.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, who had battled his own personal demons, saw Emery as a great chance for the Flyers to improve while at the same time helping a once great goaltender get back in the spotlight. “I spent a great deal of time talking with Ray,” Holmgren said at the time of the signing. “The thing that kept coming back is he’s recognized there was a period in his life when he made some mistakes.”

“I learned maybe more from those bad experiences than the good times we had there,” Emery said on signing with Philadelphia. “I realize I had a great thing going and lost a lot of people that I enjoyed hanging out with. I want to get back to having those good relationships. I think that’s the reason I’m going to change.”

Emery, much like Hackett, started the 2009-10 season strong and steady. He was 16-11-1 with a .905 save percentage and a respectable 2.64 goals-against average. He was providing great numbers and it looked to be a promising and pleasing outcome on the one-year deal. But things were starting to come to the surface. A problem with his abdomen was discovered in November, but Emery reportedly tried cortisone shots and rehabilitation to help the injury and avoid going under the knife. On Dec. 8 it was announced Emery would go under the knife to fix the torn abdominal muscle.

“You know how hard he practices,” Holmgren said when announcing that surgery was needed. “He’s been trying to fight through this, but couldn’t practice the way he normally does, and his game suffered. He’s a down young man, and feels he let his team down. It has gotten progressively worse. The tests and the MRI we’ve done showed a tear in his abdominal wall.”

That was just the tip of the iceberg. Doctors discovered far more serious problems Emery was facing: Avascular necrosis in his right hip. In layman’s terms, Emery’s hip was dying and rotting away. Forget hockey. Doctors just wanted Emery to be able to walk again. However Emery had bigger aspirations, and underwent an arduous, invasive procedure: bone from his fibula was taken out and placed where the dying portion of the hip bone once was.

Needless to say, Emery’s season with the Flyers ended with that news. The Flyers wished Emery the best but realized it was a small chance Emery would ever play again in the NHL. Even more bittersweet was the fact the Flyers made an improbable run to the Cup finals later that season, a playoff run a healthy Emery might have made a difference in. But it was not to be. The first go around was messy for both sides. But it wasn’t the end of the story.

In March 2011 Emery returned, playing for Anaheim. The feel good story continued with six consecutive wins. He then signed a contract with Chicago, earning two consecutive one-year deals and putting up good numbers. Finally, a little over four years from first signing with Philadelphia, Emery signed a one-year deal with the Flyers. And then another the following year for $1 million. The two-year stint was highlighted by a glorious old-school brawl the Flyers and Capitals got involved in back in November 2013. Emery beat the supreme feces out of Capitals goaltender Brayden Holtby on that night.

Emery played his last NHL games with the Flyers in 2014-15. Tragically, Emery died in a drowning accident in Hamilton on July 15, 2018. He was just 35 years young.

3) Ilya Bryzgalov — June 23, 2011​

The capo du tutti capi of all-time bad Flyer free agent signings, goaltender or otherwise. The day that will live long in Flyers history began with the trading of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards to Columbus and Los Angeles, respectively. The trades of two forwards — both of whom had essentially locked themselves into ending their career as Flyers with lengthy contracts — made Philadelphia a little bit younger and cleared cap space. That cap space was used to sign Bryzgalov, a player they needed to lock in before the free agency deadline started as they acquired his rights in a June 7 deal. Hours after the two massive trades were made, the Flyers announced that Bryzgalov was a Flyer. For nine years. And $51,000,00! The Flyers finally found their answer in goal. No really, this was the guy!

Bryzgalov’s tenure with the Flyers started with three straight wins including a shutout. Then he came back down to earth the following five games, all of them losses with save percentages under .900 (including stopping 6 of 10 shots against Winnipeg in a nutty 9-8 loss). Suddenly, there were a few more concerns with Bryzgalov. Meanwhile off the ice, the goaltender’s approach with the media was lighthearted and amusing, making some feel he wasn’t serious about his game or the outcomes.

Bryzgalov was streaky, which is okay for a goal scorer like Owen Tippett, but pure hell on earth for teams relying on consistently good goaltending. A seven-game winning streak for the keeper was followed by a four-game losing streak with Bryzgalov in goal. Up and down. Another seven-game streak in March consisted of four being shutouts, with Bryzgalov in the zone. In 57 games, he had a .909 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against average. Not stellar, but again with highs and lows.

The 2012 first-round matchup against the Penguins has been exhaustively recounted. Needless to say Bryzgalov looked a tad more competent and Marc-Andre Fleury did. But that’s not saying a lot. In round two he faced the Devils, having moments of great saves but other moments leaving people scratching their heads. The first year would be a chance for Bryzgalov to work out the kinks in a new city with his new team for the long run. The second year would be better…right?

The second Bryzgalov season was worse than the first one. Despite a lockout shortening the season, Bryzgalov’s goals-against average ballooned to 2.79 while his save percentage dropped to .900. He only had one shutout, a 7-0 win over the Islanders. A ten-game stretch in March saw him with just two wins against eight losses, most of those seeing him letting in goals that your average NHL goaltender wouldn’t be giving up, let alone a supposed cornerstone of the franchise for the rest of the ’10s. The Flyers missed the playoffs and Bryzgalov was done.

On June 25, 2013, two years and two days after welcoming him with open arms (and an open chequebook), Bryzgalov was bought out of his remaining seven years, severing his ties with Philadelphia by using one of the two compliance buyouts each team was allotted after the lockout. “Obviously it’s a costly mistake that we made,” general manager Paul Holmgren said regarding the situation. “You know Ilya, it’s hard to fault him. I still believe he played pretty good, but in a salary-cap world, you need to make decisions from time to time that put you in a better light moving forward and this is one of those.”

The move eventually changed in some respects how the Flyers went about addressing their goaltending issues. Large, long-term contracts to goaltenders the Flyers didn’t draft or develop were put on the backburner a bit. Instead the team focused on drafting goaltenders and building from within. Those UFAs who were signed were given far fewer years and often far less money to perform. And none of them (until perhaps Dan Vladar this coming season) were expected to be anything more than a reliable backup.

If you want to remember Bryzgalov’s contract, it is still on the books on some cap-centric sites. Although he is $0 on the official salary cap, Bryzgalov is being paid by the Flyers just under a reported $2 million a season. That will conclude at the end of the 2026-27 season. And our long nightmare will officially be over.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/3-worst-free-agent-goalie-signings-in-flyers-history/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

3 free agents Flyers could bring to training camp

The Philadelphia Flyers made a lot of subtle additions to their roster this offseason. Well, Trevor Zegras potentially filling a hole in the top six wasn’t very subtle but aside from that, signing free agents like Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar should treat them well and addressed concerns we all had about this team heading into the upcoming season. But, even though it’s August, that doesn’t mean the Flyers should be done thinking about additions.

There is always the possibility of teams bringing one or two players to their training camps on a professional try-out and considering there are still several unrestricted free agents worth a damn who do not have a contract just over a month until NHL training camps start — could the Flyers be one of those teams? The roster is pretty jampacked. The crease is pretty much decided, the blue line is crowded, and upfront a couple young prospects have an opportunity to try and make the team. But, again, there’s always room for competition and more bodies.

Let’s look at some possible names that the Flyers could bring to Voorhees next month.

Tyler Motte, LW/C​

Tyler Motte was unfortunately on the 2024-25 Detroit Red Wings so he essentially was trapped in wormhole for several months where no one cared about him or what he did on the ice. But before that poor decision, Motte was seen as a very reliable and consistent bottom-six forward for some good teams. On the Vancouver Canucks he was a fan favorite — so much that Connor Bedard said Motte was his favorite player — and for the last few years he has hopped around trying to contribute positively for some very good teams like the 2022-23 New York Rangers and the 2023-24 Tampa Bay Lightning. He’s essentially been cheap depth forever.

So, still an unrestricted free agent, Motte feels like someone that the Flyers should at least have a look at in case someone like Garnet Hathaway is unavailable in the season. If Motte somehow finds his way in the Flyers organization, he could be someone the team recalls in case of injury and to play over someone like Nic Deslauriers.

Sure, Nikita Grebenkin, Karsen Dorwart, Rodrigo Abols, Jacob Gaucher, and Anthony Richard are all players who could be on a fourth line and not look out of place, but Motte brings more NHL experience than all of them combined. It could get messy adding another forward, but what’s another, reliable body?

Just bring him in to have a look.

Matt Grzelcyk, LD​

If you told people who paid attention to underlying numbers and find analytics to be at least somewhat useful, that defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is an unrestricted free agent on August 11 and there are zero rumors about him signing anywhere, they would be shocked. When Grzelcyk was on the Boston Bruins, he was seen as a real playdriver and an underrated contributor offensively. The Bruins were just always better than their opponents when he was on the ice. Now, just a couple years later and after one, single year with the very bad Pittsburgh Penguins, Grzelcyk might not even have an NHL job to start the season.

To make it a little bit more awkward, Grzelcyk just had a career year in points, scoring one goal and 40 points while playing in all 82 games for the terrible hockey team. Maybe it’s just trying to get the stink of Pittsburgh off of him, but he was used in the same way he was in Boston but ended up scoring more. That sounds like someone whose production wasn’t a fluke.

Now, the Flyers already have some talented left-handed defensemen who are under 6-foot tall (Grzelcyk is 5-foot-10), but that might mean it makes even more sense to invite the 31-year-old blueliner to training camp.

Cam York just signed a long-term contract so his job isn’t at risk, but pushing him to show something more because there is someone with a similar profile fighting for a job, wouldn’t be bad. And then there’s Emil Andrae — who was very good and impressive for a couple of months last season but after spending time back down in the AHL, his second stint with the Flyers was underwhelming and his AHL playoffs weren’t all that good either. That is someone that should feel some heat and if there’s a veteran who, again, plays similar to him, then that’s a lot of pressure.

Even when it comes to someone like Egor Zamula, bringing in Grzelcyk would be a useful benchmark to see if there are players even worth a roster spot. Grzelcyk has the potential to show off in training camp and be better than the collection of defensemen like Andrae, Zamula, and the newly signed Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert. Of course, those latter two were signed to do the same thing — provide a clear benchmark for younger defensemen to clear — but Grzelcyk’s offensive potential and to be an actual top four contributor, raises that benchmark even higher.

We know that it probably won’t happen because of the crowd that has already formed on the blue line, but we wouldn’t be shocked if in a hypothetical world where Grzelcyk was on this Flyers team, that he would fit seamlessly in an actual contributing role and be better than a whole lot of current options.

Cam Atkinson, RW​

Okay, this one would just be a fun situation. Has any team had a player at training camp after buying them out? There is a mandatory one-year waiting period to reacquire any player a team buys out, and that is obviously up for the Flyers and Cam Atkinson.

The 36-year-old winger would essentially be just a guy to hang out at training camp and maybe try to compete with the likes of Alex Bump and — like the other free agents we’ve named — push players who might be thinking they have a guaranteed spot on this roster.

We can’t picture a world where Atkinson is signed to an actual contract, since he essentially already had a season serving as the Flyers’ 13th forward, but to rejoin the Flyers and maybe, if he wants to hang up his skates, get hired as someone in player development, could be an interesting scenario.

Again, probably not happening but could be fun to think about.

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Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...free-agents-could-bring-to-training-camp-pto/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

6 Flyers who might not end the season as Flyers

With the start of training camp about a month away and the regular season getting a little bit closer every day, the Flyers roster will feature a few new faces, a few veterans and a few that are still getting used to being a Philadelphia Flyer. But given how open Flyers general manager Danny Briere has been to moving players (Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, Andrei Kuzmenko and Erik Johnson to name a few), it’s quite conceivable that those taking to the ice on opening night against the Panthers might not see the regular season finish line when the Flyers wrap up the 82-game slate against Montreal on April 14.

Ideally, the Flyers are healthy, comfortably in a playoff spot and have no real glaring holes to fix when the trade deadline arrives. In short, maybe they are adding or tinkering with the roster. One can hope. However, it will probably be a dog fight to get to the post-season. And if Briere still is looking at the big picture to improve but still gather picks and prospects, and the Flyers are far on the outside looking in, then it’s logical to think some Flyers will be gone at the deadline. Here then, in no particular order, are six Flyers (some on expiring contracts, some not) who might be with a new NHL club before Philadelphia’s season ends.

Nic Deslauriers ​

It shouldn’t come as a shock that Nic Deslauriers would be on this list. Deslauriers signed a four-year, $7 million contract on July 13, 2022 so this year will mark the end of that contract. As well, his cap hit ($1.75 million) is actually $250,000 more than what his salary will be this upcoming season, another little perk some teams might find a little more enticing. The enforcer played 31 games in 2024-25 for the Flyers, a far cry from the 80 games he played in the first year of the contract. The 31 games was also the fewest he’s played in a season since first entering the league when he played 17 games for Buffalo back in 2013-14.

It’s doubtful any contending team would need an aging fourth-liner with a slew of fights under his belt to help get them over the top. However, with an expiring contract, and with the cap hit even smaller considering there will be about 20 to 25 games left in the season around trade deadline should a new team acquire him, Deslauriers could be sent to a team that needs a little toughness or has a bottom six severely banged up. The winger wouldn’t get a lot in return, but it’s another roster spot that could be made for someone far more integral to the future than the player who has 19 points in 171 games with Philadelphia.

Garnet Hathaway​

As Hathaway begins the first-year of his two-year deal that wasn’t much different than the first two-year deal he signed with Philadelphia (a paltry $25,000 raise from the first contract to the second), he still remains one of the better pests in the Eastern Conference if not the National Hockey League. Hathaway avoided lingering concussion issues (knock on wood) after getting nailed in a game against Pittsburgh. He played 67 games, scoring 10 times and adding 11 assists for 21 points.

The fourth-liner turns 34 this coming November and could be a more attractive piece to move around the deadline (or before) if he continues doing what he’s done his career. Namely, driving the opposition nutty with his after-the-whistle tussles. The contract comes with a $1.5 million signing bonus in 2025-26, meaning he’ll get $2.7 million of the $4.8 he’s owed this coming season. So, again, the contract is loaded a little more on this first year than the second year. Hathaway, if healthy, remains a very useful forward in a team’s bottom six. He’s also managed to be a thorn in the side of the Panthers the past few seasons, scoring meaningful goals a few times.

The return for Hathaway wouldn’t be a blockbuster, but it could result in another third-round or mid-round draft pick and a possible prospect in return. Like Briere has said from day one, the deal would have to make sense in order for it to happen. But again, teams looking for the little edge could be fishing around.

Ivan Fedotov​

Hear me out. Please. Agreed, who in the name of hayzoos would believe Ivan Fedotov could help a team that needs goaltending? He was at best bad most of the games he appeared in, although once in a while he delivered a good game. Fedotov is most likely playing his final season as a Flyer. Whether he remains in the NHL, is relegated to the AHL with another organization, or simply realizes he misses the KHL and all the comforts of it, Fedotov is probably not long for Philadelphia. He might last longer with the Flyers than Aleksei Kolosov, but Kolosov will remain a Restricted Free Agent (at $925,000 this season) at the conclusion of 2025-26. When Fedotov’s contract is done, he’s done.

The Flyers could simply sweeten the deal by retaining the remainder of his contract, especially considering the rise in the salary cap. It would be Fletcher-esque insanity if the team decided to buy him out with a year remaining. After all, this is the final year for Scott Laughton, Kevin Hayes and Cam Atkinson still being on the books. No need to add another contract going into 2026-27.

Fedotov, unless Vladar and/or Ersson run into injuries, is probably going to see more time in the American Hockey League than Philadelphia. If any NHL team ran into a rash of goaltending mishaps or injuries, Fedotov could be seen by some team as a temporary stopgap, keeping an organization’s young goaltenders from having a trial by fire when they’re simply not ready. Or some other general manager might be willing to take a short-term risk on a goaltender who clearly didn’t have a great 2024-25. Again, it’s a longshot, but nothing is out of the realm of possibility, particularly with the cap allowing some teams a little more flexibility.

Christian Dvorak ​

Christian Dvorak should be a help, adding a bit more depth down the middle. Some pooh-poohed the cost it took to land him. But with the contract being a season, is it really that big of a mistake? Not really. If Dvorak heats up and has a better-than-expected season, he could be helping to steer the Flyers into territory that was taken for granted or assumed for decades: the playoffs. Keeping him for possible playoff action wouldn’t be a miscue as the goal this year seems to be getting better. However, if the Flyers find themselves needing to leap a lot of teams or having to start scoreboard-watching in late January just to have a chance at a run to the finish, then Dvorak should be put on the block. Dvorak would be coveted by any number of teams wanting to provide depth for the post-season.

Again, the Flyers could retain to help seal the deal, as it would be over at season’s end. The return wouldn’t be huge as again you’re talking about a bottom-six forward for the most part. Ideally, Dvorak has a surprisingly good year, and the Flyers need an epic collapse to miss. If that’s the case, Dvorak is probably staying put until the end of the year. Unlike the contracts that Deslauriers and Hathaway have, making $5.4 million workable might be a little trickier. But if Briere’s past moves are any indication, it’s doable. A team that hasn’t seen Dvorak play yet wouldn’t be thinking of trading him yet. However, if Dvorak’s year is above-average, but the team’s play is still not up to snuff, it could start a subtle bidding war between two or more teams. Centers don’t grow on trees after all, hence the reason Briere spent what he did on Dvorak. A two-year contract would’ve been hard to explain at that cap hit, even with a rising floor and ceiling. What’s evident is Dvorak fills a need for now. If that need isn’t resolved by him, then he’ll be gone. Or should be.

Owen Tippett​

Perhaps the biggest possible albatross contractually not belonging to Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett’s season last year was underwhelming. His season was all of 20 goals, far fewer than the 30 to possible 35 many expected last October. Tippett was also at a loss after the season, simply unaware he was taking a considerably smaller amount of shots (roughly 100) than he had in 2023-24. Tippett (and particularly the Flyers) are hoping the 20 goals was a blip on the radar, and that he’ll average 30 or more goals during the remaining seven years of his contract.

Tippett’s contract is cheaper than Couturier’s by a little bit ($1.55 million) but it’s also longer by a little bit (seven years versus five for Couturier). He also will see the second of two consecutive $5 million signing bonuses this season (he also got $5 million in year one) for a total salary this season of $7.5 million. Tippett’s deal is also one where if the Flyers do something with him, it will probably be this season. From 2026-27 and the following three seasons after that, he has a modified No Trade Clause (consisting of 10 teams). So any possible trade would be easier to execute this year than in the following seasons. Of course, Tippett could simply waive his clause and be on the move anyway. Yet it’s crucial Tippett delivers, both in assuming the Flyers keep him but also in the possibility he is trade bait. As well, during two of those four seasons with the modified No Trade Clause (2027-28 and 2028-29) he’ll have a $3 million signing bonus kick in each year.

A 15-goal year or injury-plagued season would be a nightmare scenario for Philadelphia. His trade value would diminish and the Flyers would have to eat a lot of salary over a lot of years to make any movement more palatable. Again, an increasing cap makes things a little easier to swallow, even on some iffy contracts. But if Philadelphia thinks of making a move on Tippett, it would have to be this season. And Tippett would have to deliver a decent to strong season production-wise. Perhaps the new additions this summer result in Tippett getting streaky in a good way and everything works out. But if there ever was a season to move Owen Tippett, this is the year!

What the return would be for Tippett varies of course depending on what he does or what a team believes he’s capable of doing. Obviously one or two first-round picks (particularly if some salary was retained) and a prospect (or two) would probably do it. Ideally, Tippett has a career year and he becomes another piece moving forward in Philadelphia.

Rasmus Ristolainen​

The easy sixth pick would be Aleksei Kolosov. But seriously, who the hell would want him? Briere’s not tying a first-rounder to dump Kolosov. So let’s look at the big injury-prone Finnish defender. Rasmus Ristolainen has two years left at $5.1 million per year. A ruptured right triceps tendon has now happened twice, with surgeries both times to resolve the issue. Ristolainen could be nearing Ryan Ellis territory, put on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) and simply see his career end with the remaining $10.2 million in his pockets. In short, this one will take a miracle to see happen.

There was a window last season where it could’ve. Ristolainen was looking like a big, burly and brain-cramp free defenseman. He didn’t score a lot. But he cleared people and pucks quickly and effectively. The idea of him finally seeing playoff action with a trade seemed likely, making a lot of people happy: Ristolainen sees the playoffs, the Flyers see another Fletcher contract off their books. Alas, the blueliner enters 2025-26 with maybe more questions than answers. The timeline is unknown for his return, making a trade for an injured player remote. Added to that is the fact Ristolainen’s cap hit is not small, so the Flyers would probably retain. A buyout is worse case scenario, adding two additional years to a problem that is two seasons away from ending.

We hope Ristolainen has a bounce back season whenever he returns. And if he does we certainly hope Briere is able to pull the trigger and get him out of town.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...lyers-who-might-not-end-the-season-as-flyers/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Brady Tkachuk excited for Trevor Zegras to be a Flyer

When the Philadelphia Flyers made a calculated splash to acquire forward Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks, almost every single fan rejoiced for their favorite team to potentially buy-low on a very talented player. But apparently the praising of the move wasn’t just restricted to Flyers fans — one of the biggest stars in the NHL also loved the trade.

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has always been someone that plays a style of game that so many of us want in Philadelphia. The goal-scoring winger that will also punch an opponent in the face is something that we adored in Wayne Simmonds, and the captain from Canada’s capital possesses some similar traits.

So, when Tkachuk talks about his opinions on the game and other teams, it almost holds a little bit more gravity among this fan base. And recently, the 25-year-old forward relentlessly praised the Flyers for being able to acquire Zegras earlier this offseason.

In a recent interview with his brother on ESPN, Tkachuk was asked about being seen skating with Zegras earlier this month and he certainly seemed excited for both the Flyers and one of their newest players to find each other.

“Yeah, I drove up to Connecticut and skated with him,” Tkachuk told ESPN in an interview Monday. “I’ve known ‘Z’ throughout the years but got to know him pretty well when we played world championships together. He’s a great guy, and I think it’s going to be great for him to get a fresh start in Philly and under Rick Tocchet. They have a great culture there, and I think he’s just going to do a good job of fitting in.

“I’ve always thought playing against Philly that they play super hard, but they have a lot of great players with skill. So, I think that is going to be the best thing for him. I’m excited to see his progression this year and see how the change affects him. I bet that’s going to be for the good.”

Despite both being products of the U.S. National Team Development Program and Boston University alumni, Tkachuk and Zegras never were teammates until, as the Senators winger mentioned, both represented their country at the World Championship in Czechia in 2024. That team unfortunately was bounced in the quarterfinals by the host nation, but that’s not relevant.

It’s one thing to see us and other websites that cover this team, spill buckets of digital ink about how a fresh start for Zegras should do him some good, but to see a very, very good NHL player say the same thing obviously holds more weight. For Tkachuk to recognize that Zegras was not put in a favorable position in Anaheim and is excited to see his progression this season, is even more interesting. These two teams could be battling for a Wild Card spot in several months, and if that happens we have to assume that Zegras certainly did progress and could be even more productive offensively than Tkachuk himself.

Hopefully, that hardness Tkachuk talks about when mentioning what it is like playing against the Flyers, doesn’t go away and the skilled players get to shine just the same (or even more).

Thanks for praising potentially one of the most important players on a team you could be competing with this season, Brady. Maybe you can join him here soon.

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Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...chuk-excited-for-trevor-zegras-to-be-a-flyer/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Report: Arbitrator rules in Flyers favor in Ryan Johansen grievance

It’s taken close to a year, but the lengthy ordeal of the grievance filed by Ryan Johansen against the Flyers alleging wrongful termination of his contract looks to be resolved. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the arbitrator on the case has ruled in the Flyers’ favor, and the issue has been put to rest.

Sources say an arbitrator has ruled in favour of the Philadelphia Flyers in a grievance filed by the NHLPA following the termination of Ryan Johansen’s contract in August, 2024. The Flyers cited a “material breach” as grounds for termination.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) August 12, 2025

Now, if the details are feeling a little foggy to you, we certainly don’t blame you, so here’s a quick recap of how we got to this point:

The Flyers acquired Johansen from the Avalanche on March 6, 2024 in exchange for Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick, and his contract was thrown into this deal, effectively, to ensure that the Flyers would also receive back a first-round pick in the deal as a thanks for taking on his cap hit. But with no intention to keep Johansen in their post-deadline mix on the NHL roster, he was sent through waivers, and after clearing the following day, he was assigned to the Phantoms. But Johansen never suited up for the Phantoms, and the word was he was dealing with a hip injury which would keep him out of commission for the rest of the season.

On August 20, then, it was announced that the Flyers would be placing Johansen on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, citing a “material breach,” while his agent Kurt Overhardt responded later in the day that Johansen had suffered a “severe hockey injury” for which he would require surgery, and that they intended to file a grievance for wrongful termination. As far as what that breach looked like, we still don’t have the details, but our in-house council looked into the contract and broke down some possibilities soon after the termination was announced.

That grievance, which ultimately made its way to an independent arbitrator, has taken them through a lengthy investigation and evaluation process, and the waiting game has stretched on much longer than many might have hoped or anticipated. But now, all in all, it means that the Flyers were right in finding their contract to be breached, it’s settled, and a dark cloud is at last no longer looming overhead, and even more importantly, one would assume, the Flyers are free of any lingering cap implications from Johansen’s contract sitting in the void. They’re free and clear, and ready to move on to a new season.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...s-in-flyers-favor-in-ryan-johansen-grievance/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

5 ways Trevor Zegras can play his way into contract extension with Flyers

When Trevor Zegras was traded to Philadelphia on June 23, the Flyers attempted to address their issues at center. However, as most are well aware, Zegras and Flyers general manager Danny Briere are going to have to figure a few things out as the season plays out.

Zegras is currently in the third and final year of a $17.25 million contract ($5.75 million AAV), so he’ll need a new contract as he is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season. As much as Briere and the Flyers would love to have Zegras around for the foreseeable future, there are a few things he could certainly do that would help make that conversation a lot easier and smoother when it arises. Here then are five ways Zegras can ensure that this season is the first of many as a Philadelphia Flyer, not an experimental one-and-done.

Stay healthy​

Possibly the simplest way to ensure a good season is to be healthy. But that hasn’t been so simple for Zegras. He missed a mere eight games over his first two full seasons in Anaheim. They were also the only two seasons Zegras amassed 60 points or more each year. In 2023-24, the forward played only 31 games. On Nov. 10, 2023, Zegras sustained an injury which caused him to go on injured reserve on Nov. 13. He missed the next 20 games. He returned just before the Christmas break, but it wasn’t three weeks later he was injured again, this time his ankle in a game against Nashville.

Without going into great detail, Zegras had surgery and missed the next 31 games. He returned in late March but by then the season was essentially done, giving him a chance to get in some games before the summer and offseason arrived.

The following season, Zegras looked 100 per cent. However in December he had to go under the knife, missing 22 games to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He returned in late January and was healthy the rest of the way. There was a three-game suspension. But outside of that he spent the rest of the season working himself (and his knee) back into optimal performance. He ended 2024-25 with just 32 points, and at times seemingly butting heads with former Ducks coach Greg Cronin over whether he’d be playing center (his preferred position) or the wing.

A healthy Zegras would allow both the player to prove himself to the Flyers as well as give Briere a much better and clearer picture of what he’s capable of. And how that could help the Flyers moving forward. It sounds like a simple thing to achieve. Such an achievement would be a huge bonus for all concerned.

Improve the power play​

No one player, not even Matvei Michkov, should have to carry the burden of getting a horrible power play towards respectability. But there hasn’t been a youthful forward like Zegras (outside of Michkov) who might have the chops to get the man advantage success rate out of the basement. He’s not built like Wayne Simmonds, getting a horde of garbage goals in the dirty areas screening a goaltender. Nor does he have a howitzer that can routinely beat a goaltender clean from far away (although the video below shows otherwise). But he should be able to show his power play smarts on the first unit, possibly with Michkov and Travis Konecny as his linemates.

Zegras managed all of four power play points last season (a goal and three assists). That doesn’t say much but then again the Flyers’ power play fared better than the Ducks last year (dead last with a 11.8 per cent success rate). In 2023-24 Anaheim was 25th at 17.9 per cent. The season before that? Well it was only better than the Flyers, finishing 31st at 15.7 per cent. Over his career, Zegras has 15 goals and 24 assists on the power play.

If Zegras and Michkov can light things up, or at least look like they can read what the other might be doing on the first unit (assuming both are on the first unit), then things might fall into place a lot easier for Zegras in Philadelphia. Although there will be highs and lows, you’d love to see the power play get off on the right foot. Particularly one from a team who has been brutal the last few seasons. One thing is the power play will come with fresh players and fresh ideas. None from Rocky Thompson. A good start to the power play would make the Flyers far more competitive and have them not holding their sticks as tightly. It could also help the goaltenders, knowing a weak goal could be atoned for with an effective power play. It would also give Zegras an extra sense of comfort that he still has that “it” factor. “Michigans” are nice, but the Flyers would probably be over the moon with a 20 per cent power play efficiency.

Win Tocchet’s trust​

Zegras and new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet have a clean slate starting this year. Neither has done anything to piss the other off, or nothing that would put Zegras in Tocchet’s doghouse. So if Zegras can get going and produce in the opening month, he’ll earn some trust with Tocchet and the coaching staff. If he is able to play somewhere close to the level of defensive responsibility of Sean Couturier or Noah Cates and put up loads of points, then Briere is offering him the extension now. And it’s probably a blank cheque.

Nobody is expecting Zegras to win the Selke. But hopefully he’s not jumping the zone at the risk of losing his own man in the Flyers defensive zone. If he’s making the little plays, making the smart plays and doing it quickly, chances are Tocchet will let Zegras run and gun a bit more. Zegras had his two biggest offensive seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23 where he had 61 and 65 points, respectively. He also had his two worst seasons concerning +/- as he was -21 in 2021-22 and -24 in 2022-23. His only year above 0 was his 24-game stint in 2020-21, where he had 13 points and was +6. So if he’s not a huge defensive liability, he should win brownie points with Tocchet. Of course if he puts up 80 to 90 points this season, those lapses will be a heck of a lot more forgivable.

If he wins that trust early, it’s also a good possibility Tocchet starts rewarding him with more offensive zone faceoffs. Zegras saw his point totals dwindle the last few years due to injury. But also because he wasn’t often put in a position to succeed.

Offensive Zone Starts	Neutral Zone Starts	Defensive Zone Starts	Offensive Zone Start Percentage
2020-21	72	72	23	75.79
2021-22	224	199	48	82.35
2022-23	247	258	80	75.54
2023-24	52	72	45	53.61
2024-25	114	125	98	53.77

Naturally, you want your best offensive producers to have a lot of offensive zone starts. It only increases the percentages in terms of scoring. As you can see, Zegras was used in positions where he would be more successful his first three seasons than he would be in his previous two years. But in his two injury-shortened seasons, the offensive zone starts came closer to mirroring the starts in his own zone, making it harder to generate points. Clearly, Anaheim hasn’t been on the cusp of a Stanley Cup the last few seasons,. Yet seeing that drop in percentages demonstrates he simply lost the trust of Cronin. The Flyers are hoping Tocchet and Zegras find some synergy and blossom together. We also hope he blossoms with another player, which brings us to the fourth thing.

Find chemistry with Michkov​

Matvei Michkov enters his sophomore season with possibly a better idea of who his center might be. The assumption is that Zegras will be one of the top six (or top line) centers for all of 2025-26. And if that’s the case, it’s a good bet that he will be seeing Michkov on his line most evenings (and afternoons). So if Michkov ends up finding some kind of telepathy with another high-end talented forward like Zegras, that will definitely improve the fortunes of the Flyers this year and in the coming seasons. Finding that success, or at the very least generating some chances and looking like they’re in harmony in terms of playmaking, will be massive. If the duo look completely lost out of the gate, that won’t be a huge issue in the big picture but might be more concerning. It might be a question of getting the reps and practice time together to iron any issues out. The only thing you don’t want is for Tocchet to endure another J.T. Miller/Elias Pettersson fiasco if Michkov and Zegras don’t mesh or see eye to eye. If that happens, then chances are Zegras could be gone around the trade deadline.

Zegras and Michkov should be given every opportunity to play together, whether on the same line or on the same power play unit to start the year. Whether they click on the power play first and then at even strength (or vice versa) is irrelevant. The tandem could be the difference between the Flyers stumbling down the stretch or hitting another gear with the playoffs a reality, not a tragic number countdown. You don’t need to see Zegras finishing off Michkov’s sentences in Russian or posting Instagram photos where they’re together in Dubai, but a connection on the ice early in October would be terrific.

Seize the moment​

The Zegras addition is probably the biggest part of the rebuild puzzle to be added since 2023 when Michkov was drafted. The forward is coming to a team that is eager to get back on track, much like himself. Zegras also has some buds in Jamie Drysdale and Cam York who he’s been figuratively joined at the hip to for some time now. So anything off-ice in terms of adjustments or logistics should be a lot easier and smoother for him.

As well, while he’s been by far the most talented piece coming to the Flyers this offseason, he probably will be not blinded by the spotlight. The Flyers still have Michkov of course, who will be in the headlines throughout the season. A new head coach will also see that glare diminished slightly. And with the goaltending issues the Flyers are trying to solve slightly, Dan Vladar will certainly be front and center as well as Sam Ersson. Throw in Tyson Foerster recovering from his injury, York starting a new five-year contract and contracts concluding this season for Drysdale and Bobby Brink and you have a lot of players under the spotlight in 2025-26. Zegras will face his fair share of questions, but there are a lot of storylines this year.

It’s not like Zegras is heading to Edmonton where a Stanley Cup Final is no longer considered a success and he has to be the guy. It’s the Flyers, home of the horrible power play, abysmal goaltending and five straight years without the playoffs. And Gritty. And a new arena name. Zegras should take this opportunity to prove Anaheim was wrong for trading him, while proving that he belongs in Philadelphia far beyond this coming season. Everyone is pulling for him to succeed. Hopefully he and the Flyers do just that.

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Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...-his-way-into-contract-extension-with-flyers/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Tyson Foerster likely to start season with Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers winger Tyson Foerster should be good to go when it comes to the Flyers starting their regular season against Florida in October. In short, there seems to be no complications from his surgery earlier in the year.

“Everything looks good now,” Flyers general manager Danny Briere said in reply to another media outlet’s inquiry. “Should be ready for the season.”

Foerster, who scored 25 goals last season, finished his hockey year by competing in the World Hockey Championships as a member of Team Canada’s roster alongside Travis Konecny and Travis Sanheim. Unfortunately Foerster sustained an injury and missed a small portion of the tournament. Following the tournament Foerster’s injury didn’t improve. Specialists ran tests and scans and determined Foerster had an infection in the elbow. The forward underwent surgery to resolve the problem.

There was speculation that the injury could have been much worse, leading to Foerster missing at least the start of the season and possibly a few months. Foerster reportedly visited a specialist in Vancouver to get an expert opinion on the elbow. Thankfully for both him and the team, it appears for now those worst-case scenarios are in the rearview mirror. Of course we’ll know more when the Flyers get ready for their training camp which follows Rookie Camp in September. But as it stands now it appears the line of Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, and Foerster will be healthy entering 2025-26. Or until new head coach Rick Tocchet decides to juggle the line combinations.

It’s been a busy 2025 for Foerster. In late April both he and the Flyers agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $7.5 million ($3.75 million Average Annual Value). While the Flyers might have wanted to lock up Foerster for a longer time at a reduced cap hit, the forward is betting on himself to prove he can produce the next two years and earn a hefty pay raise with a rising cap ceiling.

If Foerster makes a huge impression to start the season he might even garner the attention of Team Canada for their Winter Olympic roster. Team Canada announced an orientation camp to take place later this month with the invitees featuring both Konecny and Sanheim but not Foerster. It would be a long shot to see him representing Canada, but a great first half of the season would make things interesting.

At the very least, the good news today from Briere indicates one of the better Flyer forwards and goal-scorers will be available when the real games begin.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/post/tyson-foerster-likely-to-start-season-with-flyers/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Tyson Foerster being ready for season adds intensity to Flyers’ training camp battles

The Philadelphia Flyers got some good news on Thursday. It appears that winger Tyson Foerster will be ready for the start of the season after unfounded reports earlier his summer stated he could miss significant time.

Foerster’s health was one of the few question marks hanging over the Flyers heading into training camp. If healthy, which we now know he should be, it takes away a roster spot that prospects could be battling for.

In fact, the Flyers now should have seven of their top-nine forwards returning from last season, plus offseason additions of Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak to round out that group.

Conservatively, let’s project that Tocchet keeps the Flyers’ two most-used lines from last season together in Foerster – Cates – Brink and Konecny – Couturier – Michkov. That would leave Dvorak – Zegras – Tippett as another top-nine trio, likely the second line. That could be a good combination given Dvorak’s prowess in the two-way game and faceoff dot, and the offensive flair of Zegras and Tippett.

Add in Garnet Hathaway as a mainstay on the fourth line, plus Nicolas Deslauriers as the 12th or 13th forward, and there’s really only two roster spots up for grabs.

And both of those roster spots are likely on the fourth line. There is a chance that Dvorak starts the season as the fourth-line center, but given his relationship with Rick Tocchet as someone that the new head honcho can trust, he’ll likely be in at least a third-line role.

The other spot up for grabs is the fourth-line left winger. Deslauriers is pencilled in there, but he only played 31 games last season due to a combination of injuries and being a healthy scratch.

So are the Flyers likely to give the final roster spot to an up-and-coming prospect or a more known quantity to fill out the fourth line? Let’s take a look at a few players who are most impacted by Foerster’s sudden turn of health.

Alex Bump​

A lot of people — myself included — immediately penciled Alex Bump into the lineup if Foerster was to miss time due to injury. He plays the left side, has a shoot-first mentality, and isn’t afraid to go into the dirty areas to do what needs to be done.

Bump scored 23 goals and added 24 assists for 47 points in 42 games for Western Michigan University last season. He had an opportunity to join the Flyers for the final few games of the season, but elected to go straight to the AHL to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for their playoff run.

The 21-year-old winger made the jump and didn’t look out of place in the AHL with three points in two regular-season games and two more goals in seven playoff games. He then looked too good to be at development camp and made it clear that he aims to make the Flyers out of training camp this season.

Bump is certainly going to get a long look in training camp, and he very well could force his way onto the roster. If Tocchet does want to use Dvorak as the fourth-line center, Bump would be a top option to play on the left side in the top nine. However, the Flyers may opt to have him start the season in the AHL rather than playing limited minutes at the NHL level.

Nikita Grebenkin​

Some are overlooking Nikita Grebenkin in the mix of Flyers prospects who could push for a roster spot. But they shouldn’t be. The 22-year-old winger played in seven NHL games last season and combined for 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 40 games with the Marlies and Phantoms. He also added four points in Lehigh Valley’s seven playoff games while looking like a strong presence in front of the net.

Last season was Grebenkin’s first in North America after recording 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) for Mettalurg Magnitogorsk in the 2023-24 KHL season. So despite not having a ton of NHL experience, he has put up solid numbers in one of the best professional leagues in the world: 67 points (28 goals, 39 assists) in 120 career KHL games.

Unlike Bump, who should probably only make the Flyers if he’s playing top-nine (or possibly top-six) minutes, Grebenkin has the experience and style to fit in on the fourth line alongside Hathaway and whoever the center is.

Jett Luchanko​

While Jett Luchanko may only be tangentially impacted by a top-nine winger being ready to start the season, he could fall victim to the trickle-down effect.

The Flyers have a solid group of centers with Couturier, Zegras, Cates, and Dvorak down the middle. But if Luchanko has another impressive training camp, that could move one of those latter three to the wing in order to fit the 2024 first-round pick onto the roster.

Unlike Bump and Grebenkin (and most other forward prospects in training camp), Luchanko does not have the option of going to the AHL for this season. He’d have to go back to the Guelph Storm in the OHL if he does not make the Flyers’ opening night roster.

If Foerster wasn’t going to be healthy to start the season, there’d be a stronger case to be made to move a center to wing to get Luchanko onto the roster down the middle. That case has some cracks now.

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Ultimately, Foerster being ready to go is only a great thing for the Flyers. He’s coming off a 25-goal season while showcasing a strong two-way game on one of Philadelphia’s best lines.

It also adds fuel to the fire of the prospects looking to make the team this season. A healthy internal competition should result in the Flyers being able to assess their top options throughout training camp as the open roster spots dwindle.

Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...ds-intensity-to-flyers-training-camp-battles/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Flyers Top 25 Under 25: Honorable mentions that missed the cut

Since we reintroduced our annual Top 25 Under 25 series earlier this week, we’ve been working our way through a bit of housekeeping related to the series, and we’re closing out the week here with the last of that. Something that’s become readily apparent through the curation of this list is the true wealth of talent that the Flyers have up and down their prospect pool — so much that it made whittling our lists down to just 25 worthy players a truly difficult task. So, in the interest of spreading out the love just a little bit more, before we move into the bulk of the main list next week, we’ll give a nod to a few of the players who came close to cracking it, but just came up a little short.

Karsen Dorwart, C​

Signed by the Flyers at the end of last season, after he wrapped up a very successful third season at Michigan State (which saw him put up a tidy 31 points over 35 games played), he got in for five games at the end of the NHL season, playing down centering their fourth line. And while Dorwart remains in the conversation to earn that spot with the big club out of training camp, he still remains something of an unknown within the rest of the prospect pool. College free agent signings don’t have the same shiny new toy luster and many of the recent draft picks, and combined with the lingering uncertainty of what he is as a player and the level he’s best suited at, it’s a recipe for slipping down these rankings (but there’s certainly room for upward movement in our next installment, if he impresses in these longer looks at him).

Matthew Gard, C​

Speaking of that shiny new toy syndrome, Gard is a player that one might have expected would see a bump in his ranking because of it (and, in fairness, did see it in some of our individual rankings), but he didn’t get it to the same degree as some of the other players drafted near him this time around. And it does make some sense — there’s a lot of value in the overall steadiness and projectability of his game, but he also didn’t pop quite as much in development camp, nor was he present at the World Junior Summer Showcase like players like Jack Murtagh and Shane Vansaghi, so that momentum allowed them to create a bit of separation on a player like Gard. A good draft+1 season, though, will surely go a long way in building his stock back up again. Maybe we’ll see him fare a little better next time around.

Alex Ciernik​

On the flip side, we have Ciernik, who dropped off of our list after our last installment (where he ranked 20th). But this, in truth, doesn’t really have anything to do with Ciernik himself, necessarily. That is, he’s at a good place with his game and in his development — he was able to stay healthy for the most part, and got acclimated nicely to the Allsvenskan, and is now poised to take a step up in competition, as he moves over to play in Liiga this coming season — and even though it’s been a bit of a wildly up and down path so far, he’s getting things nicely back on track. This drop-off in ranking is just a product of having such a large pool of talented prospects to choose from, and such a tight mix as we get down into the bottoms of the rankings. So it goes.

Heikki Ruohonen, C​

It’s another year of Ruohonen coming close to cracking our main ranking, but not quite getting there. To his credit, though, he’s doing well to build his game up, particularly in the biggest moments. That is, he had solid enough season in the USHL (albeit in a league which hasn’t been as competitive as in years past), but he really stepped up in his time spent with the Finnish national team, first at last year’s World Junior Championship, and more recently in his return to their Summer Showcase. He’s primed for a big season ahead, as he makes the jump to the NCAA level in the fall with a year of adjustment to the North American game already under his belt and also looks to get a major role on Finland’s World Junior team once again, leaving lots of room for upward movement.

Alexis Gendron,​

Having just wrapped up his proper rookie season in the AHL with the Phantoms, and becoming just the third of their players to score 20 goals in their rookie season since the team relocated to the Lehigh Valley in the process, Gendron is undeniably a prospect whose stock is on the rise. He tapped into a new level of consistency in his game, a new level of maturity in his play away from the puck, and stepped up as one of few legitimate game breakers that the team had in their mix. But for those who heavily weigh projectability in their rankings, Gendron may have been a challenging player to rank — though his game is trending up towards being a legitimate NHL option, he’s moving into a crowded group of undersized skilled forwards projecting into the top-9, and the path for him to get to one of those spots feels a bit uncertain. All the same, he’s an intriguing player primed to have a big season under the Phantoms’ new coaching staff.

And that just about wraps up our loose ends! Which leaves us just with the main list to get to, at long last. We’ll see you back here on Monday to unveil who cracked our list in the 25th spot.

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Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...er-25-honorable-mentions-that-missed-the-cut/

 

[Philadelphia Flyers]

Why it’s hard to know what to expect from Porter Martone’s first year at Michigan State

When Porter Martone fell in the Flyers lap at pick number six, there was always a chance they were going to be unwitting participants in junior hockey’s newest study: how good can CHL imports really be at the college level?

Starting this season, players who had previously played in the Canadian Hockey League will be eligible to join NCAA programs. Before this year, CHL as a whole was considered a “professional league”, due to some players who have already signed their NHL entry-level deals.

So Martone, along with other CHL standouts like Michael Misa and Gavin McKenna, will be the first to make the jump to the collegiate ranks, with very little in the way of prior examples to measure up against.

The best comparison that can be drawn to whatever Martone might be during his freshman year at MSU, is to other first rounders who played their draft plus-one years in college. Here’s a list of all the D+1 NCAA newcomers over the past 10 seasons:

Of course, none of these players came from the CHL, in fact, most came from the USHL, save for Kent Johnson and Dylan Holloway, who both played in lower level Canadian junior leagues below the CHL level, thereby maintaining their eligibility.

Mostly, there’s just some good results here, most guys hovered around a point per game, save for a really productive shortened season from Dylan Holloway, and Kyle Connor’s insane 2015 at Michigan. Most of these guys, it’s fair to say, did not come with the draft pedigree of someone like Porter Martone, the only ones who did were Kent Johnson, Matty Beniers, Casey Mittelstadt, and generously we can say Connor too.

They all also played in leagues that, in the opinion of most scouts and observers, are worse quality than the OHL. The OHL, at least up to this point, has usually had a much more dense concentration of talent than leagues like the USHL, and obviously is at another level compared to alternative Canadian junior leagues like the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Martone has dominated the OHL for the majority of his career in Brampton, and is coming into the college ranks having played against some of the stiffest competition available to him in North America.

Given that reality, he should be coming into his time as a Spartan with a full head of steam, and there’s a good chance that he really won’t need that long of an adjustment period compared to players from lesser leagues, he’s used to physicality and playing at a quick pace. There’s a good chance that some nights, he won’t even notice a step-up in competition.

When you analyze it in that framework, it’s easy to get excited about the prospect of Martone dominating the college ranks, especially when he’s playing on an MSU team that will have the likes of other first and second round talents like Cayden Lindstrom, Ryker Lee, Trey Augustine, and the Flyers’ own Shane Vansaghi playing alongside him. Whatever line combinations they decide to go with, Martone will be playing alongside at least one potential NHLer, and on a power play that will be loaded for bear.

While it’s hard to truly grasp how any of the CHL to NCAA imports will do in their debut seasons, Martone’s unique combo of size and skill makes him a perfect prototypical fit for the league, and after a career of dominance, he should feel confident in his ability to continue that pace. While it may be wishful thinking to predict a point per game or more, out of the likes of draft eligible standout Gavin McKenna, Ducks prospect Roger McQueen, and the rest of the litany of CHL players to make the jump, Martone might be the best equipped to make the most of this new opportunity.

Either way, there will be an unprecedented influx of talent in NCAA hockey this upcoming season, and the Flyers may have the best of the best.

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Source

Source: https://www.broadstreethockey.com/p...o-expect-from-porter-martones-michigan-state/