Starting over again with the rebuild of a pro hockey team can have its growing pains, as the Flyers are finding out the hard way.
The odds of the 2024-25 team ending a four-year playoff drought are probably 50-50 at best.
But general manager Daniel Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones are determined to see this thing through.
Which is why the Flyers are unlikely to pull the trigger on any trades involving their top prospects.
At a Tuesday press conference, Briere reiterated he has no plans to give up any of his top kids on or before the March 7 deadline.
Of significant importance are some of the top-end guys, including former first-round draft picks Jett Luchanko, who had a brief trial with the Flyers at the start of the season, and defenseman Oliver Bonk. Then there are Russian goalie Egor Zavragin and defenseman Emil Andrae, who had a 20-game NHL trial earlier this season.
Among some of the other significant prospects, the list includes center Jack Berglund, goaltender Carson Bjarnason and defenseman Hunter McDonald.
The role of a GM includes keeping tabs on a lot of these possible future Flyers to get a first-hand look at their skills.
And since Briere was an all-star player himself, he knows a potential NHL player when he sees one.
No doubt, Luchanko is one who appears to have the tools to be just that as he plays with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, a team trying to get back on track for postseason play.
“We’re happy with his progress, he’s playing a lot,” Briere reported during Tuesday’s midseason press conference at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “For the World Juniors, he played for Canada and he was disappointed with the role they gave him.
“But when you look at the role (killing penalties, etc.) they gave him, he performed great. We have higher expectations for him. He was probably the best skater in the World Junior tournament and he barely played. That’s out of our control, unfortunately, but in the role they gave him, he was excellent. So we’re excited about that.”
Bonk, the son of former NHL great Radek Bonk, has been playing big minutes for the London Knights of the OHL. His pedigree would suggest big things lie ahead.
“They are a very highly rated team,” he said. “They should make another long run in the playoffs. It’s exciting to see that from him. With Team Canada in the World Juniors, it was kind of the same thing as Luchanko. He had a big role but they put him in positions that are not really going to be his strength.”
Again, the Flyers didn’t have any say in how Bonk was used. The coaches for Canada did what they thought was best for their team.
In last year’s training camp, Bonk showed he can handle the demands of the sport at its highest level.
“Overall, I thought he had a really good tournament in what we expect from him,” Briere said. “Shutting down the opposition, playing against the top lines and the top matchups. We’re excited for him to turn pro next season, looking forward to making his debut in the organization.”
Andrae may have caught some people by surprise because he stands only 5-foot-9. However, don’t be fooled by his size. He packs a punch, as opposing forwards are quick to discover.
“He’s been injured in the last week to 10 days,” Briere said. “We’re hoping he returns this week.”
Zavragin appears to be exceeding the expectations of scouts and talent evaluators. He’s only 19 but he’s making a name for himself in Europe’s Kontinental Hockey League.
“He was here for a short stint last year before the development camp,” Briere said. “He was excited to be here. Another 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 goalie.”
So the Flyers’ goaltending picture looks pretty bright with Zavragin and Bjarnason.
“The future in net looks really good,” Briere said. “They’re both 19 years old. It takes time for goalies to come around. So we’re going to be patient with them. But it’s really exciting to hear all the good things to come out of Russia about Zavragin. Same thing with Bjarnason.”
The Flyers have three first-round picks in this year’s draft so the stockpiling will continue. Perhaps one or more of them will get moved but whether they are or aren’t, the Flyers look in good position to improve their organizational strength and depth.
The odds of the 2024-25 team ending a four-year playoff drought are probably 50-50 at best.
But general manager Daniel Briere and president of hockey operations Keith Jones are determined to see this thing through.
Which is why the Flyers are unlikely to pull the trigger on any trades involving their top prospects.
At a Tuesday press conference, Briere reiterated he has no plans to give up any of his top kids on or before the March 7 deadline.
Of significant importance are some of the top-end guys, including former first-round draft picks Jett Luchanko, who had a brief trial with the Flyers at the start of the season, and defenseman Oliver Bonk. Then there are Russian goalie Egor Zavragin and defenseman Emil Andrae, who had a 20-game NHL trial earlier this season.
Among some of the other significant prospects, the list includes center Jack Berglund, goaltender Carson Bjarnason and defenseman Hunter McDonald.
The role of a GM includes keeping tabs on a lot of these possible future Flyers to get a first-hand look at their skills.
And since Briere was an all-star player himself, he knows a potential NHL player when he sees one.
No doubt, Luchanko is one who appears to have the tools to be just that as he plays with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, a team trying to get back on track for postseason play.
“We’re happy with his progress, he’s playing a lot,” Briere reported during Tuesday’s midseason press conference at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. “For the World Juniors, he played for Canada and he was disappointed with the role they gave him.
“But when you look at the role (killing penalties, etc.) they gave him, he performed great. We have higher expectations for him. He was probably the best skater in the World Junior tournament and he barely played. That’s out of our control, unfortunately, but in the role they gave him, he was excellent. So we’re excited about that.”
Bonk, the son of former NHL great Radek Bonk, has been playing big minutes for the London Knights of the OHL. His pedigree would suggest big things lie ahead.
“They are a very highly rated team,” he said. “They should make another long run in the playoffs. It’s exciting to see that from him. With Team Canada in the World Juniors, it was kind of the same thing as Luchanko. He had a big role but they put him in positions that are not really going to be his strength.”
Again, the Flyers didn’t have any say in how Bonk was used. The coaches for Canada did what they thought was best for their team.
In last year’s training camp, Bonk showed he can handle the demands of the sport at its highest level.
“Overall, I thought he had a really good tournament in what we expect from him,” Briere said. “Shutting down the opposition, playing against the top lines and the top matchups. We’re excited for him to turn pro next season, looking forward to making his debut in the organization.”
Andrae may have caught some people by surprise because he stands only 5-foot-9. However, don’t be fooled by his size. He packs a punch, as opposing forwards are quick to discover.
“He’s been injured in the last week to 10 days,” Briere said. “We’re hoping he returns this week.”
Zavragin appears to be exceeding the expectations of scouts and talent evaluators. He’s only 19 but he’s making a name for himself in Europe’s Kontinental Hockey League.
“He was here for a short stint last year before the development camp,” Briere said. “He was excited to be here. Another 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 goalie.”
So the Flyers’ goaltending picture looks pretty bright with Zavragin and Bjarnason.
“The future in net looks really good,” Briere said. “They’re both 19 years old. It takes time for goalies to come around. So we’re going to be patient with them. But it’s really exciting to hear all the good things to come out of Russia about Zavragin. Same thing with Bjarnason.”
The Flyers have three first-round picks in this year’s draft so the stockpiling will continue. Perhaps one or more of them will get moved but whether they are or aren’t, the Flyers look in good position to improve their organizational strength and depth.
