After a team record-tying five years out of postseason competition, the Flyers’ late run to the Stanley Cup playoffs last season caught quite a few people offguard.
So of course the buzz throughout the offseason was whether the team could avoid the old “contentment” element and hold its ground this season.
But what if the Flyers, who didn’t really do all that much over the summer to improve their roster, actually believe they can take another step forward?
After all, key young performers such as Porter Martone, Denver Barkey and Alex Bump have some NHL experience under their belts now; a better No. 2 goaltender (Joseph Woll) is in place; and coach Rick Tocchet has the players he wants on the ice after some roster revisions.
The team knows it has a target on its back now and will be taken much more seriously this time around. No catching other teams stifling a yawn or two on the bench.
When the 2026-27 season opens on Wednesday night with a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Tocchet should have the services of two recently injured players: Top goaltender Dan Vladar and left wing/center Denver Barkey.
Tocchet could roll out a pretty impressive lineup, one which might improve upon last year’s third place finish in the Metropolitan Division.
Travis Konecny, a veteran going back to the 2016-17 season, believes the competition provided by some of the newer players will only make him and other proven talents better.
“I think the best teams have the internal competition,” Konecny said. “Guys are pushing me. The only thing that I’m getting closer to what I want as well. . .winning the Stanley Cup.”
Here are five questions which need to be answered affirmatively if the Flyers are to take another step this season:
>1. Will Matvei Michkov be able to return to the form he showed in his rookie season two years back when he led the Flyers in goals with 26?
Tocchet has been experimenting with Michkov on the right side with the proven combination of center Noah Cates and left wing Tyson Foerster.
Unlike at the start of last year’s training camp, Michkov appears to be lighter and quicker on the ice. Plus, his command of the English language has improved a hundred percent.
If he can stay healthy and out of Tocchet’s doghouse, Michkov could get back to being an offensive leader. He’s in a contract year and that alone should be enough of an incentive.
>2. Can the Flyers dig themselves out of a five-year power-play hole?
If practice counts for anything, the Flyers should be at least respectable. Tocchet has spent a good chunk of the short training camp trying to find the players and positioning to get back to the mid-pack in league statistics.
“I hope so,” Konecny said. “We put in a lot of effort last year. It’s there, it all makes sense, the video is there, it’s just executing, trusting your abilities. Being comfortable. That’s something that I’m working on. I’m sure it’s going to be great.”
>3. Will Woll supply the competent backup goaltending the Flyers require?
Preseason games don’t mean a whole lot but Woll did draw praise for the way he blanked the Bruins the other night. Didn’t give up a lot of bad rebounds and seemed to work well with the top two defensive pairs of Travis Sanheim-Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York-Jamie Drysdale.
Look for Woll to make at least 30 starts and maybe even start the first half of back-to-back games on occasion.
“I think we start with four (games) in six nights so ‘Wollsy’ is going to get in there,” Tocchet said. “When (GM) Danny (Briere) acquired Woll, that was one of the reasons why. He’s going to get some games for us. Wollsy had a great game the other day (vs. Boston) so it gives you a little comfort level that you basically have a 1A and a 1B. It’s good to have that.”
>4. Can York work his way back up to a prominent role on defense?
Prior to Ristolainen’s return from injury last year, York had been Sanheim’s partner on the top defense pairing.
York still has the potential to log top pairing minutes, which he probably won’t get if he stays with Drysdale.
Tocchet liked what he saw of York in the preseason.
“He’s attacking and he’s not deferring,” Tocchet said. “He’s thinking five shots (a game) and instead of getting 25 (team) shots, we’re getting 31. Now some action can happen. I think he’s just listening from the coaches over the summer. We need more shots and shots on net.”
>5. With a two-man competition for the No. 6 defense spot continuing to play out, who has the edge: Simon Benoit or David Jiricek?
It could wind up being a true platoon system, where Tocchet plays Benoit against certain teams and Jiricek against others.
It’s no secret Tocchet would like to see Jiricek and his heavy shot have a role in the power play. If the power play does get off to a fast start and Jiricek, perhaps in a backup role to Drysdale on the point, plays a role in that success, he could earn the majority of the playing time.
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PREDICTION: Third in the Metropolitan Division.
As with most teams, health plays a big factor. For instance, Foerster missed more than half the season last year. If he gets into 80 games, look for 35 to 40 goals. A full slate out of Ristolainen would help, too. And the Flyers can’t afford to have Vladar miss too much action at any point in the season. He makes up for a lot of mistakes on the defensive side of the puck.
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