The '25-'26 Philadelphia Flyers thread

[flyers19rw]

If Luchanko can’t consistently score in the OHL, why move him to the A? Best for him to learn how to get points against his peers rather than getting smothered by older more polished players.

[Austinfan]

He played on an awful team in Guelph, when they put Kazin on his wing (5th rd undersized forward who I think is going to Penn State) they both scored 1.5 ppg, then the HC broke them up.

Jett did have 9 points in 16 AHL games, including the POs, and I thought looked better against Hershey than Bump.

Unless CHL agrees, he won't be eligible for the AHL this season (goes into effect next year, so Martone or Nesbitt could play for LHV in 2026-27 if they don't make the Flyers).

Problem is Guelph hasn't done much to upgrade, ideal outcome would be a trade to a team like Windsor or London where he'd have talented linemates and top coaching. Otherwise, he might be better off with the Flyers in a sheltered role where he can practice with pro plaeyrs.

[zambonir]

He's ready to play in the AHL. If he could. He just might not be ready to be buried in the NHL. If he does play in the NHL it needs to be in a decently-sized role.

From today's Athletic story:

The wild card here is Jett Luchanko. If the rookie is ready for NHL action, there’s no telling how high he could end up in the lineup. Briere seemed incredibly encouraged by Luchanko’s performance with the Phantoms late last season, and spending another season in juniors might not do much for the just-turned 19-year-old.

[Austinfan]

Couts at 19 was the 4C and top PK guy. 10:59 ES, 2:41 PK.
Guess who was the 1C/2C on that team? Danny Briere.

[LegoDoom]

Couts at 19 was the 4C and top PK guy. 10:59 ES, 2:41 PK.
Guess who was the 1C/2C on that team? Danny Briere.

If Jett can blanket prime Malkin, then he can gladly have a spot.

[zambonir]

Keith Jones and Dan Hilferty say the Flyers are ‘moving forward’ but won’t...

Not promising playoffs, but also don't expect to be trade deadline sellers.

Foerster still likely for training camp. No comment on Hart. Kolosov still expected at NHL camp.

Whole thing here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGk3pMgH0eg&t=1s

[Austinfan]

They'll sell, but not to just dump players.
Depends on the progress of the players behind the veterans:
MacDonald - Seeler
Grans/Bonk - Risto
Grebenkin/Bump/Gaucher - Hathaway
Dowart - Abols

Point is if players in AHL show they're NHL ready, at some point Briere will move out veterans blocking them from getting PT.

[Docs]

agreed - if its in their best interest to sell they will. Dvorak & Risto are both candidates for trade deadline deals.

[bigegypt0417]

You hope they do...you enjoy the build.

[zambonir]

What they are basically saying is, we might not make the playoffs, but we're not trying to be in the lottery either. Either way it's an interesting opening salvo to the year, to manage expectations. Not many people actually picking the Flyers to make the playoffs in the first place, just guardedly optimistic fans hoping for it, and more impatient fans thinking it should have already happened, and probably thinking the coaching change is meant to accelerate that rather than simply start a new cycle of progress.

[VoteForKalas]

They need to sell Risto before he loses what little value he has left. The contract is an albatross and his injury history is scary. We have almost dug out of another mega mistake with Ellis and do not need to replace it.

[zambonir]

Risto wound up being a pretty good player when he was healthy, and not necessarily overpriced. We just remember when he wasn't good, and thus overpriced. And nobody's actually ready to replace him. Problem is he can't help if he gets hurt again. But he also can't be traded if he gets hurt again. So you take his minutes if he can provide them, and see where they are in March. At that point maybe he has some trade value, no trade value (other than shedding salary) or still has value to the Flyers. It's not out of the question he plays for them in '27. It's also not out of the question Flyers end up picking up half his salary or buying him out.

If he ends up like Ellis that would be good! (no cap implications with LTIR).

[Austinfan]

Yeah, two years ago Risto was unmovable with 3 years left at the TDL.
Now, at the TDL he'll only have 1 season left at $5M, which is very reasonable given the rising cap.
FA deals this summer:
Orlov (34) 2yr/$6.5M
Ceci (32) 4yr/$4.5M (big RHD always get a premium)
Dumoulin (34) 3yr/$4M
Klingberg (33) 1yr/$4M (played 25 games last two seasons combined, but 19 in last year's POs)

[VoteForKalas]

C'mon Z, the point is the Flyers need to stop making stupid long term signings of bad or mediocre players. Enough is enough, way past time to be smarter and generate better results.

[zambonir]

Well sure but this front office didn't sign him, and the fact that he is signed to that contract doesn't have anything to do with his current role or tradeability. There is no urgency to trade him, and even if he's on the 2027 roster he won't really be hurting the team or its cap situation (unless they want to hand out another similar contract before '28!)

The surely would have traded him last year, considering they were in full tank mode, even for no return/picking up salary. But they couldn't.

I think this whole thing today is part realism (reminding people they're still committed to a slower rebuild that doesn't take shortcuts) and part deliberately setting the bar low. As ever, you know the coaches and players want to make the playoffs, and it still seems more likely to me that Briere would take a 2023 approach (neither buy not sell) than a 2024 approach if they are in reach. They also certainly don't want as many lottery draws as they had last year.

[Austinfan]

Half the players likely to be in the lineup in 2027-28 (When I think they'll be legitimate contenders) are probably going to be in teh AHL/NCAA/SHL/CHL/KHL this season including, Bonk, Barkey, Jett, McDonald, Grans, Martone, Nesbitt, Gill, Amico, Zavragin, etc.

So I think they're in no rush, and like last season, will let the players dictate moves.
1) If they're in PO contention, stay put
2) If some kids push for jobs, trade veterans who are blocking them
3) If the goalies implode again and they're 10 points out of a PO spot at the TDL, trade veterans with value

[zambonir]

nothing untrue in that one AF

the goaltending is still the x factor for sure. I'm assuming the PP will be better. If you want to get exercised over a big contract Tippett might be a better choice. But he is young and hopefully will bounce back and take a step forward.

[Austinfan]

Tippett is probably the most underrated player on the Flyers.
Evolving Hockey has a measure Goals Above Replacement (GAR), Tippett led the Flyers last season.
He's one of the top 50 goal scorers at even strength the last three seasons.
His defense has gone from below average to average at least.
He also got jacked around last year, RW to LW and no consistent center until he was matched with Poehling at the end of the season
One of the ten fastest players in the NHL at 6'2 210.

Now he's not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree (in terms of instincts and hockey IQ) but has a high motor and has worked hard to improve. Could be more deceptive with his shot, and shoot closer to the net. Has improved his passing but needs to see teammates better.

With the rising cap, his contract is a bargain at $6M.

[VoteForKalas]

If you want to get exercised over a big contract Tippett might be a better choice.

Disagree, Tippett is exactly the type of player we should be taking gambles on and playing full time in order to develop him.

Risto is exactly the type of player we should not be signing or keeping. I have no issue with Briere waiting to find the max value time to trade him. I think it could have happened this offseason if he had not gotten injured again. We've gotten extremely lucky so far; we'll see how Risto returns from this latest injury.

Briere's main missions when he took this job were to change the philosophy and approach of the organization, bring it into the 21st century hockey world, make much smarter short and long term moves and build a roster that can compete for a number of years. He has done pretty well so far IMO, but he will need cap space soon, needs to complete the roster turnover and get rid of any remaining dead weight.

[Austinfan]

Risto has actually become a pretty solid D-man under Shaw. and physical RHDs have high value.
The problem was trading for him, then extending him instead of trading him.
If he's healthy at the TDL, he'll be valuable trade bait with only one season at $5M left.
2025 TDL trades:
L Schenn for 2026 2nd, 2027 4th
Dumoulin 2025 2nd
Lindgren, 2025, 2nd, 4th
Walman, 2026 1st
Carlo, 2026 1st, 2025 4th