The '25-'26 Philadelphia Flyers thread

zambonir 2025-09-11 21:09:22 UTC #282

The most annoying thing about Panthers is that they are run by Peter Luuko. As flawed as Snider and Comcast and the Flyers' front office was for all those years, he was clearly better than his successor.

Austinfan 2025-09-11 21:10:32 UTC #283

I think big deadline deals in hockey are a fool's errand, b/c chemistry is far more important than say in baseball (lines and D-pairs are more than just raw talent, skills have to fit)
The best trades tend to be depth additions who don't disrupt team chemistry but provide protection against injury and improve the bottom half - for example, Marchand played on FLA's third line and made it a much better unit.

If you're going to make a major move, don't wait to the TDL, do it in January and have half a season to integrate the new player and the resulting lineup shuffle.

LegoDoom 2025-09-11 21:15:02 UTC #284

I feel bad that G kind of missed out by leaving Florida.

zambonir 2025-09-11 21:30:08 UTC #285

Yeah. But he probably doesn't (since he picked being close to family). The tougher part is he could have been on the Avs in '22.

LegoDoom 2025-09-11 21:33:42 UTC #286

I meant from a professional prospective. I realize a lot of athletes must deal with family issues and I have no issues with people wanting to live closer to family or a location that they'd prefer.

zambonir 2025-09-11 21:37:25 UTC #287

what's too bad is the Flyers probably can't give him one last homecoming for a Cup run at this point.

zambonir 2025-09-11 21:42:16 UTC #288

NHL just announced Hart and the others are eligible to sign on October 15 and play on December 1.

Docs 2025-09-11 23:31:59 UTC #289

That benefits the flyers if they want to bring Hart back because they can put Ellis on LTIR before that date and clear up the cap space for a Hart contract. I’m not saying they should or will, just defining the path that allows them to.

zambonir 2025-09-11 23:43:42 UTC #290

But they need the money for other things probably. Just from a cap perspective I can't see them carrying more than $8 million in goalie money (Fedotov makes more than Ersson and Vladar is signed for next year) and then adding Hart on top of that.

And, FWIW:

> Earlier this summer, a team source said that Hart returning to the club was “unlikely.”

(Though Hayes didn't really make any kind of case there.)

phillychuck 2025-09-12 13:02:17 UTC #291

Rookie camp started...Luchanko still not 100% over the groin issue, will miss rookie camp but be ready before everyone reports (according to the Flyers). Flyers say they are just being cautious. I wonder who will be C4 if Luchako is not in the lineup...? I think they were hoping to play Dvorak on the wing with Zegras to take some of the faceoffs, but that plan could be DOA without a viable C4.

zambonir 2025-09-12 13:06:15 UTC #292

You going to go to a game this weekend?

phillychuck 2025-09-12 13:50:40 UTC #293

Too busy, unfortunately. I’ll follow the reports and watch whatever videos I can.

Austinfan 2025-09-12 15:38:45 UTC #294

Zegras, Couts, Cates, Dvorak at C
Tippett, Foerster, Bump/Grebenkin, Abols at LW
Michkov, TK, Brfink, Hathaway at RW

If Jett makes the team, one of Couts/Cates moves to LW, I'd put Couts at LW with Zegras and Michkov.
They will still have Bump/Grebenkin, Barkey, Tuomaala, Gaucher, Dowart, Grendon in LHV

Forward is not an issue going forward given Berglund, Nesbitt, Murtagh, Vansaghi, Knuble, Ciernak, Westergard, Ruohonen in the pipeline.
At some point they'll probably package a forward or two and a high draft pick in a trade for a young top 6 center.

zambonir 2025-09-12 15:42:57 UTC #295

The coverage of rookie camp already said Luchanko could end up making the team at wing (and probably has a better chance of doing so too).

Austinfan 2025-09-12 15:46:57 UTC #296

Don't see it. They want to develop him as a top six center, they have wings coming out of their butt.
So why play him at wing?

If he makes the team, he'll probably start as the 4C and PK.
That's how they used Couts at 19.
Allows them to shelter him, as he gains confidence and experience, they can gradually put more on his plate.

Grebenkin - Jett - Hathaway wouldn't be a bad 4th line.

zambonir 2025-09-12 15:49:34 UTC #297

> a team source said that Luchanko doesn’t necessarily have to make the opening-night roster as a center, and could conceivably start as a winger.

That pretty much means Briere or Tocchet. Doesn't have to be permanent, but if they don't want him to go back to junior or even just want to most easily by him the 10 days, anything's possible.

LegoDoom 2025-09-12 15:57:59 UTC #298

Please don't put Jett on the 4th line.

Austinfan 2025-09-12 15:58:28 UTC #299

"That'll be up to Tocchet" suggests he wasn't the source.
And Briere is an unlikely source, he's either upfront or closed mouthed, but not much for backdoor channels.
Though we'll see when he has his presser next week.

It doesn't make sense b/c his skill package screams center, speed, high defensive IQ, good playmaker on the fly, below average shot. And if you keep him on the NHL team you want him to gain experience going against NHL centers, not flying up and down the wing. He's not a shooter like Tippett or TK, or play driver like Brink.

Ideally, you want him to center a playmaker on one wing and a power forward on the other.
Similar to the Cates line with Brink and Foerster.

zambonir 2025-09-12 16:12:27 UTC #300

Good point. But that means either Briere or Jones. You're not gonna have assistant coaches or assistant GMs saying that stuff, and even Jones would be speaking out of turn.

Still seems a stretch to me that he makes the team which would render it moot.

Austinfan 2025-09-13 14:53:05 UTC #301

1st Rookie Game Recap:

Barkey is a whirling dervish, think of a faster, skinnier Brink. The puck finds him and he finds linemates. Overpassed a couple times, but totally fearless. He played this way in the CHL POs and Memorial Cup, nonstop motor, high IQ, very skilled. Needs to fill out a little more but potential top six forward when he grows up. A born leader, team Captain for London despite 4 1st rd picks on that team.

Bump is a high energy guy with some skill, but similar to the WMU PO run, couldn't close the deal. My theory is he's a middle six forward who was asked to be the "man" in WMU and on the 1st line last night which is a little above his "pay grade." He'll be best as an energy forward playing with more talented players.

Grebenkin isn't as fast as Bump, but better in short areas, tough to knock off the puck and good vision and hands. Skating and defense will be the only thing holding him back. Game winning goal in OT.

Gendron looked stronger, 20 goals for LHV last year, if he can handle contact better, improve his passing and defense, has a shot at the NHL.

Kaplan had a nifty sequence, but at his size and age, should be more dominant, disappointing college career.

Gaucher played like he did for LHV, too old for this game, probably there to steady the kids

Dowart flashed some speed, skill, may have a future as a 4C

Nesbitt is the real deal, fearless in front of the net, solid on FOs, physical even though he hasn't filled out at 18 (6'5 200) and was playing against men. Skating needs a lot of work, we'll see in two years when he's 220 lbs.

Tuomaala played well, forechecked, wasn't cherrry picking, he can skate and shoot, his future depends on his commitment ot the rest of his game.

McDonald and Murchison didn't stand out, but this is a bad venue for defense first D-men, b/c of lack of structure.

Samson looked good, still shoots too much but improved his puck handling.

Gill looked good, comfortable with the puck, August B-day (just turned 19) and missed second half of last season and Q POs with injury, but looks healthy. Check back in a year.

Bjarnason had a shaky start with two bad goals on the first two shots, then only gave up one goal rest of the game. A bit sloppy with rebound control, but he's a project anyway.