2025-2026 Philadelphia Flyers Exit Interviews

To keep it simple, there was a lot of good that came out of the 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season and 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Philadelphia Flyers.

A season ago, under John Tortorella and Brad Shaw, the Flyers finished 33-39-10. The roster was different. Philadelphia didn’t bring Ryan Poehling, Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee, Jakob Pelletier, Andrei Kuzmenko, Olle Lycksell, and Ivan Fedotov into 2025-2026. Daniel Brière made extensive upgrades to the roster.

Joining Rick Tocchet in 2025-2026 were Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundström, Noah Juulsen, Luke Glendening, Dan Vladař, and David Jiříček. Then, a few prospects made their NHL debut with the Flyers, including Denver Barkey, Porter Martone, Alex Bump, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, and Ty Murchison. There’s a mix of core pieces for the immediate future and very young talent who have proven they can keep up in the NHL.

Overall, the 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season and NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs were a success for Philadelphia. Outsiders may look at the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals sweep to the Carolina Hurricanes and say that’s a failure, but no one gave the Flyers a chance to make the postseason. Then, they did. Then, they eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The bar was cleared multiple times.

Yet, the job isn’t finished. It’s just starting, and Philadelphia is on its way to finding a new gear for the 2026-2027 NHL Regular Season.

The Front Office

Daniel Brière

Brière was impressed and proud of the 2025-2026 Flyers team and what they accomplished. In his words, the players and coaches, ‘never quit,’ maintaining the relentless label associated with Philadelphia hockey. As players like Hathaway and Couturier expressed in their exit interviews, as well as Tocchet, Brière stressed how the belief in culture elevated the club above adversity, and into the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. He followed by thanking the fanbase. It’s easy to love a team when they’re winning, and that happened in the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, but the remarkable part was the standing ovation at the end of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals, showing love and appreciation for a roster that fought hard to bring hockey back to Broad Street.

The fanbase is absolutely feral. But that’s what makes the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ a hockey town. In defeat, that arena showed how a city still loves hockey.

After showing his admiration for the team, coaches, and fanbase, Brière opened up about injuries, which are found in each of the players’ sections below, along with a debriefing of their exit interviews.

Nikita Grebenkin did not partake in exit interviews. However, Brière provided an update on his condition, and it sounds like Grebenkin could miss time from training this summer.

“Depending on how it goes. Initially, we [Philadelphia Flyers] thought it was going to be something short, and it just never got better. Now, we’re looking at different options for him [Nikita Grebenkin]. He’s the only one that I would say that if it doesn’t improve, but other than that, everybody else should be back healthy for next season. Most of them will have the summer to train. The last couple [of] summers, we’ve had guys that had injuries where they had to change their training, wasn’t, or weren’t able to completely train the way they wanted to, to get ready for the season. Everybody else will be able to go full-out training-wise. That’s exciting.” – Daniel Brière; 5/14/2026

This offseason, Philadelphia is keeping it simple. Brière isn’t deviating from what he called the ‘growth’ part of the rebuild. The Flyers are in a great spot in terms of cap space, and Brière doesn’t feel forced to make a splash. He’s dialed in for the longevity of the team, not to frantically spend for what may not fit with the team’s growth.

In the ‘growth’ stage of the rebuild, Philadelphia made it to the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals. They forced the Hurricanes into overtime twice. It was a series that was tighter on paper, particularly considering the absence of players like Tippett and Cates, who would’ve had an impact in that series.

Yet, the Flyers aren’t without needs. It’s not that Brière won’t make any moves in the offseason; he will. It’s that they need to make sense. That’s been a key component in any decision Brière made since assuming the role of general manager in Philadelphia. When asked about needs, Brière answered:

“I don’t think it has changed a lot from last summer. Last summer, we said goalie probably in that mix. We have to give credit there to our goalies [Dan Vladař and Samuel Ersson], they were excellent. We’d like to improve probably everywhere else. The center position, and we haven’t sat down yet to go over a review of the season. We’re going to do that later in the next few hours, actually. To have a full evaluation of the players and the teams, and where we want to go from there, I would like to have the coach’s input on that as well. We’ve talked about the center position before. That’s probably still there. Although it’s interesting to see Zegras [Trevor Zegras] play there down the stretch, he performed well and into the playoffs. Denver Barkey stepped up and played a couple games in the middle as well. Coots [Sean Couturier] in the role that he played, which was really impressive for him to accept that role [and] take maybe less responsibilities on offense, but really become a force, shutting down opponents physicality-wise to take another step there. The center position is something that we’re probably going to look at. If we could improve on defense, we’re going to look at that, too. Not much has changed from year’s past, other maybe than the goaltending position.” – Daniel Brière; 5/14/2026

A very interesting nugget, along with what Konecny touched on in his exit interview, is how Brière understands that the Flyers are turning into a destination franchise. He clued into that during the trade deadline when he heard that fewer general managers couldn’t allow players to leave for Philadelphia because of trade clauses.

That nugget heavily suggests the Flyers are out of the basement of the NHL in terms of a player destination.

However, along with Philadelphia becoming a player destination market, Brière is keen to keep valuable players put. Drysdale, Vladař, and Zegras are a few names with contract implications incoming. There’s not necessarily an order to find an agreement for Brière. He suggested it’s more of a process, which is fair in describing contract negotiations.

“There’s not an order for me. Negotiating contracts is a process. It takes time. I don’t negotiate in public. There’s not order. When it can get done, it gets done. It all depends on the synergy, and sometimes you make ground faster with one and the other, then things change along the way. It depends on the traction. I have nothing really that worries me at this point to say we’re not going to see those guys come back. I have no worries at this point in that regard. Hopefully, it keeps going in that direction, and we get them done later this summer.” – Daniel Brière; 5/14/2026

Tocchet provided his answer to sitting Michkov in Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals. In his exit interview, Brière added his thoughts when asked:

“Matvei [Matvei Michkov] is a great talent. We see him being part of the picture for years to come. That hasn’t changed. It’s not because he was scratched in that last game that it changes everything. The coaches wanted to put the best lineup to give them a chance to win in that last game, and it’s no secret that it had been tough. Carolina [Carolina Hurricanes] is a skating team and put a lot of pressure, there wasn’t a lot of room to create, and they decided they like to have a little more speed. It’s one game, and in the playoffs, you have to go with the best team that you think can make you win. It doesn’t change anything for the future. We mentioned all these young guys, and then there’s more. There’s Oliver Bonk. There’s Jiříček [David Jiříček]. There’s many other young defensemen that are pushing. There’s also Jett Luchanko. There’s Nesbitt [Jack Nesbitt]. I could go down the list. There’s other guys that are going to put pressure. Matvei is part of that, and we hope he’s a big part of the future years. It’s not a secret, he’s made some mistakes along the way. I’ve made some mistakes, and I was older than him in my career. We forget sometimes, he just turned twenty-one. He’s already accomplished a lot. It’s really impressive what he’s done and have such an impact that he’s had at such an early age. We don’t see that very often in the NHL. It doesn’t change the future for him and being part of what we’re building.” – Daniel Brière; 5/14/2026

Michkov didn’t know how to answer the question about what he needed to work on this summer. Brière provided some clarity and examples. Included were finding an extra gear in his skating and improving in his off-ice training, but overall, Brière hammered home that Michkov needs to adapt. If Michkov keeps up with the tenacity that he showed on Tuesday after his exit interview, applying that to each facet of hockey, then there’s no doubt he will hold his promise of being better than he was after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

According to Brière, Michkov will spend part of his summer locally for training.

Rick Tocchet

Tocchet, in his first season as the head coach of the Flyers, coached them into the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The first quarter of the season saw Philadelphia start 11-6-3, which was an improvement from the 8-10-2 start from 2024-2025. What showed the true character of the team was how they battled into the postseason after dipping in the middle of the season. Starting the last quarter of the season with a 28-22-11 record, an overall record of 43-27-12 clinched a postseason berth. The roster made significant strides, buying into the coaching staff and the system installed.

Now, the bar is raised. Suddenly, there’s pressure. Pressure is supposed to create diamonds, and the Flyers are supposed to keep their end of the deal, evolving into something more next season. That doesn’t need to be reiterated to the players and coaching staff, particularly on the heels of elimination in the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals.

“Being prepared, that’s the big thing. Being prepared for it. It’s no different studying for an exam, right? But, for me, the expectation was clear when I took the job. Dan Hilferty, Brian Roberts, Jonesy [Keith Jones], and Danny [Daniel Brière] wanted to see improvement from the players. ‘Can you get this player to get here?’ The development of a player, and we concentrate on that. But, also, and I know it’s the most overused word, but the culture and things like that, setting a standard. That’s what we’re striving for. This year, I got to get better as a coach. Hopefully, that’ll help the standard and the expectations, just like our players.” – Rick Tocchet; 5/13/2026

The prospects were encouraging. Tocchet played five rookies in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. He also noted how many of his players improved during the postseason, and the prominent message from his roster of how they ‘can play better.’

Defensively, the coaching staff made it easier on the goaltending because Philadelphia didn’t give up a lot of high-danger scoring chances. However, there needs to be more juice squeezed offensively next season.

“How do you score goals, right? That’s one thing. We don’t have Connor McDavid. We don’t have Nathan MacKinnon or Makar [Cale Makar]. So, you have to think of other ways to score, as a team. Puck possession, we’ve talked about. We got to be a better wall team, that’s something. Corner work and wall work is a very underrated thing when it comes to hockey. If you look at teams that go far, you watch their inside game. That’s something that we have to improve on. Finishing [and] improvement of your shot. There’s some guys, I’m not going to name, that have to get a harder shot, improve a shot, and you can do that. I coached Quinn Hughes. In one summer, his shot went up twelve miles per hour. You can improve that. Systematically, the same thing. Do we want to carry the puck in more? Yes. Be more calculated? Of course. Puck possession and wall work is something we’re really going to concentrate this year. That will enhance more offense from some of the certain players and our team.” – Rick Tocchet; 5/13/2026

One huge omission was the power play, which was the worst in the NHL.

Interestingly, Tocchet did mention practicing differently. There won’t be a complete pivot away from the system in place. Some tweaks will apply, but don’t expect a full swing into transition hockey to induce rushes. That’s just not a philosophy Tocchet subscribes to in lifting team confidence and improving structure.

This exit interview didn’t go much longer until Tocchet was asked about the power play, deservingly so.

“Walking into this, and the staff, together, we knew it was a five-year, six-year problem. It’s a talking point every year. So, right away, we didn’t want to make it such a focal point that it took away from other parts, but it is a focal point. It’s a mental thing and physical thing. I felt, down the stretch, we implement a lot of young guys in the power play, too. They weren’t part of it the last five years. You got to give them a break where they’re coming in fresh, which is great. We can [get] fresh ideas for those young guys. I just felt some guys were nervous. As soon as we had a power play that we hit the ice, I could feel tension from some guys, and we got to release the tension. That’s my job to release that tension. Diving into it this summer, different scheming, different way of practicing, [and] maybe less information; sometimes too much information makes guys tighter. We’re going to dive deep into it, but I’ll be honest with you, I felt some guys went out there, and you could just see it, they were clenching their stick. Carolina [Carolina Hurricanes] is a litmus test because they just go balls to the wall. They just go hard.” – Rick Tocchet; 5/13/2026

Furthermore, Tocchet didn’t like the retrievals. On the power play, puck battles were lost when the Flyers outmanned opponents on the ice.

Speaking of fresh ideas for the younger players in the future, Tocchet mentioned how there’s a lot of communication between those players. A lot of the younger players swarm Jay Varady. A huge reason why young players saw ice time in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is because of their work ethic and being a type of ‘self-starter.’

There’s a conversation to be had. What breeds competition? It’s certainly the young prospects, hungry to develop personally and for the organization. Sooner rather than later, Philadelphia had a rising crop contributing to an NHL Stanley Cup Playoff berth, making a run into the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals. That sustains competition heading into next season.

“It helps [that] competition’s great. For me, the communication, where a kid can text me out of the blue, that’s when you know you’re on the right page. I’m not saying it happens all of the time, but you’ll get a text from a kid, ‘Can we come in early and watch video?’ That’s the sort of stuff I love. If I’m not getting that, then I got to change my approach. I’m always searching to get better, too. That’s why these young guys, it’s important that we communicate with them, good or bad.” – Rick Tocchet; 5/13/2026

Regarding communication, Tocchet communicated his answer in full as to why he sat Michkov in Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals. It was the second time Michkov was benched in the postseason. The first time was Game 5 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.

“Honestly, I wanted to get more speed in the lineup. It’s not like everybody was on point in their game. I’m not going to single out him [Matvei Michkov]. There was a couple of guys that struggled, and at that moment, as a coaching staff, felt maybe a little fresh air in the sense. It’s his first playoff run. He’s a second-year player. If it happened to another young guy, nobody really said anything. It’s the pressure of that. We just got to let this kid breathe because I think he’s made a lot of strides. I can’t talk for last year, but I can talk for this year, that he’s made some strides. I think he skated yesterday. It’s pretty cool. I rather him not skate, I want him to take a break, but I’m not going to tell him what to do, but him going and shooting pucks yesterday is something that it’s almost like a vengeance tour, and I love that. Every player should have some kind of motivation in their head to prove anybody wrong. That’s really important.” – Rick Tocchet; 5/13/2026

Next season, we’ll witness this relationship grow.

The Philadelphia Flyers

Luke Glendening

Glendening was placed on waivers by the New Jersey Devils in March. Immediately, the Flyers jumped at the opportunity to claim him off waivers. In 18GP, Glendening contributed two goals and three assists in the regular season in 12:23ATOI. In the postseason, Glendening added a goal, averaging 13:56ATOI.

“It was a special group to be a part of, a special run to be a part of. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but it felt like we were playing playoff games in March when I arrived, and it was quite a run.” – Luke Glendening; 5/12/2026

He just turned 37 years old and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Glendening stated he ‘would love to come back,’ but it just doesn’t seem likely. A waiver acquisition, Glendening was a veteran hand who helped extensively on the penalty kill.

His season started on a PTO with the Devils, which turned into a 1yr/$775k agreement. Described as a ‘whirlwind,’ Glendening didn’t expect to stand with Philadelphia in the postseason. In a narrow race to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Flyers finished 11 points ahead of New Jersey. That wasn’t supposed to be the case. Glendening spoke highly of the youth, citing contributions from when he arrived and throughout the postseason run:

“They’ve got a really bright future ahead. They’ve [the Philadelphia Flyers] got some great pieces; to see guys step in the playoffs, play games, and you got so many young pieces along with good veterans, it’s an exciting place to be for sure.” – Luke Glendening; 5/12/2026

Once an outsider, Glendening saw how close-knit the Flyers locker room was. He cited Jamie Drysdale fighting Avery Hayes in his first game (3/7/2026, Flyers at Penguins, 4-3 SO/W) as a response to Cam York taking a hit.

Rasmus Ristolainen

Rasmus Ristolainen began the 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season when Philadelphia visited the Montréal Canadiens. It was the 32nd game of the season, and Ristolainen recovered from a triceps injury. In his five-year career with the Flyers, Ristolainen was available for opening night once (2024-2025, Flyers at Canucks, 3-2 SO/W). Yet he was instrumental to the team’s success during 44GP, scoring a goal and adding 13 assists. ‘Playoff Risto,’ certainly proved me wrong, leading all defensemen with five points (1G, 4A).

“It was a long time coming, and it was great to play meaningful games, but also, you want to win and go all the way. A little disappointing how it ended.” – Rasmus Ristolainen; 5/12/2026

After the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, Ristolainen felt he ‘found his game’ after a ‘pretty low start.’ It’s easy to get frustrated about the health battles Ristolainen faces, but he continues to improve 13 seasons into his NHL career, and this postseason scratched a new surface. He’s properly healed and ready for a more normal offseason.

“It’s [my] first normal offseason in four years. I’m excited about that and not needing to worry about rehabbing.” – Rasmus Ristolainen; 5/12/2026

If Ristolainen can continue his growth after his first taste of the postseason, he’ll want to push Philadelphia back into the race for a playoff berth again next season. The goal is to return to the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and push the envelope further.

Rodrigo Ābols

Rodrigo Ābols began the season as the C4 in the Flyers’ lineup. He centered Nicolas Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway on opening night (10/9/2025, Flyers at Panthers, 2-1 L) and held his weight at the faceoff dot (52.1%) through 42GP. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to an injury. Ābols, tied up in a puck battle with Gabe Perreault during a loss to the New York Rangers, broke his fibula, tore his syndesmosis, and damaged his deltoid.

“A freak accident, I guess. Just an edge getting caught, which happens a lot of times throughout the games. As soon as that happened, I felt it getting caught, so I tried to push it out, and it didn’t move. In return, my whole weight got put on that leg. I ended up breaking my fibula, tearing my syndesmosis, and damaging my deltoid. There was two injuries in one, so there was a lot of damage there, but surgery went great.” – Rodrigo Ābols; 5/12/2026

Primed to represent Latvia in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, Ābols had to miss that opportunity. Contrary to what you would think, Ābols described missing the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics as ‘not as hard’ compared to rehabbing, plateauing, and missing the opportunity to return to the lineup for Philadelphia. It was very hard to miss the postseason because Ābols saw the atmosphere.

Ābols was skating for about a month. He was in a non-contract sweater recently, but according to Ābols, that was the first time ‘having people around.’ Though he wasn’t cleared for a return, scoring on a goaltender in a morning skate was the affirmation Ābols needed for the work he put in to recover from his injuries. While Ābols was skating for a month, he admitted there were days when he felt like he wasn’t close to a return. Those were comingled with better days when Ābols felt great on the ice, but his comfort wasn’t consistent.

He is 30 years old and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Ābols finally found a role, but this injury took him down at a terrible time.

“At my age, at my stage, trying to prove that I’m an NHL player, and when you finally got a role, I started playing [on the] penalty kill more as well, and that happens, you start thinking, ‘was that the last game in [the] NHL?’ I don’t have an answer for you right now. Agents have been working. We’ll see what Philadelphia says. I don’t know yet. I would love to stay with what Danny [Brière], Jonesy [Keith Jones], and Mr. Hilferty [Dan Hilferty] are building here. It’s something every hockey player wants to be a part of, and it’s really fun. Experiencing the fans we have here during the playoff run, that was truly electric.” – Rodrigo Ābols; 5/12/2026

Matvei Michkov

Matvei Michkov isn’t a polarizing figure, but the noise surrounding him, whether it’s loud minorities of the fanbase, the national media, or sports talk radio hosts looking for clicks on social media, certainly is.

What I liked best about his exit interview was how he, mindful of the language barrier, answered a lot of questions to silence most of the noise. He started with a ‘no comment’ reply to the overall outlook of his season. As his exit interview moved forward, you could tell that he wasn’t happy with his performance on the season. Michkov is highly critical of himself, and overall, it was a wash of a season. After the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, he felt better about his performance, but added that the postseason was tough.

“After the break, I began to find a better feel for the game. After that, I think you all saw for yourselves what happened. We had some tough games in the playoffs. I think the team had a good season. We made the playoffs, but we could’ve been better. I feel like we could’ve played better against Carolina [Carolina Hurricanes].” – Matvei Michkov; 5/12/2026

Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals came down to a coaching decision. Michkov had a job to do, and part of his job was accepting the coaching decision. In consecutive series, Michkov was a healthy scratch. He understood he needed to work harder, come prepared for the next season, and use this ammunition to prove his sophomore campaign was a fluke.

Something he can control is the work he’s putting on the ice. There’s room for improvement per his own standard, but his teammates throughout the rest of the exit interviews fully expect Michkov to bounce back next season because they see that he doesn’t shy away from the work. Michkov is 21 years old, and there’s clear room for development in the non-negotiable, fundamental aspects of being a professional in the NHL.

Earlier in the season, Michkov mentioned that he would want to remain local to train with the Flyers. He was asked about this sentiment during his exit interview:

“I just need to work, that’s all. I mean, I don’t know. I have ice time right after this press conference, then we’ll see.” – Matvei Michkov; 5/12/2026

His relationship with Tocchet is a simple working relationship. He described it as a ‘professional, good,’ which might be the last thing you would believe if you spend too much time on social media. No player felt mishandled in the first season with Tocchet as the head coach in Philadelphia, according to exit interviews.

Throughout the season, Michkov played with a roundtable of forwards. Michkov cited Noah Cates, whom he played with for most of the regular season. Cates was a linemate who helped immensely as a two-way forward. However, the wingers were flipping often to help solve the puzzle of who would provide the best support next to Cates and Michkov. Playing with different forwards helped with his growth and experience, and as a result, he was able to see how line support can be either a detriment to his play or a boost to his play.

That last part is huge, particularly for Michkov in taking the next step at the NHL level to complement his offensive skill set. One thing that didn’t sit well was a reluctance to answer if he understands what the team and organization want him to do to take that next step. Michkov asked the media for their opinion on his readiness after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Then, he doubled down, saying he plans to arrive next season even better than he was after the Olympic break. This was a question that everyone else could muster an answer to.

When questioned about his 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs performance, Michkov answered:

“Good question. I don’t know how to answer it that. I think the whole team played well in the playoffs. I was trying to help out on defense, trying to follow the coach’s [Rick Tocchet] system. Whatever he told me, I tried to do it. It was my first playoffs, and I’m not going to say every game was easy for me. I’m not happy with my playoffs. With my game. I’m the kind of player people expect goals and assists from, and what did I end up with? Like, eight games and just one assist, and even that one was kind of a fluke.” – Matvei Michkov; 5/12/2026

If we’re doubling back to what Michkov needs to work on, it’s fulfilling the duties asked by Tocchet to create more opportunities with the puck so he can be the goal scorer and playmaker the team expects him to be.

Make no mistake: by no means is that to discredit Michkov. He’s talented. However, Philadelphia isn’t going to rely on a player to be an anomaly in one area to get the job done in the postseason. One assist in eight postseason games proves Michkov isn’t yet an offensive dynamo in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Before his next crack at the playoffs, and for him to shed that ‘fluke’ label he put on himself, it would behoove Michkov to engage in the greater sum of all parts on the ice to get the puck on his stick.

In the season, Michkov finished with 51 points (20G, 31A). It’s hardly a down season. In the regular season, he made minor improvements in a drop in ice time.

Samuel Ersson

Samuel Ersson, returning to a backup goaltending role, made 29 starts, finishing with a 14-11-5 record, an 87%SV, and a 3.12GAA. He’s one of the players who found his groove after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, helping the Flyers into the postseason when called upon. His numbers, once he regained his confidence after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic break, featured a 6-1-0 record, a 91.1%SV, and a 1.77GAA.

“There was definitely ups and downs. A little [bit of a] tough start to the year. After the break, I found my game, and it was key timing to that. So, that was good, helping the team make that push for the playoffs. Just being a part of the team, making the playoffs, I think, was a really fun year in that sense. Getting to experience playoff hockey in this city was a pretty amazing feeling. The way that the crowds were, throughout the push we had, they were really rallying behind us and helped us get there. In the playoffs, it’s a different level. That was really, really cool to get to experience.” – Samuel Ersson; 5/12/2026

There was a sense of urgency that helped Ersson keep a short memory. He didn’t dwell on the first half of the season. Ersson couldn’t afford to do that because he had to put all of his time and energy into being his best self on a nightly basis. Overall, the team adopted that mentality, going on a legendary run when almost everyone counted them out of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ersson required a clean slate. He endured life after Carter Hart in 2023-2024 and was the starting goaltender in front of Ivan Fedotov and Alexei Kolosov in 2024-2025. This season was a ‘new chapter,’ particularly after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Ersson wasn’t happy about the way things were going for him, personally. His personal drive to start anew could maintain a role behind Vladař in Philadelphia.

“I love it here. I’ve been here my whole North American career. This is the only place I know. This is where I want to be. I love it here. My girlfriend loves it here. Hopefully, we can make something happen. Those questions, I’ve always just let my agents do their work. It’s time for them to do some work as well. I’m crossing my fingers and [we’ll] see what happens.” – Samuel Ersson; 5/12/2026

A real case could be made for Ersson to remain the backup goaltender because the market isn’t terrific for that role in free agency. Carson Bjarnason will likely step into a starting goaltender role with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Emil Andrae

Emil Andrae pushed his way into the lineup, particularly when it seemed like Tocchet favored more sizable defensemen like Egor Zamula or Noah Juulsen. Andrae hit career highs across the board in 61GP, notching 13 points (2G, 11A). He expected to make the lineup on opening night, but he didn’t. By the third game of the season (10/13/2025, Flyers vs. Panthers, 5-2 W), Andrae broke onto the scene in 2025-2026. However, he didn’t remain a mainstay, which will be on the to-do list for next season.

Andrae will be a restricted free agent, eligible for arbitration. However, the Flyers do have prospects fishing for an opportunity to jump onto the NHL roster at RD. Bonk, for example, did appear in Game 4 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals in place of Andrae and Juulsen. Jiříček, who could help the worst power play in the NHL during 2025-2026, is another option to consider.

However, Andrae can play either side on defense. We know Tocchet likes defensive options, and Andrae provides true depth. If Bonk or Jiříček are preferred for an RD3 role, Andrae could as easily fill in for Nick Seeler.

“Playing with less mistakes [and] maturing a little bit. For a player like me, to move the puck and be offensive-minded, you need to take some risks out there. I’ve been learning a little bit more about that, how to be successful. There’s a little balance of being creative, build your brand, and get your coaches to trust you. That’s the biggest improvement I did.” – Emil Andrae; 5/12/2026

Todd Reirden was a lifeline for Andrae in terms of his improvement in 2025-2026. Expectations and communication with coaches were clear, per Andrae.

Regarding the power play, Andrae wants to be able to help.

“I got an opportunity in the beginning of the year. We had a pretty big rotation there. With all of the [defensemen], there was a lot of guys playing on the power play from game to game. Just trying to build your game, it’s been hard. I want to be a guy to be on the power play, and [I] want to contribute offensively, with the puck and all that stuff. I would love to get more time on the power play, of course, but you got to earn it.” – Emil Andrae; 5/12/2026

On and off, Andrae appeared on the power play for 0:23ATOI. He tallied a primary assist (11/28/2025, Flyers at Islanders, 4-3 SO/W) on a power play goal scored by Zegras. Drysdale was the ‘power play quarterback’ in Philadelphia with 2:18ATOI and nine points (1PPG, 8PPA), followed by three more points in the postseason (1PPG, 2PPA).

Throughout the offseason, Andrae said he will work on getting bigger, stronger, and improving his explosiveness and quickness. He will return to Sweden to train in a couple of weeks. First, Andrae will require surgery. Brière confirmed Andrae suffered a fractured wrist.

Christian Dvorak

Dvorak signed a 5yr/$25.75mil ($5.15mil/AAV) extension on January 5th, 2026. He was the C2 in the lineup, taking faceoffs for Zegras, then fulfilling a role on the LW2 while Zegras played the middle of the ice. Eventually, that plan changed during 2025-2026. The Flyers took the training wheels off of Zegras, making him the C1. Dvorak went back to the C2 role, ultimately compiling 51 points (18G, 33A) in 2025-2026.

He and Tocchet were familiar. There were a couple of players brought into Philadelphia who Tocchet relied on, and Dvorak fit that description. In 2025-2026, Dvorak was one of the better playmakers on the entire roster. His 51 points tied for third on the Flyers with Michkov and Owen Tippett.

In the postseason, Dvorak set a new career high in point totals with four assists. He contributed to the penalty kill alongside Cates and Tyson Foerster. Now, in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future, Dvorak is hungry to reach the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs again:

“Once you get a taste of it, it’s addicting. You want more of it. It’s only going to help us be even hungrier during the off-season, training, and getting ready for next season. Playoff hockey in Philadelphia is special, and it was great to get a taste of it. I know we’re going to want more of it.” – Christian Dvorak; 5/12/2026

During the postseason, Dvorak did appear on the injury report, but disclosed that he should have a full summer of training, not requiring much of a follow-up. Brière addressed the media, stating Dvorak suffered a fractured rib and a separated shoulder. He competed in every NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game for the Flyers.

Nick Seeler

Seeler, for my money, is the best penalty-killing defenseman on the roster. Typically, the fewest power play goals are scored when Seeler is on the penalty kill, and he’s third in Philadelphia with 1:58ATOI. In his LD3 role, it’s hard to ask for much better than Seeler. He’s the only skater on the roster to surpass 100+ in hits and blocked shots in 2025-2026. That’s light work for Seeler, who surpassed 200+ blocked shots in each of his last two seasons while routinely dishing out 100+ hits.

He loves every bit of the hard work, and that’s why Flyers fans see him as a fan favorite.

“I thought it was great. Reirds [Todd Reirden], our defensive coach, was fantastic this year. He’s got a great mind for the game, really cares about his players, and it was easy to learn the new system. There’s an adjustment period at the start of the year, but I thought everyone bought in and did a really good job.” – Nick Seeler; 5/12/2026

Over the rebuild, Seeler put in a lot of hard minutes in Philadelphia. Finally, he made it to the postseason, continuing to push his physical brand. ‘Expectations are going to be more next year than they were this year,’ said Seeler, who shared the ongoing sentiment about postseason hockey being ‘special’ on Broad Street. When asked about his favorite part of the postseason run, Seeler expressed his thoughts on Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, followed by the series-clinching game-winner by York to eliminate the Penguins:

 “The first home playoff game was pretty special. This is my fifth year here and first time playing in [the] playoffs for Philly. You hear a lot about it, but to be able to experience it is a different animal. So, that was awesome. Yorkie’s [Cam York] series clincher was pretty special. I’ll remember that forever. That was awesome. Being able to beat Pitt [the Pittsburgh Penguins] at home, [that’s] obviously such a great rivalry. That was fun. A lot of good memories from this year. We’re looking forward to next year and being better and better.” – Nick Seeler; 5/12/2026

It’s such a feel-good story. Before Chuck Fletcher signed Seeler on July 28th, 2021, Seeler was almost finished with the NHL. Fighting along with his teammates in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs is nothing short of special, personally, for Seeler. Five years later, not only does Seeler believe in the Flyers, but Philadelphia believes in him.

In 80GP, Seeler finished with 10 points (4G, 6A), 149 blocked shots, and 126 hits. During the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Seeler added his first postseason game-winning goal in Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Pittsburgh.

Alex Bump

Bump signed his 3yr/$2.9mil (965k/AAV) entry-level contract with the Flyers on April 15th, 2025. In his first NHL game, Bump scored a goal on the road against the Penguins. Then, in the postseason, Bump scored two goals, one in each series. He finished his first call to action (17GP) with nine points (5G, 4A).

In the AHL, Bump competed in 36GP with the Phantoms, totaling 26 points (11G, 15A). He attributed his time in the AHL to his transition in the NHL:

“Going down to the minors [Lehigh Valley Phantoms] was really good for me. Just to get more reps, more puck touches, and play more meaningful minutes, I think that really progressed my game. I’m super happy with my time down there [AHL]. Obviously, I don’t want to go back, but everyone down there makes it so fun and enjoyable.” – Alex Bump; 5/12/2026

Heading into the offseason, Bump said he wants to put on more ‘good weight,’ get faster, and more explosive. He’s very confident in his skill set, but he’ll find, like most young players, that the NHL will demand a more well-rounded game. For example, Bump knows the NHL is more physically demanding, which translates to taking harder checks. If he can dish that out, while remaining durable, he’ll be even better next season. It’s absolutely something Tocchet wants to see out of the younger skaters, particularly the forwards, on his roster.

One valuable lesson learned was that the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are a different beast compared to the NHL Regular Season.

“It’s night and day between the regular season. It’s a totally different game. It’s way faster. Everyone’s finishing their hits. [You] always have to have your head on a swivel. No shift off; in the regular season, you can maybe take a shift off. In the playoffs, you can’t do that.” – Alex Bump; 5/12/2026

Early habits can be broken. The idea of taking a shift off must be shattered. If the habit forms, that’ll be a ticket back to the AHL, and Bump doesn’t want that.

Brière, when addressing the media, confirmed Bump suffered an MCL sprain.

Porter Martone

Martone signed his 3yr/$2.92mil ($974.1/AAV) entry-level contract with Philadelphia on March 29th, 2026. He lit the world on fire, contributing at more than a point-per-game pace (9GP; 4G, 6A) before scoring two game-winning goals in Game 1 and Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. When all was said and done for the Flyers in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Martone drew immediate praise from Rod Brind’Amour.

“It’s been a whirlwind. I’m going to keep going to the [IIHF] World Championships for Canada. It’s been amazing. Making the decision to head to Michigan State in September, at the time, it’s tough because you think you can maybe come in and crack an NHL lineup, but looking back and talking to the management after, it was the best decision I could’ve made. It got me pro-ready, and coming here, playing my first NHL game was really special. For me to come in, I didn’t just want to come and just be a part of this, but I also wanted to make an impact and help this team in any way I could. I think that wouldn’t be possible without everyone in that room and how well they made me feel included, how well they helped me out, and it’s something special. It’s been great, and being able to taste the playoffs, too, has been special.” – Porter Martone; 5/12/2026

Hathaway was a veteran who cited how eager Martone was to learn how to succeed at the NHL level. The best learn with an open mind, and that was the way Martone approached his initial trot into the NHL. Out of the gate, Martone recognizes that he can get better and improve his game. In a locker room that featured a mix of younger skaters and veterans, Martone had a wealth of knowledge at his fingertips. He, by name, stated Sean Couturier taught him what it takes to compete in Philadelphia.

Maturity is a key component to becoming a good professional in the NHL. Martone, 19 years old, is mature beyond his years. He was relied on in his first taste of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, and mostly turned in a solid stretch of performances to enter and remain in the top six of the lineup. Martone embedded himself in his role throughout the postseason by contributing in different ways to help the team get onto the scoreboard.

“Coming in, I knew I was ready to make the jump. I knew it was going to be hard. [There’s] not any way it’s going to be easier playing [in] the best league in the world. Just being able to play with these guys on the team and my linemates helped me a lot in being able to adjust and adapt so quickly, and it’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s going to be tough. They can’t play their A-game one-hundred percent of the time because it’s so hard, and you’re playing against the other team’s best players in the world, too. For me, it was just being able to be relied on all over the ice. Being able to contribute in different ways and get on the score sheet, that’s something that I learned throughout the year is being able to contribute by finishing checks, wearing down the [defense], and setting up your teammates for other shifts.” – Porter Martone; 5/12/2026

‘Everything’ is on the table, according to Martone, to improve upon this offseason. His mindset is that he’s never at his best, and there’s always something he can become better at.

This is a top prospect that flat-out gets it.

Denver Barkey

Barkey signed his 3yr/$2.71mil ($905k/AAV) entry-level contract with the Flyers on March 4th, 2024. He tallied his first two NHL points, two assists, in his first career NHL game (12/20/2025, Flyers at Rangers, 5-4 SO/L). However, Barkey opened some eyes over his 43GP, adding 17 points (5G, 12A). Then, in the postseason, Barkey tallied his first NHL Stanley Cup Playoff goal and assist in the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Additionally, Barkey was named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, representing Lehigh Valley.

Similar to other young prospects, Barkey is hoping to develop his body into a heavier, stronger frame while not sacrificing his explosiveness in his first few strides on his skates. That’ll help him create space, possess the puck longer, and complement his playmaking. However, the real question is whether Barkey will train as a center or a winger. In the postseason, he showed his versatility when Tocchet called upon him.

“I train as a forward. I take pride in being a versatile player that the coach can trust to put anywhere. I was fortunate enough to play some center in London [London Knights], so I knew what to do. We’ve done enough video and stuff like that. I knew what the center’s role was here [Philadelphia Flyers]. To have that opportunity, I just looked at it as an opportunity and something to grab a hold of, and show that I can play that position as well. I’m open to playing either, but I think I know what parts of my game, my speed, strength, and little things like that, those are my main focus [I’m] working on this summer. That’s what’s going to help me.” – Denver Barkey; 5/12/2026

In hockey, sometimes the best ability is availability. Versatility absolutely helps increase value and likely ice time.

Before he was finished, Barkey reiterated that he didn’t want to be the same player he was this year, which erases complacency. He is striving to get to the next level, as many have said in their exit interviews. The motivation of the postseason is to push the entire roster, including Barkey.

Keith Jones was the one who got into Tocchet’s ear, telling him to consider trying Barkey at center.

Tyson Foerster

Foerster was off to a hot start. In 25GP, Foerster bundled 13 points (10G, 3A) before suffering an arm injury. He wound up to take a slap shot versus Pittsburgh (12/1/2025, Flyers vs. Penguins, 5-1 L), and couldn’t complete the rotation. When asked about the specifics of his injury, like Dvorak, Foerster said Brière would disclose that information.

When Foerster made his return, the Flyers were in the middle of their race for a postseason berth. Foerster was a key contributor in clinching a postseason berth, scoring the deciding goal in a shootout (4/13/2026, Flyers vs. Hurricanes, 3-2 SO/W) on Brandon Bussi.

“Right when I came back, we were looking at must-win games. The first couple were adrenaline and stuff. Then, you get tired and whatnot. Everyone’s been playing for so long, and they’re up to speed and stuff. It was a little tough, but I got no excuses. I came back, and it was a lot of fun for me to come back. I missed the team, I missed everybody, and I missed playing in front of the fans. There’s no excuses, but I felt pretty good.” – Tyson Foerster; 5/12/2026

Near the end of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals, Foerster felt like he was regaining his form. It was a lot harder to find the same scoring chances in the postseason, which meant it took more time for Foerster to regain his confidence in his game. In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Foerster scored in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, finding his form in the final hour.

After elimination, Foerster said to his teammates, ‘We’ll be back,’ regarding the postseason. Philadelphia is headed in the right direction. A ton of teams go through injuries in the postseason, and the Flyers were no exception. There’s a lot to be excited about. Next season, Foerster will be in a contract year, playing for another deal and another postseason berth.

“You can always improve your game. I feel like last summer, I was hurt, and I couldn’t really do the training that I wanted to do, and I came back in the year and started off amazing. If I don’t get hurt, which I’m not getting hurt again, right? It’s all about consistency, and I felt pretty good, and hopefully we can do the same thing next year, but do it for the whole year.” – Tyson Foerster; 5/12/2026

This summer, Foerster won’t be hindered in his training.

Garnet Hathaway

Hathaway stirred the pot often in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. He contributed to the coined term from Paul Bissonnette, ‘scumbag hockey,’ until the Penguins brought that to new heights. In the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Hathaway was a healthy scratch in Game 6, then again in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

During the 2025-2026 NHL Regular Season, Hathaway netted three points (1G, 2A) in 66GP. Then, in Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Pittsburgh, Hathaway scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist. A mental and physical reset was a requirement, to which Hathaway credits the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Furthermore, Hathaway credited Couturier and Glendening on the fourth line. The fourth line, particularly Couturier, was prominent in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for Philadelphia.

“Having a good third and fourth line identity helps create identities for the first and second line. Where we stand as an organization, and how we’ve grown into a playoff team the last two and a half years, three years that I’ve been here, you saw, especially in that stretch run, sorry to backtrack, but I think in that stretch run, why we were more successful was it felt like there was identities for each line, maybe each player. I’ll highlight, Catesy [Noah Cates], I thought was a Swiss Army knife, but where was his game? Where did he even excel? He did even more in the penalty kill, and lines were a little more structured. I thought that helped him succeed, too. When we go into one series to another series, that identity stuck with us. It was a hard-fought series. You can look at the games, but I don’t think necessarily it ends up on paper like it was in real life. It’s something to build off of, and I think when Tocc [Rick Tocchet] says the third and fourth lines, he’s realizing maybe a different identity than the first and second lines have, but doesn’t take any less importance from them.” – Garnet Hathaway; 5/12/2026

The standing ovation the Flyers received following their elimination was heard loud and clear by the players and coaches. Hathaway showed raw emotion during ‘God Bless America’ before the puck dropped for Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. In his exit interview, it was clear that he felt the admiration from the fans at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. These players typically uproot their families to the market they compete in, and Hathaway felt the love and respect in Philadelphia.

“I was having a meeting not too long ago. It was three and a half years ago, I was talking with these guys about coming here, and I couldn’t be happier with the entire decision that I made. Like, I moved my family to come here, and it circles back to three, four nights ago, to Flyers [Philadelphia Flyers] fans giving us a standing ovation after we lost. If that doesn’t show you this city cares about its sports, I don’t know what will. I didn’t know that going in. I heard about it. To see the growth that this team has made over the years, aligned with that as well, it’s an exciting place to be right now. I got a lot of work to do this summer. I’m excited about it. I’m happy about that. Other than the family, that’s why I wake up in the morning, right? I can’t wait to do it.” – Garnet Hathaway; 5/12/2026

Like a consummate professional, Hathaway never let his frustrations get in the way of being a mentor to the youth. Part of that was reiterating that you have to control what you can control, including how you carry yourself during the good, bad, and ugly.

Martone made a lasting impression on Hathaway because he showed up ready to work, which is also a sign of a prospect who is closer to a good pro than not.

Everything Hathaway stated in his exit interview, through the eyes of a veteran, denotes how culture can propel a franchise above adversity. Next season, complacency is the enemy. For the first time in half a decade, the Flyers made it into the postseason. That’s a starting point for a lot more in the near future.

In his career, Hathaway made it to the postseason six times with four different teams. The first time he advanced past the first round was with Philadelphia. The Flyers can enjoy this temporarily, but they cannot take it for granted.

Brière, when addressing the media, confirmed Hathaway suffered a fractured fibula.

Cam York

York bounced back this season. He has four more years to improve upon his recent campaign, but in 74GP, York tallied 26 points (4G, 22A). That production is an improvement from the 2024-2025 NHL Regular Season.

In a conversation with Jones, York said this season was the most fun he’s had since turning pro. From his teammates in the locker room to competing in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was an unforgettable season for York. He’s still hyped up about scoring the overtime game-winner in Game 6 of the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to eliminate Pittsburgh, as he should be. The stick he tossed is being framed.

The way the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals unfolded only grows in its legend, particularly when you understand that York was playing through a fractured rib.

“I banged up my rib in Game Two of the Pittsburgh [Pittsburgh Penguins] series, but it was fine. [I] was able to play through it, and [in the] playoffs, you don’t want to miss games or anything like that. I was fine. Just with the schedule and stuff, it was so hard to get days off to heal and advance your body. It was a tough situation, but it was good.” – Cam York; 5/12/2026

To credit his bounce back season, there’s a balance of ‘good skill’ and playing ‘smart’ hockey. York put it in a way that skill is generating off the rush, but intelligent hockey is playing behind the opposing defense, forechecking, staying above the opposing forwards, and not surrendering odd-man rushes. He credited the coaching staff for implementing that system. One could make a case to label Philadelphia as a top-10 defense in the NHL. If the penalty kill was a bit more stubborn, there would be room for a debate.

“Honestly, his [Rick Tocchet] personality and how he goes about his business fits well with our group, and how we go about ours. In terms of video and stuff, compared to the staff before, we covered a lot more, and that’s good for our group. Honestly, as a person, he’s just the right guy for our team. The way he goes about his stuff, it just felt right with our group.” – Cam York; 5/12/2026

Furthermore, York echoed a sentiment Seeler shared about how Reirden is very collaborative. The players feel heard, and that sense of ownership went a long way toward the team’s success.

As a defender with his hands in both pots of the special teams, York reflected on the power play. The Flyers finished last in the NHL on the power play, and you would think it would be a tremendous focal point as a team, particularly when the postseason is a reality. Frankly, advancing past the NHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals with the worst power play is impressive. However, carrying that dead weight and falling upward cannot be the expectation moving forward.

“Any time you finish last in the league, it’s not a great feeling. It’s something that, if our team wants to continue to raise the bar and take our game to the next level, that’s an area that we’re definitely going to have to grow in and be better at. We know that. We’ll work at it. If we do get better at it, our team is going to be even more dangerous.” – Cam York; 5/12/2026

Dan Vladař

Vladař, the rightful recipient of the Bobby Clarke Trophy, was the most valuable player for Philadelphia. In 2025-2026, he finished with a 29-14-7 record, a 90.6%SV, and a 2.42GAA. Then, in the postseason, he collected two shutouts, finishing 4-6 with a 92.2%SV and a 2.18GAA. The only issue is that he was on the opposing end of the Hurricanes and Frederik Andersen, who has yet to suffer a loss at the hands of anyone in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This was the first opportunity at a starting goaltender role, and Vladař stood on his head. Despite this season being the statistical best in his career, per the regular season and postseason, Vladař isn’t satisfied.

“I’m not satisfied with that season. I want more. At the same time, I know we have great teams to have around here in Philly, and also, I trust my guys back home in the summer. I think everybody’s on the same page. It’s going to be a conversation that we’re going to have to get me as ready as possible, and even better.” – Dan Vladař; 5/12/2026

His performance in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs pops off the pages even more when you realize that he was injured when Bryan Rust made contact with him in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. He won’t be able to compete at the IIHF World Championships for Czechia. However, it won’t affect his summer training.

“It’s so unfortunate. I’m not even able to go represent my country at the [IIHF] World Championships because of that. It wasn’t just me. It was, I would say, three-quarters of the team [the Philadelphia Flyers] had something going on. I don’t consider myself a warrior. There is other guys that should be getting credit for playing through injuries.” – Dan Vladař; 5/12/2026

Next season is a contract season for Vladař, and for all intents and purposes, it seems the Flyers have found their starting goaltender. Vladař was very forward about wanting to remain in Philadelphia, eagerly awaiting a contract extension.

“If you can ask the same question to Danny B [Daniel Brière], I’m going to be watching. So, we’ll see what he says.” – Dan Vladař; 5/12/2026

The opportunity to become a long-term goaltender was one of the biggest reasons Vladař agreed to a 2yr/$6.7mil ($3.35mil/AAV) deal on July 1st, 2025.

Another reason Vladař is interested in remaining with the Flyers is that this system, installed by Tocchet, is goaltender-friendly. A tightly structured defense in front of Vladař helps reduce the amount of odd-man rushes. Vladař credited his teammates for keeping structure, which was instrumental in earning a postseason berth.

Owen Tippett

Tippett matched his career high in goals scored (28) on 110 fewer shots than his total (544SOG) from 2023-2024. He kept true to his goal-scoring brand, leading Philadelphia in lighting the lamp this season. In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, he proved that he’s every bit the power forward that the Flyers were looking for. He bruised 29 bodies in 6GP, but it didn’t come without a price. His postseason came to an end, never dressing for the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals, though Tocchet considered him to be a game-time decision.

That was gamesmanship. Tippett skated and shot pucks during the morning, but that’s as far as he was cleared to participate when Philadelphia went head-to-head with Carolina. Nonetheless, Tippett wasn’t going to dress because he suffered a sports hernia and internal bleeding.

“Obviously, pretty scary when everything’s unraveling, but [I] just didn’t feel right towards the end of that series [Pittsburgh Penguins], got tests, and worked with our trainers. [I’m] feeling better now. Ultimately, you guys saw that I was skating, and it truly was just a day-to-day thing. It just never got to the point of being able to get cleared from our trainers and doctors.” – Owen Tippett; 5/12/2026

The good news is that Tippett shouldn’t need surgery. He’s on pace for a normal summer of training.

Regarding his play, Tippett was more consistent in the second half of the season. He added two hat tricks in the second half of the season. The first capped off a four-point (3G, 1A) outing, including a shorthanded goal (1/23/2026, Flyers at Avalanche, 7-3 W). The other included another four-point (3G, 1A) affair, including a power play goal (3/28/2026, Flyers at Red Wings, 5-3 W).

“It’s a belief and realizing what I’m capable of, the impact I can have, and just builidng off that, whether that’s score [on] more of your opportunities or chances, or you learn what put you in the best opportunity to succeed. I took big strides this year in terms of getting my game to where I realize it needs to be, and now it’s just fine-tuning it and making sure it’s ready to go.” – Owen Tippett; 5/12/2026

If he can find consistency regularly, Tippett has all the tools to be lethal in the NHL.

Jamie Drysdale

Drysdale took significant strides this season. To date, 2024-2025 looks like the best season of his NHL career. He led all of the Flyers’ defensemen in power-play points. However, as York touched on in his exit interview, ‘anytime you finish last in the league, it’s not a great feeling.’

“I took a few steps this year. The biggest step was just confidence level. That might not be an actual hockey thing, but just coming to the rink, believing that I was a good player and could make an impact, that was probably the biggest shift for me. That carries all over the ice. With that being said, there’s a lot of things I want to work on, and I can bring a lot more to the table as well in certain areas. Overall, [I’m] pretty happy with it. But, a lot of work can be done.” – Jamie Drysdale; 5/12/2026

Defensively, Drysdale was notably more careful with the puck when taking on more minutes. He looked more decisive, too. Again, Reirden was an incredible hire for the defensive unit.

Regarding team play, Philadelphia looked like a team that could hang in there against the cream of the crop in the NHL. Within the locker room, there’s a real sense of belief that the team isn’t too far away from being where they want to be, and the proof is in the regular season. Everyone is salivating for next season because they finally know what it’s like to experience the postseason on Broad Street. A lot of players who were part of the rebuild saw it through to the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals. For a team that wasn’t supposed to be in the postseason, that’s not a small accomplishment.

A pending restricted free agent, eligible for arbitration, Drysdale is a priority for a contract extension.

“I just wanted to focus on the hockey. That’s where my head’s been at the whole time. Hopefully, something will get done sooner than later. I love it here. I’ve made that very clear the second that I got here. Everyone’s treated me amazingly since I’ve gotten here. In terms of the hockey, there’s so much going on, and that’s where my head was at solely, and I did not want any distractions. That would only take away, and it was a really important year and time for the group [and] for myself. That was where my head was at.” – Jamie Drysdale; 5/12/2026

Specifically, Drysdale is aiming to work within the toolbox that would make him more effective along the blue line on the power play and in the offensive zone. Those concepts would include puck play, shooting, and playmaking vision. He’ll bring this to the table when he collaborates with Reirden this summer.

Noah Cates

Cates doesn’t get enough credit for the Flyers’ late-season race to a postseason berth. He provided balance on the third line with Michkov, doing a lot of the checking and maintaining a lot of the defensive integrity. After the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, Cates added 21 points (8G, 13A), keeping up offensively with Michkov, Tippett, Dvorak, Zegras, and Travis Konecny. Somehow, Cates is still revered as a forechecking merchant, yet there’s sufficient evidence to prove he had every bit of the offensive upside at the top-five scorers Philadelphia had to offer this season after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

“Coming from the Olympic break, just his [Matvei Michkov] skill set, how hard he was on pucks, and his skating after that, he was ready to go. We were clicking, playing well, and helping the team. In playoffs there, it’s a different game. Just trying to help him with how I play and my defensive side of the game. He tries to help me with the plays that he makes on the offensive side. In playoffs, for maybe the pace and stuff, we weren’t on the same page or whatever it might of been. Obviously, it’s just a learning curve. He’s still young, and we’re learning and playing together. We built a good chemistry, and it’s a give-and-take with his game and my game. [It’s] something to build on, for sure. Lessons learned, as well.” – Noah Cates; 5/12/2026

Unfortunately, his NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs were cut short. In Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals, Cates suffered a fractured ankle. The injury occurred when he blocked a shot from K’Andre Miller.

“Just a shot off the foot, and [it] just wasn’t good enough to go with some different things going on with it. Just [an] unfortunate bounce and a nothing play. Just unfortunate that [I] couldn’t get back in there a couple days later.” – Noah Cates; 5/12/2026

He outright declared he wouldn’t need surgery, so Cates is just allowing this fractured ankle to heal. The window for clearance to begin his summer training is about a month, per Cates.

Within the lineup, Cates found his role. He’s the quintessential C3, and that was clear back when Tortorella was the head coach. Tocchet was gifted an original third line featuring Foerster, Cates, and Bobby Brink at the beginning of the season. If a second coming of that line features Cates and Michkov, no one should have a reason to complain. We know Michkov is serious about his training; he hit the ice immediately after his exit interview.

Next season, a line featuring Cates as a center to Michkov could be what elevates him into a Frank J. Selke Trophy conversation.

Travis Sanheim

Travis Sanheim is an alternate captain of the Flyers. He just finished one of his best seasons (81GP; 11G, 1GWG, 26A, 152BLKS, 46HIT), followed by his third postseason appearance with Philadelphia. The next step is finding a new gear, along with the rest of the team, to compete with teams like the Hurricanes in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Playing meaningful hockey meant a lot to the veterans, particularly the leadership group.

“Being an older guy, and a guy that’s been through it all, there’s days where you’re not sure how long it’s going to take and when you’re going to get to that point. It’s tough. You want to win, you want to play meaningful hockey, and to have the success that we did this year, and to be able to push towards a playoff spot and win a round means a lot, especially to the older guys, in doing so. I’m really looking forward to what the future has with this group, and bringing along the young guys, the way that they played down the stretch really excites me.” – Travis Sanheim; 5/12/2026

Sanheim didn’t exclusively achieve success with the Flyers. He was also an Olympian. Ristolainen, Vladař, and Ābols were other players who represented Philadelphia on an Olympic roster, though Ābols wasn’t able to compete due to injury. From an individual standpoint, Sanheim hit the majority of his hockey goals. From a team standpoint, Sanheim is very motivated about the future.

“To be able to move this thing along, it’s going to be the young guys. The older guys are there, and we want to continue to play at a high level, but it’s the young guys that are going to push this thing along. I think you saw that. We had a number of guys step up for us in key moments, play big roles, especially down the stretch. The buy-in from them has been great. It’s a big reason why we were able to push for a playoff spot.” – Travis Sanheim; 5/12/2026

The grind of an NHL Regular Season, the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, and the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs is insane. Yet, Sanheim was routinely called upon to play critical minutes against some of the best players that the sport has to offer, with varied success. Maturity and consistency are two things Sanheim believed help him achieve his hockey goals, whether individual or organizational.

As a leader, Sanheim was asked about Michkov. While the language barrier is still a roadblock, Sanheim outright stated that Michkov has worked on his communication skills, and that makes working with him a lot easier.

Furthermore, Sanheim was asked about the youth of defensemen and the defensive core, to which he correlated health to success, citing the stability of pairings, like his partnership with Ristolainen in the second half of this season.

“From our back end, we did a great job all year of defending hard and playing well defensively. Some guys took a big step. Jamie [Jamie Drysdale], especially, in the way that he defends. It was awesome to see from my point of view. The way that he continued to get better and better with more minutes and harder competition. I’m excited to see where his game gets to as we move this thing along. The young guys coming up, you saw a little bit at the end of the season, having to play some games. I thought they did a great job. They didn’t look out of place at all. That’s a little bit new for me. I remember when I came in, there was a lot of struggles, and the games didn’t look too pretty, and now kids are coming up, and they don’t look out of place. It’s great to see, and it’s exciting having those guys, and where they’re going to get to.” – Travis Sanheim; 5/12/2026

A theme throughout all the defensemen, as Sanheim finished his exit interview, was acknowledging how collaborative film study and discussions were between teammates and Reirden.

Trevor Zegras

Zegras was one of the biggest steals of the offseason by Brière. In a trade that sent Ryan Poehling, a 2025 second-round (Eric Nilson), and a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks, Zegras immediately had his best NHL season with the Flyers. In 81GP, proving he could stay healthy, Zegras compiled a career high 67 points (26G, 41A) in a transition into a C1 role. Then, Zegras led Philadelphia in points during the postseason (10GP; 2G, 4A). Simultaneously, that’s a tip of the hat to Zegras and Brière.

“I’m excited for what’s ahead with this team. [It’s] such a good learning experience for myself and a lot of the other young guys that have never played a playoff game, and what it’s like to play a series, win a series, have a series against a team that [we] maybe shouldn’t beat, but know what to expect now. It’ll be good moving forward.” – Trevor Zegras; 5/12/2026

In the postseason, Zegras learned that it’s a different animal from the regular season. The style or pace changes. Zegras noted how, against the Penguins, it was more physical, like an intense rivalry. Comparably, against Carolina, the pace was faster, demanding more plays to be made under pressure.

For a young team with little to no playoff experience, the Flyers fought hard.

Nonetheless, Zegras is scheduled to be a restricted free agent, eligible for arbitration. Similar to Drysdale, Brière must make it a priority to complete an extension with Zegras. Zegras admitted he would love to stay in Philadelphia for the long-term.

“I would love to be here [Philadelphia Flyers] for a long time. I hope that would happen over the next couple months, or whatever the time frame will be, but I love playing here, I love the fans, I love the group that we have, and that would be something I’d be excited for.” – Trevor Zegras; 5/12/2026

There’s a rekindled fire for Zegras in terms of winning and the success of the Flyers in 2025-2026. That’s as much of an approving statement to the culture in Philadelphia, including himself, his teammates, the coaching staff, and the front office.

Travis Konecny

Konecny, another alternate captain of the Flyers, continued to play well. For the fifth season in a row, Konecny led the team in points (77GP; 27G, 41A). Additionally, Konecny finished second in team points during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, tied with Ristolainen and Martone.

“That’s the next step. You get in, and you look to next year already, and you got to raise the bar again. That would be getting in again and making another run. I feel like we’re on the right path. I feel like the players that are helping us coming in are really elevating our team and helping us. I’m really excited to see what happens here moving forward.” – Travis Konecny; 5/12/2026

He helped pull Philadelphia into the fire with a broken rib and a broken nose. Those injuries won’t affect his training this summer, but it does make his overall 2025-2026 campaign more impressive. However, it’s worth noting that Konecny will not partake in the IIHF World Championships. He’s going to take the time to properly heal.

Throughout his exit interview, Konecny sang the praises of his teammates, such as Tippett and Martone. Similarly, Sanheim expressed how he felt about making the postseason again, but it was the youth who helped drive toward a playoff berth after the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Konecny cited the uptick in the physicality from Tippett in the postseason, the spark from Martone in his contributions before clinching, and how the optics of an exciting future potentially make the Flyers a wanted destination for players in the NHL. There’s no substitute for postseason hockey in Philadelphia. Almost every new face that came from a previous NHL market will tell you that.

“You see how passionate the fans are after we lose, and they’re chanting in our building. It was really cool for another team to see, even though they just swept us out of the playoffs, our fans are chanting us off the ice like that. It was just a really cool moment. Guys are going to start to realize this is a great spot to play, and hopefully we can get that back where people want to sign here and be here. I know I do my part whenever teams practice, and I have a buddy, I’ll swoop him into the gym and, ‘hey, look how sweet this is, come hang out here.’ It’s great. What we did was great for the players, the organization, [and] everybody. We’ll see.” – Travis Konecny; 5/12/2026

Tocchet, who was under heavy criticism through much of the season, was defended by Konecny as a coach who ‘understands the city’ and, more importantly, a lot of the players understood ‘his style of play.’ The players bought in and were postseason-bound.

As part of the leadership group, Konecny did field a question regarding Michkov, the hottest topic amongst Flyers fans, and his words were encouraging, like Sanheim’s:

“I remember when I was his [Matvei Michkov] age, trying to find my way. It’s not easy, and I couldn’t imagine with the language barrier. It’s probably not that easy. He’s a guy that’s always putting in the work, he’s always in the shooting room, he’s always on the ice doing extra stuff. So, that part of it’s there. It’s just trying to find where he’s comfortable, at dinner or whatever it is, to help him get to that next step. It takes time for some guys, and I couldn’t imagine going over and trying to understand Russian for two years. I’d be pretty lost at times, too. When he’s doing the good things, and he’s scoring goals, making good plays, you just make sure you’re there to pat him on the back. ‘Hey, this is the good stuff. This is the stuff you do over and over, and you’ll be a heck of a player.'” – Travis Konecny; 5/12/2026

Added to that, Konecny said there are tons of little things anyone can learn about an NHL season. Consistency is an element, for example, that anyone needs to learn as a prerequisite to NHL success. He put Michkov in the same box as all of the hungry, young players in Philadelphia. The veterans are absolutely there for the youth.

Both goaltenders got a shoutout from Konecny, too. We all know how much of a dominant workhorse Vladař was in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs; however, it was important for Konecny to describe how important Ersson was since the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics and in the locker room. It strengthened the logic that those two could remain a tandem next season.

Sean Couturier

Couturier is the captain of the Flyers. He turned back the clock in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, accepting his C4 role, winning 67% of his faceoffs. In 2025-2026, he competed in 78GP, finishing with 36 points (12G, 24A). The real context is how he put the team first, and his adjustment to the bottom six of the lineup strengthened Philadelphia.

“It was different, but I was still put out in key situations [and] big moments. Late in the game to defend or big penalty kills, I try to take pride in my defensive side of the game, and that’s what I did. When people say ‘new role,’ it’s kind of funny because I had that similar role, or maybe a little different, but similar, my first couple of years in the league [NHL]. It’s not like it was totally new, but it was definitely a little adjustment to play that style of hockey.” – Sean Couturier; 5/12/2026

As the eldest statesman of the Flyers’ leadership group, Couturier noticed how much fun his teammates had this season. York and Seeler cited how much fun this season and the postseason were. This was the sixth NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance for Couturier. It’s something to continue to build upon. The standard is set to push into the postseason again.

“It was a fun year. If you look at it, we didn’t really have much lows. Maybe January, a little bit, but we responded pretty well after losses and just minded our own business all year long, and put in the work to get better and to put ourselves in this situation. We gave ourselves an opportunity to make the playoffs, and we did. Then, once in the playoffs, anything can happen. We believed in our chances. We faced a very experienced team in Carolina [Carolina Hurricanes]. Yeah, they beat us in four [games]. I don’t know if we would’ve won, but I think it was a lot tighter than it looked. We can definitely learn from this year, but it was a fun group and a fun year, that’s for sure.” – Sean Couturier; 5/12/2026

The belief in the locker room is incredibly strong. Couturier headlined that by stating that ‘it doesn’t matter what people think about us,’ and that was a driving force behind clinching a NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs berth with a 3.8% chance. He echoed the same sentiment Hathaway had, noting how the culture rose above adversity.

It’ll be hard to deny Philadelphia next season. This mix of veterans and youth, including prospects who debuted, showed out to prove the naysayers wrong.

Regarding Michkov, the captain had this insight to provide:

“He’s [Matvei Michkov] more around the team. I wouldn’t say he feels comfortable yet, but he’s speaking better English, he’s communicating a little better, but he’s still young, has huge potential, [and] huge upside in his game. I can’t imagine the language barrier at a young age coming overseas. It took me, personally, a couple years to figure everything out and put everything together. It’s only his second year in the league, and I’m sure he’s going to learn from this past year. Knowing him and knowing his character, he’s going to be super motivated to prove everyone wrong next year. That’s what you want to see.” – Sean Couturier; 5/12/2026

There’s a real stamp of approval about the team, regarding everyone on the team, in the journey to push forward and exceed expectations next season.