After a brutal losing streak, the Philadelphia Flyers have life. In this edition of Flyers News & Rumors, we’ll look at the team’s bounce back, a winger dilemmna, and how a first-line center and No. 1 defenseman can be acquired.
Flyers Are Giving Themselves a Chance
The Flyers entered the week on a six-game losing streak, getting a single standings point in that stretch. On the road against the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, and Colorado Avalanche, it felt like the collapse was sure to continue. It did not.
The Flyers went 2–0–1, and if not for an empty-net gaffe in Utah, would’ve been undefeated. It was an encouraging turnaround, especially given the fact that netminder Dan Vladař remains sidelined due to injury.
While there was still sloppiness in the team’s game, they cleaned some things up as opposed to the previous week. The defense was better, and goaltender Samuel Ersson had good moments.
Key forwards showed out when it mattered, too. Travis Konecny recorded two goals in a 2–1 win against the Golden Knights, and Owen Tippett and Matvei Michkov combined for five tallies in a 7–3 upset of the Avalanche.
Despite that effort, the Flyers find themselves on the outside looking in for the playoff picture. Fortunately, they’re only two points back of the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division, and the teams square off at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Monday.
The Orange and Black will need more time to right the wrongs of that dreadful six-game stretch. But they’re giving themselves a chance.
Flyers’ Winger Dilemma: Who Goes?
The strong play of Konecny, Michkov, Tippett, and even Denver Barkey and Bobby Brink during the week brings up an important discussion. With prospects Alex Bump and Porter Martone both potentially joining the team next season and Tyson Foerster sure to recover from his injury by then, what will the Flyers do about their excess of wingers?
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If Trevor Zegras re-signs and remains on the wing in 2026–27, the Flyers will be left with no choice but to move someone out. Assuming things remain the way they are, two of the wingers mentioned in this section will have to be on the fourth line, and with Nikita Grebenkin in the mix as well, another two won’t be in the lineup at all.
So, ideally, you explore a trade. The question is, who goes?
It’s unlikely that Barkey, Foerster, Konecny, Martone, Michkov, or Zegras are going anywhere. The team has put a lot of effort into developing Bump this season, so they may want to at least wait on him. Grebenkin has gotten accustomed to the fourth line, so it wouldn’t hurt to keep him there.
By process of elimination, the two who may find themselves in rumors are Brink and Tippett. The former, a solid third-liner this season, seems the most likely. He’ll be a restricted free agent in the summer, and a lot of teams could use his presence. Tippett is a bit more complicated due to his contract. He has a 10-team no-trade list, and his $6.2 million cap hit through 2031–32 would be a commitment for any buyer.
Brink, despite his strides, probably won’t get you too much in a deal. The real money-maker is Tippett, who could be flipped in a “hockey trade.” Meaning, the Flyers could swap need-for-need—potentially acquiring a younger center or defenseman.
How Will the Flyers Acquire a 1C and 1D?
Let’s stay on the topic of centers and defensemen. Hockey Stats’ prediction model has the Flyers finishing 18th in the NHL standings—not good enough for a playoff spot, but not bad enough for a high draft pick. It’s basically the worst-case scenario for the rebuild.
If the Flyers don’t see Zegras as the solution, the team still needs a first-line center and a No. 1 defenseman. With the way the projected standings look, being gifted one via a top draft pick doesn’t seem to be in the cards. It’s a concern.
The answer to the team’s prayers is to simply be smarter from here on out. Replicate the Zegras trade. Take upside swings with first-round picks. Don’t lose sight of the plan by sacrificing the future to win now.
This may not result in a traditional “1C” or “1D.” But it could help fill that void. Doing so is a must.
The Flyers have six games before the Olympic break, and they’ll want to end off strong. Five of those contests will be against Eastern Conference opponents, making this a pivotal stretch.
