David Jiricek looks like he has a real path into the Flyers’ lineup, and the biggest reason is the same one that has followed him around for a while: the shot. Philadelphia spent last season juggling the No. 6 defense spot, but that revolving door may finally be slowing down if Jiricek can turn a strong camp into a permanent role on the third pair.
The Flyers are also hoping that heavy right-handed point shot can matter on the power play. Jamie Drysdale is expected to handle most of the work at the blue line with the man advantage, but Jiricek gives them another option, and the team spent the summer pushing him to sharpen that weapon.
“I tried to work on it everyday,” he said after Saturday morning’s intrasquad scrimmage at the Flyers Training Center. “I think that’s my biggest asset. I try to bring that to the table everyday.”
Jiricek is still learning how the Flyers want things done. The systems here are different from what he knew in Minnesota and Columbus, and he’s had to adjust the habits that come with changing teams.
“There are some different things which I have to learn,” he said. “Your habits on the ice. . .when you go from a different team you have to adapt, you have to change your habits.
Sometimes it takes time. I try to do it as hard as I can.”
The offensive upside is obvious to him, but he knows the other side of the puck is where the work continues.
“The offense is there,” he declared. “Just got to play defense, right?
Sounds easy. Be good on defense, don’t make mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes. Try to do it the best you can.”
Rick Tocchet isn’t rushing to judge after only a couple of days, but the coach likes what he sees so far.
“It’s hard to really judge after two days. Some guys play better in games (as opposed to practices),” the coach said. “There are guys who are good practice players but there are guys in the game, wow!
“With the short runway, you have to make quicker decisions when it comes to that. One guy might get two (games).
And guys are fighting for it. It’s really hard to give them three games.
And we have got to get ‘Sanny’ (Travis Sanheim), ‘Risto’ (Rasmus Ristolainen) going.”
That’s just the reality for Tocchet right now, and he made clear it’s not unique to Philadelphia.
“Every organization is going through it,” he said. “I know some kids are going to the team right from day one.
With a short runway, who knows what’s right? There’s some competition there.
“We need to give him (Jiricek) a chance. He’s obviously got a hell of a shot. He’s come in with a real good attitude so we’ll see where it goes.”
While Jiricek is trying to carve out a role, Dan Vladar is coming off a summer that kept him busy in a different way. The Flyers liked his first season enough to wipe out the second year of his original contract and hand him a five-year extension, and they even sent goaltending coach Kim Dillabaugh to Czechia to watch some of his offseason work.
“I’m super glad I’ve got a guy like ‘Dilly’ who is being nothing but honest with me,” Vladar said, noting that Dillabaugh came to Czechia this summer. “He even came over to Czechia this summer.
So that’s something I really appreciate. We know we’re on the same boat here.”
Vladar isn’t interested in coasting after that new deal.
“It’s part of life,” he said. “Nobody cares what you did last year. Just have to take it day by day, week by week, game by game, period by period, shot after shot.
“That’s just my mentality, focus on every single day. I’m not looking too (far) forward, it’s more about what is going to happen next week.
I’m just focusing on today. That’s all I can do, come in, compete, be a good teammate and just enjoy my time here.”
He said the work began soon after the Flyers’ playoff run ended in mid-May.
“I basically started skating earlier than I’m used to,” he said. “Not as many shots, more skating. Hopefully I did everything I could over the summer to get ready for the season.”
Having Joseph Woll in the room has already made that process easier.
“We were both here a couple weeks before the camp started,” Vladar said. “Heard nothing but great things.
I’m super glad that he’s here with us. Great guy and I’m looking forward to spending some time with him.”
In Other News...
Flyers May Have One Defensive Pair Set But Another Question Looms
Nick Seeler looks like a steady part of the Flyers blue line again as the 2025-26 season approaches, with the veteran expected to anchor the teams third pair after carving out a dependable role since returning to Philadelphia in 2021-22. The Flyers have spent training camp and preseason scrimmages mixing and matching on defense, trying to sort out which combinations best fit a group that is still taking shape.
David Jiricek is part of that puzzle, too, after making his Flyers debut in April and now working to establish himself as an NHL defenseman. For Philadelphia, the broader issue is less about whether Seeler belongs in the lineup and more about which partner gives the Flyers the most stability behind their top pairings as they head toward opening night. [Read more 🡒]