For the first time in years, the Flyers are walking into a season with real momentum. They reached the postseason, got through the opening round, and suddenly the conversation around Philadelphia feels a lot different. Expectations are high, and for good reason: this is a young team, a hungry team, and one that has already given its fan base a reason to believe.
That belief comes with a caveat, though. The Flyers did not land the kind of headline-grabbing addition some people were waiting for.
They made a push for Leo Carlsson, but the Ducks matched the offer. There are still people trying to connect Philadelphia to names like Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski, but for now those are just links to watch.
Even without the splash, the projection here is a strong one. The Metropolitan Division forecast has Carolina on top again, with the Flyers right behind them in second.
The Hurricanes are still the class of the division and could be in line for the Eastern Conference’s top seed again. Philadelphia, though, gets the nod because of what’s building inside the room: young players with confidence, an atmosphere that feels energized, and a group that looks ready to take another step.
Matvei Michkov looks great, Porter Martone is ready to go, and even Cole Knuble is pushing hard for a roster spot. That kind of energy matters.
The rest of the division shakes out with Washington in third, Pittsburgh fourth, the Rangers fifth, New Jersey sixth, Columbus seventh, and the Islanders last. The Capitals added Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, and Boone Jenner to help an aging roster, and that could make them dangerous, but there’s still some hesitation about whether they belong in the top tier.
Pittsburgh made the playoffs last season before being knocked out by the Flyers, and the feeling there is tied to the possibility that this could be the last run with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang all together. They’ll be annoying to play against, but injuries would change everything.
The Rangers are trying to bounce back after finishing last, and while they made major moves, the question remains whether it was enough.
At the bottom, the Devils are the wild card. New Jersey overhauled the core of the roster and seems to have a clearer path forward after a few rough seasons, but that kind of reset can land anywhere from fourth to eighth.
The prediction here splits the difference at sixth. Columbus is still described as a mess, and the Islanders are pegged for the “other year” in their every-other-year pattern.
The Flyers’ scoring race looks just as interesting. Travis Konecny is projected to lead the team in points again, and this time the number should climb past 80, with at least 35 goals attached to it. His total will depend on who he’s skating with, but he’s still the most likely player to set the pace.
Goals could go to Tyson Foerster, who is projected to finish first if he stays healthy. Porter Martone is right there behind him, and the Flyers are forecast to have three 30-goal scorers for the first time since 2017-18, when Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier both reached that mark.
Martone is also expected to lead the team in assists. Michkov could get to 30 goals as well, while Owen Tippett is projected to come up just short but stay close.
The team awards point toward the same names. Travis Sanheim gets the Barry Ashbee Trophy for best defenseman, Martone takes the Bobby Clarke Trophy as team MVP, Nick Seeler earns the Yanick Dupre Memorial for class guy, Michkov gets the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial for most improved, Martone is picked for the Toyota Cup game star selections, and Sean Couturier wins the Gene Hart Award for work ethic and dedication.
Martone’s rookie season is expected to be the loudest story of all. The prediction is that he will break Flyers rookie records for points and goals, topping Mikael Renberg’s 82 points and Eric Lindros’s 41 goals.
He is also projected to become the first Flyer to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. His impact is expected to reach beyond the stat sheet, too, with his skill and energy lifting the rest of the lineup and helping push Philadelphia to that second-place finish.
There’s one more standout call: Dan Vladar is expected to build on last season and prove it wasn’t a fluke. He should get some Vezina attention, though not enough to finish as a finalist, with a prediction that he lands fourth or fifth in the voting.
In Other News...
Flyers Opener Will Test How Much Tocchets Second Year Really Changed
Rick Tocchet spent practice day talking less about the novelty of Year 2 and more about what should already feel familiar for the Flyers as the opener approaches. After a preseason loss, the team got back to work with Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny both acknowledging there is still room to sharpen up, even as Tocchet pointed to the groups growing comfort in his system and the added maturity he wants to see carry over once games start to count.
Dan Vladar was also on the ice, which is at least an encouraging sign for a club getting ready to face Pittsburgh in its season opener. His availability is still something to monitor, but the larger test for Philadelphia is simpler: whether a second season under Tocchet looks like a true step forward or just a team that understands the plan without fully executing it yet. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Have A Bigger Question Than Last Years Playoff Return
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, there is reason to think the Flyers could finally have a lineup with more finishing talent baked into it. Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone are both viewed as the kind of young scorers who can change the shape of a forward group, and the broader sense around the roster is that Philadelphia may be getting closer to having enough punch to support a real step forward.
The bigger question, though, is how all of that scoring talent fits with the rest of the picture, especially in a league where stability in net and true top-end finishing can swing a season. Joseph Woll is part of that conversation as a possible solution behind the crease, while Tyson Foerster has also been mentioned as a player who could take another jump. The Flyers have spent enough time trying to climb back into the mix that the next test is no longer just getting there, but finding out whether the pieces around their young core can actually hold up once they do. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Opening Night Roster Reveals A Few Surprising Lineup Clues
The Flyers settled their 23-man opening night roster for the 2026-27 season, and the shape of it offered a few early clues about how they plan to open the year. The group breaks down to 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, with Garrett Wilson among the names on the list and a defense corps that now includes newcomers David Jiricek and Simon Benoit.
The most immediate development is in net, where Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll are slated to form the opening-night tandem. That pairing gives Philadelphia a clear answer at the position for now, while the rest of the roster suggests the team is already leaning on some new pieces as it heads into the season. [Read more 🡒]