Flyers training camp rolled into Day 2 on Friday in Voorhees, and the setup barely changed from Thursday. The same groups were in place, the same lines stayed intact, and the same basic picture emerged: a camp still in its early sorting phase, with Saturday’s scrimmage looming before the first expected round of movement.
There was one notable personnel change in Group C. Nikita Grebenkin, who had been absent from that group on Day 1, was back on the ice Friday and took part in most of the work in a yellow non-contact jersey. Group C had full attendance.
Group B followed with full attendance as well, and Group A later hit the ice at 12:20 PM ET with everyone accounted for. The structure held steady across the day, and with Saturday’s scrimmage next, those same units are likely to stay together for now.
In Group B, Nolan Foote flashed a hot hand early in the day during uncontested 2-man rush drills. His shot was working for him at the start, though that edge faded once the drills got more competitive, just like it did for some of his two-way contract teammates.
Christian Dvorak stood out as one of the sharper skaters in the group and put together a strong day overall. David Jiricek showed the kind of offensive upside that gets attention, but his footwork still got in the way at times. Spencer Gill also earned notice for what was described as a quietly solid camp, one that may not change his season-opening assignment but could help him climb the Lehigh depth chart when call-ups become necessary.
Tyson Foerster was the most impressive skater in Group B again. His skating looked noticeably improved from last season, his shot already looked mid-season ready, and he was making passes that didn’t seem to be part of his game a year ago.
Group A brought a different set of standouts. Cole Knuble made a strong impression with his work along the boards, including a long battle where he came out ahead against the bigger Maksim Sokolovskii. He moved well, handled the puck with purpose, and played with the kind of energy that can buy extra looks in camp.
Alex Bump also kept popping up. In drill work, he was hard to miss, always around the puck and constantly buzzing. His Friday performance only added to the sense that he’s making a strong case as a roster lock.
Simon Benoit caught the eye in a 5-on-2 drill, especially in the offensive zone. He was around loose pucks in front of the goalie and managed to get a good shot on net.
And then there was Matvei Michkov, who continues to look like a player arriving in much better condition than he did a year ago. His near 30-pound weight loss from this time last year was already a storyline on Thursday, and Friday only reinforced it. He looked to be in mid-season form again, and that should make for a strong year ahead.
Flyers camp continues Saturday with Groups A and B on separate sheets for a quick skate at 10:20 AM ET, followed by a 10:40 AM ET scrimmage at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. Sunday is the first off day of camp.
In Other News...
Rangers Leave One Big Future Question Hanging Over Gabe Perreault
The Flyers have made no secret of wanting to keep pushing their roster upward, and that includes adding impact talent while also handling the delicate business of getting ahead of the market on their own young core. Around the league, that kind of planning has become part of the job for every front office, especially when a promising player starts to look like a long-term piece before he has even spent much time in the lineup.
Philadelphia has already shown a willingness to think that way with Matvei Michkov, and the broader backdrop makes the situation around Gabriel Perreault worth watching from a Flyers perspective. The Rangers have not publicly said much about where things stand with their own young players, which leaves a future question hanging over Perreault and, by extension, another reminder of how quickly these decisions can shape the next phase of a teams roster. [Read more 🡒]
Jett Luchanko Is Forcing A Tough Flyers Decision Again
Jett Luchanko is back in the middle of an opening-night debate for the Flyers, and it is one the organization has seen before. The 19-year-old has stood out at training camp, enough to put him in the mix for a roster spot for a third straight year, with head coach Rick Tocchet saying Luchanko has shown real growth in camp work.
What has helped his case is the way he has looked more assertive in drills, a notable step for a player still trying to turn promise into a permanent NHL role. Even so, Philadelphia does not have to make a final commitment right away, and the path to starting the season elsewhere remains very much on the table if the Flyers decide more seasoning is the better play. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Camp Is Starting To Reveal Which Forwards Fit Together
Rick Tocchet spent the first two days of Flyers training camp leaning into a simple idea: keep the forward group stable long enough to see who actually fits. Rather than shuffling bodies every drill, he has tried to let chemistry build in place, using consistent pairings to give the young talent a clearer read on one another. It is the kind of camp approach that can look boring from the outside and prove valuable once the pace sharpens.
The early returns have already pointed to a few combinations that seem to click, even if nothing is locked in this soon. Denver Barkey has stayed in the conversation with Matvei Michkov as Tocchet sorts out his forward looks, while Travis Konecny and Porter Martone have also drawn positive buzz. For a Flyers group trying to identify not just talent but fit, the next few days should tell a lot about which combinations have staying power and which ones are still just experiments. [Read more 🡒]