With September training camp getting closer, the Flyers are heading back to Voorhees, New Jersey with more than just roster spots to sort out. This is the kind of camp that can shape everything that follows. There are jobs open on the blue line, questions on the wing, and a young group that could push its way into bigger roles.
That matters because the Flyers are trying to build on last season’s playoff team, the one that beat expectations. General manager Danny Briere spent the summer with a simple goal: make the team better, but not just for right now. The moves were limited and nothing major happened, even though the Flyers took a swing with an offer sheet attempt at Leo Carlsson before the Ducks matched.
So with August winding down, here are five predictions for what could be coming next.
Oliver Bonk is the first name that stands out in the battle for the sixth defenseman job. He and David Jiricek look like the main competition there, but the situation gives Jiricek a built-in edge because he is no longer waiver-exempt and is on a one-way deal.
Bonk, meanwhile, can still be sent back to the Phantoms without going through waivers. That means if the Flyers want to avoid losing Jiricek, they may have to carry him.
Still, the prediction here is that Bonk makes the decision for them. He already looked like he belonged in his first regular-season game, even against a Canadiens team that was resting some starters.
He also got a look in one playoff game against the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes and did not look out of place. He has already had a taste of NHL action, and the expectation is that he comes to camp ready to force the Flyers to keep him.
Matvei Michkov is the next player who could change the picture. Last season, plenty was made of him arriving at camp out of shape, and that slow start put him behind.
It turned into a less-than-ideal sophomore season for one of the Flyers’ most promising young players. This offseason, though, he has spent his time training and preparing, and the feeling is that he is ready to move on from that year.
The prediction is that Michkov uses camp to lock down a top-six role. He has spent a lot of time on the third line in his career, whether that was because of rookie sheltering or what happened last season. This time, the expectation is that he plays well enough to earn a permanent spot higher in the lineup.
Not every camp battle is expected to be dramatic, though. One prediction is that the Flyers won’t have many major surprises at all.
Noel Acciarri is expected to fill the Luke Glendenning role. Jett Luchanko is expected to begin the year in the AHL.
Joseph Woll is projected to be the second goalie. Outside of a few small decisions, the roster looks fairly straightforward.
There are a couple of possible wrinkles. If the Flyers decide to start Bonk in the AHL, then the question becomes who serves as the seventh defenseman.
And if Nikita Grebenkin is not healthy for the start of the year, then someone will need to handle the 13th or 14th forward spot. Even so, those are framed as minor choices, not the kind of twists that would change the shape of camp.
Jamie Drysdale is another player expected to keep trending up. Last season, he took a real step forward as a two-way defenseman.
For a player who had been viewed mainly as an offensive blueliner without much of a defensive game, the improvement was obvious. His speed showed up on the backcheck, his stick work improved in the defensive zone, and he became more reliable staying with opposing skaters.
The next step, in this view, comes offensively. Rick Tocchet has said Drysdale could have a similar impact to Quinn Hughes if he adds a few more miles per hour to his shot. Drysdale is not being asked to become Hughes overnight, but if he returns with a harder shot, that could open up another level to his game.
The boldest prediction comes last: the Flyers make a splash at the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline and turn themselves into a more serious playoff team. Last season, they had to battle just to stay in the race and were close to becoming sellers at the deadline. They stayed put, and that decision ended up paying off.
This season, the belief is that they will be in a better position by the deadline and able to target help at a spot of need, whether that is center or a No. 1 defender. The Flyers are viewed as having enough assets to make that kind of move, and the expectation is that Briere will eventually start adding rather than standing pat.
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For Philadelphia, the appeal goes beyond the box score. Ruohonen has been working to build a responsible, foundational game rather than chase offense at every turn, the kind of approach that can make a center useful for a long time. He still found ways to contribute as a freshman, and the next question is how much more there is once his game and body keep catching up. [Read more 🡒]