The Flyers are only eight days away from meaningful hockey, which means camp is moving fast and the real roster picture is coming into focus. There may not be a ton of open jobs left, but there are still a few names forcing their way into the conversation - and a few others trying to stay healthy long enough to keep theirs.
Matvei Michkov is one of the clearest bright spots so far. The 21-year-old has already made a notable step off the ice by giving his first English interview, a milestone that matters because comfort is part of the equation with him.
He admitted it was a challenge, but it still marked progress after a season in which he had his struggles. On top of that, he spent the offseason training hard and dropped 30 pounds from last season’s starting weight.
That shows up on the ice. He looks lighter, quicker and better able to use his legs, which makes the rest of his game pop more.
The lesson from last season appears to have landed, and Rick Tocchet’s “revenge season” comment from May now hangs over what Michkov might do next.
Cole Knuble is making a case in a different way. A surprise roster spot still feels like a long shot in a short camp, but the 22-year-old forward is putting himself on the radar.
In his first pro camp after joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms from college last season, Knuble has stood out day after day. He was the Flyers’ top performer in the preseason opener with a goal and an assist, scored in the one rookie game he played, and has kept pace with veteran NHL players in camp drills.
The name carries weight too - he’s the son of former Flyer Mike Knuble - and he’s starting to build his own path. If the Flyers need help from the minors during the season, he looks like one of the first names who could get the call.
Denver Barkey is the one who brought a little concern into the mix. He’s a player many believe has a real chance to break out this season, thanks to his motor, his offensive upside, and the defensive and penalty-killing work he showed in juniors.
He also already has nearly half a season under his belt. But Barkey left Monday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return.
He is being evaluated on Tuesday, and Tocchet said it’s not serious and that Barkey is day-to-day. Even so, there’s now at least a question about whether he’ll be available if the Flyers’ lineup is still taking shape a week from now.
Monday’s preseason opener also gave the Flyers their first live look at a lot of players who are trying to make an impression. The group was mostly made up of AHL veterans with limited NHL time and younger players chasing an opportunity.
Knuble stood out, as expected. Joseph Woll got the start in goal and made several good saves, even while allowing three goals on 19 shots over two periods.
Hunter McDonald and Ty Murchison each had moments that could keep them in the conversation for early call-ups. Jack Studnicka also got on the board with a power-play goal.
Beyond that, there wasn’t much to pull from the game, and that seemed intentional. The Flyers are saving their veterans and expected roster players for later in the week, with the final two games at home.
In Other News...
Flyers Are Still Chasing The Impact Forward This Roster Needs
The Flyers are still in the market for the kind of forward who can change the shape of a roster, with Dave Pagnotta saying on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio that the club remains interested in adding a star-caliber piece. Philadelphia has the cap room to work with and enough young talent it believes can keep growing, which gives the front office some flexibility as it keeps looking for ways to push the team closer to playoff status.
And this is not a case of a team passively waiting for the market to break its way. The Flyers have already shown a willingness to take a swing for a bigger-name addition, and the pursuit of impact help is still very much part of the plan. For a club trying to speed up its timeline, the search for that difference-making forward remains one of the more important storylines around the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Have Two Injury Questions Right Before Opening Night
The Flyers are heading into the final stretch of the preseason with a couple of health questions hanging over the roster. Goalie Dan Vladar left Tuesdays exhibition game after taking an upper-body injury, and the team is still sorting out what it means as opening night gets closer. On a club that already knows how quickly goalie depth can matter, any uncertainty there is worth watching.
Denver Barkey added another concern when he left practice early after dealing with a lower-body injury, putting his status in doubt for the preseason finale and maybe even the opener. Philadelphia is monitoring both players as the regular season approaches, and with the calendar tightening, the next few days could say a lot about how much lineup flexibility the Flyers will have when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Preseason Test Could Start Sorting Out Key Roster Battles
A mostly NHL Flyers lineup gets a useful preseason stress test against the Bruins, and for a team still sorting out the edges of its roster, these are the kinds of games that matter. Philadelphia will be without injured Dan Vladar and Denver Barkey, but the lineup still has plenty of names worth tracking, with Cole Knuble, Jett Luchanko, Matvei Michkov and Nikita Grebenkin all expected to be in the mix.
The night also carries a little extra weight in goal, where Joseph Woll is set for his first full game with the Flyers. Grebenkins return adds another layer of intrigue after his injury absence, giving the coaching staff another look at a player who has been out of game action since March 21 of last season. For a preseason meeting, there is more than enough here to start separating who is pushing for jobs and who still has more work to do. [Read more 🡒]