The Philadelphia Flyers are in a bit of a tailspin right now, riding a five-game losing streak that’s knocked them out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But here’s the twist: even with this recent slump, the Flyers have already outpaced what many expected from them this season. That’s the part that has fans buzzing-not just about this year, but about what this group could become in the next few seasons.
On the surface, the optimism makes sense. A team that wasn’t supposed to sniff the postseason is suddenly in the hunt.
If this is the floor, the ceiling could be something special. But dig a little deeper, and there’s a wrinkle that needs attention-because it’s not the young guns driving this surge.
It’s the veterans. And that raises a serious question about what kind of progress the Flyers are actually making.
The Flyers’ Core Is Older Than You Think
Let’s talk ice time. Seven forwards are logging at least 16 minutes a night, and four defensemen are averaging over 20.
That group includes Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Tyson Foerster, Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett, and Noah Cates up front. On the back end, it’s Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and Rasmus Ristolainen.
Add in Dan Vladař between the pipes, and you’ve got the extended core of this team-the players who are shaping the 2025-26 season.
Now here’s the catch: eight of those 12 players will be 27 or older by the end of the season. Only Drysdale and Foerster will still be 24, with York and Zegras not far behind.
That’s not exactly a youth movement. In fact, most of these guys are either in their prime or already starting to edge past it.
Sure, there’s still some growth potential with Drysdale, Foerster, York, and Zegras-but for the most part, what you see is what you get. And while Vladař has been a revelation in net, it’s fair to question whether this level of play is sustainable long-term. If this group levels off-and history suggests it might-the Flyers could be looking at a plateau, not a launchpad.
The Future Runs Through Martone and Michkov
That’s why the conversation has to shift to the next wave-specifically, Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov. These are the players who have the tools to be true game-changers. If the Flyers want to move from “pleasant surprise” to “legit contender,” it’s going to be on the backs of their superstars-in-waiting.
But here’s where things get tricky. Right now, Michkov isn’t being deployed like a future face of the franchise.
Under head coach Rick Tocchet’s system-a north-south, defense-first approach-Michkov has had to adjust his game significantly. Instead of tailoring the system to fit his strengths, the Flyers are asking him to fit into theirs.
That’s a tough ask for a 21-year-old with elite offensive instincts.
Martone hasn’t made his NHL debut yet, but there’s hope he’ll be a better natural fit in Tocchet’s structure. Even so, the broader issue remains: if the Flyers don’t build around these two, they’re capping their own ceiling.
You don’t win Cups with a lineup full of solid two-way contributors. You win with stars-and you win by putting them in positions to succeed.
Time for a Strategic Shift
The path forward is clear, even if it’s not easy. First, the Flyers need to start deploying Michkov-and eventually Martone-as cornerstone players.
That means more minutes, more responsibility, and more freedom to play to their strengths. Second, the system needs to evolve to support them.
That doesn’t mean abandoning structure or letting them freelance. It means recognizing that their offensive creativity is the engine that can take this team to the next level.
Of course, that’s a big ask for a coach like Tocchet, whose system is built around discipline and predictability. Shifting away from that identity would be a major pivot-not just tactically, but culturally. It would mean redefining what this team is about.
But the alternative is stagnation. If the Flyers keep leaning on their current core without fully embracing the upside of Martone and Michkov, they risk becoming a team that’s always close, but never quite there. And in today’s NHL, “almost” doesn’t cut it.
The Flyers have the pieces. Now it’s about putting them in the right places.