The Flyers enter the 2026-27 season with the same kind of momentum that carried them into the playoffs last year, and there’s a case to be made that the next step is not just possible, but expected.
Philadelphia snapped a five-year playoff drought last season and finished third in the Metropolitan Division. Now, after a quiet offseason that added Noel Acciari, Joseph Woll, and Simon Benoit without dramatically changing the roster, the Flyers are back with the same young core and a little more polish around the edges. The big swing moves never came, but the group that got them there is still in place.
That sets up a fresh round of predictions, and the first one is built around the Flyers’ two young headliners: Matvei Michkov and Porter Martone. Martone comes off a huge year in the NCAA and World Juniors, then closed it with nine games in the NHL regular season and 10 playoff games.
Michkov, after a down sophomore season, spent the summer training and has shown a quicker step, faster hands, sharper passing, and a shot that looks dialed in during camp. The prediction here is a two-for-one: both players reach 25 goals.
Martone scored four goals in nine regular-season games last year, so 25 would not be a stretch. Michkov has already hit 26 goals once in his career, which makes him a natural candidate to get there again. If the Flyers are going to keep climbing, this is where it starts.
The second bold call centers on Joseph Woll, who was brought in from the Toronto Maple Leafs to steady the backup goalie spot. Last season, the Flyers’ backup situation was shaky, with Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov combining for a 14-13-5 record in decisions. That kind of instability left Dan Vladar carrying too much, and he ended up playing a career-high 52 games.
Woll changes that picture. The expectation is not that he replaces Vladar, but that he gives the Flyers real confidence whenever he gets the net. The prediction is that he wins 20-plus games and appears in more than 35 games, turning the position into more of a tandem than a strict starter-backup setup.
Then there’s Tyson Foerster, who might be the cleanest path to a true scoring breakthrough. The Flyers have not had a 35-goal scorer since Scott Hartnell in 2011-12, and Foerster has the profile to end that drought.
He scored 13 goals in just 29 games last season before an early December injury cut most of his year short. That pace projects to 37 goals over a full 84-game season.
He’s set for top-six minutes and a spot on the top power play, which only adds to the opportunity. Foerster also showed up to camp leaner, skating better, and still carrying the same dangerous shot. The expectation is a major goal-scoring leap, with 35-plus goals on the table and even 60 points not sounding far-fetched.
The final prediction is the one that ties it all together: another third-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia went 43-27-12 for 98 points last season, and the belief is that the floor this time is 100 points, with 48 wins and something in the neighborhood of 105 points once overtime losses are factored in. That should be enough to stay near the top of the division picture.
The Hurricanes remain the team to catch. Washington made a big spend for what is likely Alexander Ovechkin’s last season.
The Devils are expected to bounce back, and the Islanders could be dangerous if their forwards take a step. Even so, the Flyers are projected to hold off the Penguins, Devils, and Islanders and finish third again, behind the defending champs and the Capitals.
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 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 🡒]
Flyers Opening Night Roster Leaves One Intriguing Lineup Question
The Flyers got their opening night roster down to 23 players, and the group reflects a little bit of everything from established depth pieces to younger names forcing their way in. Denver Barkey begins the year on injured reserve, while Carl Grundstrm and Garrett Wilson are among the forwards who made the cut, giving the club a mix of experience and flexibility as the season opens.
Garrett Wilsons path to the roster is especially notable after he started camp on an AHL-only deal, a reminder of how quickly things can change in the final stretch before opening night. Elsewhere, David Jiricek, Simon Benoit and Nikita Grebenkin held onto their spots, and Porter Martone and Alex Bump are on the roster for the first time, but the Flyers still have one lineup wrinkle to sort through once the dust settles from the initial cuts. [Read more 🡒]