The Flyers have a waiver-wire opportunity sitting right in front of them, and it comes with the kind of profile that usually gets attention in Philadelphia: a young former first-round pick with speed, skill, and a chance to be had for nothing.
That player is Brad Lambert, who is now available after the Winnipeg Jets placed him on waivers. For a Flyers team that has already been thin at center and has seen Trevor Zegras moved to the left wing, the fit is easy to see. Rick Tocchet’s group has been rotating Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, Sean Couturier, Noel Acciari, Denver Barkey, and Jacob Gaucher down the middle in recent weeks, and the depth chart has only gotten shakier.
Lambert is only 22, and his draft stock still carries weight. Winnipeg took him 30th overall in the first round of the 2022 draft, and the appeal has always been obvious: elite skating and real playmaking ability.
The problem is that it has not translated into consistent NHL production. In 43 career NHL games across four seasons, Lambert has only nine points.
His AHL numbers tell a fuller story, but not a clean one. Lambert has 36 goals, 70 assists, and 106 points in 173 games at that level.
Even there, though, the trend has gone the wrong way. After putting up 55 points in 64 AHL games in 2023-24, he dropped to 35 points in 61 games in 2024-25 and then managed just 13 points in 34 games in 2025-26.
This season has not helped his case. Lambert has one assist in 11 NHL games with Winnipeg, and it is easy to understand why no team has rushed to trade for him. But waivers changes the equation, because now he can be claimed without giving up anything.
For the Flyers, the timing lines up neatly. After assigning Alex Bump to the AHL on Tuesday, Philadelphia has an open roster spot.
The club also has room to make the move from a contract standpoint, with active contracts sitting at 47 of 50. Lambert has one year left on his entry-level deal, so the risk is minimal and the control is still there as a pending restricted free agent.
There is also a clear path for the Flyers to try him without committing to anything long term. If Lambert does not stick, they can place him back on waivers and move on.
The order on waivers has also shifted since Nov. 1, when the current season’s standings took over from last season’s standings. That puts the Flyers near the top of the claim order, with only the Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks ahead of them. Winnipeg is one spot above Philadelphia, but the Jets cannot claim their own player.
If the Flyers believe Lambert can help them down the middle, this is the kind of no-cost swing that makes sense. If they view him as a winger, then Bump and Gaucher would remain ahead of him based on familiarity. But with Philadelphia sitting at four wins in 16 games, this is exactly the sort of situation where a team can take a shot on a player who still has talent and still needs a fresh start.
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One of those questions now centers on Alex Bump, who was sent to the Phantoms and could be back in the mix almost immediately. Rick Tocchet has left the door open for a quick recall, and the timing adds another layer to a roster that has already seen its share of shuffling, much like the ongoing goaltending rotation between Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll. For a team still sorting out roles, Bumps next step is worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Unveiled A New Look Fans Will Definitely Debate
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For a franchise that has long leaned on one of the leagues most recognizable color schemes, any departure is bound to get attention, and this one is no exception. The jersey will be available through official team and Fanatics channels, giving fans a chance to decide quickly whether the new style feels like a fresh nod to the city or a sharp break from tradition. [Read more 🡒]