Olympic Break Offers Flyers a Chance to Reset - But What Comes Next?
The Olympic break couldn’t have come at a more necessary time for the Philadelphia Flyers. After dropping 12 of their last 15 games heading into the pause, this team needed more than just a breather-they needed a full-blown reset. And while three Flyers will be chasing gold on the international stage, the rest of the roster-and the fanbase-gets a moment to catch their breath and figure out what this final stretch of the season is really about.
Not too long ago, things were looking promising in Philadelphia. At the season’s halfway mark, the Flyers were sitting third in the Metropolitan Division.
They were just one point out of second place, four back of first. The playoffs weren’t just a possibility-they felt like a real, tangible goal.
Then came the slide.
A six-game losing streak. Then another four-game skid.
A couple more losses sprinkled in for good measure. Just like that, the Flyers plummeted to seventh in the wild card race, now sitting eight points out of a playoff spot.
When they return to action on February 25 against the Capitals, they’ll have 26 games left to play. And no, the players in that locker room aren’t wired to throw in the towel.
They’ll come out swinging. But even the most optimistic outlook has to admit-it’s a long shot to end a five-year playoff drought.
And time is not on their side.
The NHL trade deadline looms just eight days after their return, on March 6. That’s not a lot of runway to make a hard pivot toward selling, if that’s the route they choose. And even then, it’s unclear how much they’d even have to sell.
Christian Dvorak was shaping up to be their top trade chip-until he signed a five-year extension. That takes him off the board.
Rasmus Ristolainen has been floated in trade talks for a few seasons now. But even with his Olympic appearance boosting his visibility, his health remains a question mark that could scare off potential buyers.
Then there’s the trio of Nic Deslauriers, Carl Grundstrom, and Noah Juulsen-players on expiring deals but in limited roles. They’ve been in and out of the lineup all year. If the Flyers can get anything in return for them, it would be considered a win, but expectations should be tempered.
So when GM Danny Briere says things might be quiet at the deadline, it’s not just GM-speak. It’s the reality of the situation. There aren’t many veterans with movable contracts, and there’s not much else on the table.
Which brings us to the bigger picture: this final stretch might not be about salvaging this season as much as it is about laying the groundwork for the future.
That process starts-and maybe ends-with Matvei Michkov.
Michkov’s situation has been a storyline since training camp. He didn’t show up in shape, and from there, things got complicated.
Questions have swirled around how he's been used, both on and off the ice. The Flyers have tried to quiet the noise-Briere even addressed it directly before the break, aiming to smooth things over between Michkov and head coach Rick Tocchet.
Now it’s about action.
This isn’t just about giving Michkov minutes. It’s about showing a commitment to the long-term plan the Flyers have been preaching. The rest of this season is a proving ground-for the front office, for the coaching staff, and for the young players who are supposed to be the cornerstone of this rebuild.
Briere has a pivotal offseason ahead of him, no doubt. But before that, he’s got a crucial 26-game stretch to navigate.
The playoff hopes may be flickering, but the opportunity to build something real? That’s still very much alive.
And that’s what the Flyers have to focus on.