The Flyers are finally set to put a mostly NHL lineup on the ice Thursday night, and the timing makes this one worth watching. Philadelphia hosts the Boston Bruins at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7:00 PM ET, still chasing its first preseason win while giving a bigger look at the roster that could shape the weeks ahead.
There are a couple of absences worth noting. Goalie Dan Vladar and forward Denver Barkey are both still out with injury, leaving the Flyers to move forward without them for this one.
The spotlight, though, lands squarely on a few players who have already made noise in camp. Cole Knuble and Jett Luchanko are right in the middle of the final roster battle, and Thursday gives both another chance to strengthen their case. Nikita Grebenkin is also back, returning to game action for the first time since March 21st of last season.
And then there’s the rest of the talent Philadelphia is rolling out. Trevor Zegras, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Tyson Foerster, Sean Couturier, Christian Dvorak and more are all expected to be in the lineup in front of the home crowd.
Here’s how the Flyers’ roster breaks down for Thursday:
Forwards: Travis Konecny, Sean Couturier, Nikita Grebenkin, Christian Dvorak, Matvei Michkov, Trevor Zegras, Noel Acciari, Cole Knuble, Tyson Foerster, Jett Luchanko, Jacob Gaucher, Porter Martone.
Defensemen: Helge Grans, Travis Sanheim, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, Simon Benoit, Rasmus Ristolainen.
Goaltenders: Aleksei Kolosov, Joseph Woll.
Based on Wednesday’s practice work, the projected forward groups would line up with Konecny alongside Zegras and Porter Martone, Foerster with Dvorak and Michkov, Grebenkin with Luchanko and Knuble, and Gaucher with Couturier and Acciari.
On the back end, the pairings project as Travis Sanheim with Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York with Jamie Drysdale, and Helge Grans with Simon Benoit.
In goal, Joseph Woll is expected to get the full game unless something unexpected changes. Per head coach Rick Tocchet, this would be Woll’s first full game with the Flyers.
Tocchet also said there was good news on Vladar, but it’s still not clear whether he’ll be ready to serve as the Game 1 starter. That makes this outing especially important for Woll, who is likely to get his last action before the season starts.
The other big wrinkle here is the chance to see Philadelphia’s top-end skill group together for the first time in preseason. Michkov is making his 2026-27 preseason debut, and he’s joined by Konecny and Zegras, along with Grebenkin, Dvorak and Couturier. The Flyers’ top four defensemen are also set to be on display.
There’s also a potential look at a new power-play unit that could be dangerous if it clicks: Jamie Drysdale, Zegras, Martone, Michkov and Foerster. Thursday could be the first game action for that group.
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 Roster Battle Gets Real In First Home Preseason Test
The Flyers get their first home preseason test at Xfinity Mobile Arena against the Boston Bruins, and the roster mix should give this one a little extra edge. It is the kind of early exhibition that can still tell a lot about where players stand, with veterans trying to establish a rhythm and prospects looking to show they belong in the conversation before the lineup picture tightens.
Joseph Woll is expected to handle the net as Dan Vladar remains day-to-day, which adds another layer to a game that already has a roster-battle feel. For fans watching on NBC Sports Philadelphia or listening on Rock 104.1, it also offers the first chance to see Matvei Michkov in preseason action, a detail that only sharpens the interest around a night that could shape a few roles going forward. [Read more 🡒]