The Philadelphia Flyers came into January looking like a team ready to turn the corner. After five straight seasons without a playoff appearance, Rick Tocchet had this group punching above expectations, sitting in the thick of the Metropolitan Division race and very much alive in the Eastern Conference Wild Card picture.
But then came the crash.
After opening the month with back-to-back wins over the Oilers and Ducks, the Flyers went into a nosedive. They dropped 11 of their next 13 games, finishing January with a brutal 2-9-2 stretch that knocked them out of playoff position and raised some serious red flags about their ability to hang in the race.
As it stands, the Flyers sit at 24-20-10, tied with the Devils for sixth in the Metro. They’re seven points behind the Islanders for the third divisional playoff spot and nine back of the Sabres and Bruins in the Wild Card standings. That’s a steep hill to climb, but not an impossible one-especially with time to regroup during the Olympic break.
If there’s a silver lining here, it’s that the Flyers still have a clearer path through the division than the Wild Card. But to make a real push, they’ll need to come out of the break firing-and that starts with addressing the most glaring issue on the roster: center depth.
This isn’t a new problem for Philly. The Flyers have been thin down the middle for a few seasons now, but the struggles became impossible to ignore in January. The top two lines just aren’t getting enough from their centers, and that’s stalling what should be a more dangerous offense.
Christian Dvorak is currently centering the top line, but his production-12 goals and 22 assists in 53 games-just hasn’t matched the role. He’s not a bad player, but he’s not driving play at the level you want from your 1C.
That’s especially frustrating when you consider who’s riding shotgun with him. Travis Konecny has been the Flyers’ most productive forward with 22 goals and 30 assists, and you can’t help but wonder how much more damage he could do with a higher-end center feeding him the puck.
Noah Cates has been holding down the second-line center spot, but his numbers are similarly underwhelming: 10 goals and 16 assists through 54 games. He’s a solid two-way presence, but again, not quite the offensive catalyst this team needs in a top-six role.
One bright spot? Trevor Zegras.
The 24-year-old has found a home on the third line and is quietly putting together a strong season. With 20 goals and 27 assists, he’s second on the team in scoring and has brought a consistent spark to Rick Tocchet’s lineup.
But even with Zegras producing, the Flyers’ center corps lacks the kind of top-end talent that can tilt the ice.
That’s where Nazem Kadri comes into the picture.
Kadri, currently with the Calgary Flames, checks a lot of boxes for what the Flyers need. He’s a gritty, skilled, battle-tested center who plays with an edge-exactly the kind of player Tocchet loved to be and loves to coach.
Kadri’s no stranger to the big stage either, having won a Stanley Cup with Colorado. He brings offensive upside (he scored 35 goals last season), leadership, and a willingness to play in the dirty areas.
This season, Kadri leads the Flames in scoring with 9 goals and 26 assists. That production may not jump off the page, but the track record is there-and he’s still a player who can elevate a line.
Importantly, Kadri isn’t a rental. He’s under contract for three more years, which means any team trading for him is making a longer-term investment.
That raises the price tag, but it also increases the upside.
If the Flyers want to swing big, Kadri makes a lot of sense. But he’s not the only option out there.
Ryan O’Reilly is another name worth watching. The veteran center is with the Nashville Predators, and while he might not be thrilled about joining a team currently seven points out of a playoff spot, his experience and two-way game would be a major asset. He’s a proven playoff performer, a faceoff ace, and a respected locker room presence.
Then there’s Blake Coleman, also in Calgary. He’s more of a middle-six option, but he brings grit, physicality, and some sneaky scoring touch.
Coleman has 13 goals and 8 assists in 44 games this season, along with 29 penalty minutes. He’s the kind of player who won’t back down from a challenge and could bring some much-needed bite to the Flyers’ forward group.
Two seasons ago, he hit the 30-goal mark and piled up 76 penalty minutes-proof that he can produce and play with an edge when he’s in the right situation.
The Flyers have work to do, no question. January was a gut punch, but it doesn’t have to be a knockout blow.
The pieces are there-Konecny is rolling, Zegras is emerging, and the blue line has held its own. But if Philly wants to make a serious run at the postseason, they’ll need to shore up the middle of the ice.
Whether it’s Kadri, O’Reilly, Coleman, or another name that emerges, adding a top-six center could be the difference between another spring on the sidelines and a return to playoff hockey.