If the Flyers are going to get back into the postseason picture in 2026-27, they’ll have to do it by stacking wins in the Metropolitan Division and staying ahead of clubs looking to rebound after unexpectedly missing out, including the Washington Capitals. And as always, a lot of that turns on the players at the top of the roster.
For Philadelphia, that starts with Matvei Michkov. After a sophomore slump last season, he drew plenty of criticism, especially after comments from head coach Rick Tocchet about Michkov’s conditioning and the shape he was in when he reported to training camp.
But this summer has brought a very different tone. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported that Michkov “is much more prepared to be an impact player this season than last,” and said Tocchet “has noticed an improved stamina level” from him.
GM Daniel Briere also told the media that the club was “very pleased with the work that [Michkov] put in this summer and the attitude that he showed up with in training camp.”
The early returns have matched the optimism. Michkov has produced three goals and seven points in four preseason games, and if that carries over, he could blow past the rookie highs he posted last season: 26 goals and 63 points.
Not every Flyers storyline has been nearly as encouraging. Goaltender Aleksei Kolosov has had a rough preseason, giving up nine goals on 42 shots.
Kurz wrote today that he wonders “if the Flyers are considering looking for a more reliable, veteran option” for the No. 3 job. Philadelphia did add Joseph Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs over the summer, and he is almost certainly an upgrade over Sam Ersson.
But behind Woll and No. 1 goalie Dan Vladar, Kolosov is the clear third option, with 21-year-old Carson Bjarnason not viewed as NHL-ready and slotted as the organizational No. 4.
That leaves the Flyers vulnerable if one of their NHL goalies gets hurt. Kolosov’s career .863 save percentage at the NHL level is a hard number to ignore, and a veteran AHL starter who can handle call-up duty would give the team a more dependable layer of protection.
Elsewhere, St. Louis Blues defenseman Logan Mailloux left yesterday’s preseason game with an upper-body injury, according to a team announcement. The severity isn’t known, but with the Blues set to open the regular season on Friday, his availability for that game is now in question.
Mailloux had a shaky start after arriving from the Montreal Canadiens in a trade last summer, but he settled in as the season went along and emerged as one of St. Louis’ more promising young defensemen. The 23-year-old, a 2021 first-round pick, is expected to begin the year in the Blues’ top four alongside Philip Broberg, though this injury could delay that plan, at least briefly.
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Joel Hofers rise in the leagues goaltending rankings suggests growing confidence in his trajectory and a belief that he could become more than just a complementary piece, while Jordan Binningtons standing has slipped enough to raise fresh questions about where he fits in the long term. With both players in contract years, the Blues are looking at a situation that could shape not only this seasons netminding plan, but the organizations next move in goal. [Read more 🡒]
Blues Prospects Are Giving Fans An Early Reason For Optimism
With the first full weeks of major junior and European play rolling in, the Blues prospect pipeline has already offered a little encouragement. Forward prospects Maddox Dagenais and Carter Stevens have been among the early standouts in the scoring column, while goaltender Vladimir Proskurin made a promising first impression in the Western Hockey League. There has also been steady work from Swedish goalies Marcus Gidlf and Love Hrenstam in HockeyAllsvenskan, along with points from Matvei Korotky, Dmitri Buchelnikov and Mikhail Fyodorov.
For a St. Louis organization looking for signs that its next wave is moving in the right direction, the early returns are the kind that matter. It is still very early, of course, but the breadth of the production is notable, with help coming from forwards and goaltenders alike across several leagues. The next question is how long that momentum can last once the schedule settles in and the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Why Pius Suter Could Matter More To The Blues Than Fans Think
Pius Suter may not be the flashiest addition on the Blues roster, but his value shows up in the places coaches tend to trust most. He is expected to be a versatile forward who can play both center and wing, giving St. Louis another option throughout the lineup while supporting the clubs top offensive players.
His role should be especially important in the quieter parts of a game, where defensive responsibility matters just as much as scoring touch. For a Blues team that wants flexibility and dependable depth, Suter gives the staff another piece who can stabilize the forward group and keep the lineup from feeling thin when changes are needed. [Read more 🡒]