The Philadelphia Flyers are preparing for the 2025-26 NHL season with several key challenges and new additions as they aim to improve on last year’s record of 33-39-10, which saw them finish eighth in the Metropolitan Division and miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Rick Tocchet will take over as head coach for his first season. The team’s main challenge lies in goaltending. Despite allowing only 27 shots on goal per game last season—eighth fewest in the league—the Flyers had a .890 save percentage at even strength, the lowest since this statistic has been tracked by the NHL. To address this, Philadelphia signed Dan Vladar to a two-year contract after he posted a .898 save percentage with Calgary last year and finished strong following hip surgery. Vladar will share duties with Samuel Ersson, who recorded an .883 save percentage over 47 games but performed better when given more rest between starts.
Improving special teams is also a priority. The Flyers’ power play ranked 30th in the NHL at just 15 percent, marking their fourth consecutive season among the league’s bottom three. They have not finished above average on the power play since 2019-20. Forward Matvei Michkov led all NHL rookies with eight power-play goals last season and tied Travis Konecny for most on the team, while Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett remain scoring threats from the flanks. However, Philadelphia continues to search for a reliable defenseman to run their power play and a consistent presence near the net.
The Flyers hope that addressing these issues could make them contenders for a wild card spot if both goaltending and power play performance reach league averages.
A significant offseason addition is Trevor Zegras, acquired from Anaheim in exchange for Ryan Poehling and two draft picks. Zegras is expected to get an opportunity at center after being shifted to wing due to defensive concerns during his previous seasons; he registered 32 points in 57 games last year amid injuries.
Cam York could be another surprise factor after signing a five-year contract extension despite setbacks during an injury-plagued campaign that saw him score only 17 points in 66 games. York previously set records as an offensive defenseman at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, and hopes for increased responsibility under Tocchet.
Nikita Grebenkin impressed coaches during training camp with his physicality and ability to drive toward the net—a trait Rick Tocchet values highly: “a sticky guy” because of his ability to find pucks in tight.” Grebenkin may earn top-six minutes alongside Michkov based on preseason chemistry.
Owen Tippett stands out as a potential fantasy sleeper pick; since 2022-23 he has tallied at least 75 goals, delivered over 350 hits, and taken more than 700 shots—placing him among elite company according to NHL EDGE statistics. He also ranks high in speed bursts exceeding 22 mph as well as shot velocity metrics.
Projected line combinations include Nikita Grebenkin with Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny; Owen Tippett alongside Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov; Tyson Foerster centering Noah Cates and Bobby Brink; Rodrigo Abols joining Christian Dvorak and Garnet Hathaway; defensive pairings feature Cam York with Travis Sanheim among others; Samuel Ersson and Dan Vladar are set as goaltenders.
“Tocchet has stressed the need for his forwards to attack the middle of the zone,” highlighting one of several changes fans can expect when Philadelphia opens its season October 7.
