2025 Summer Cooler – Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers. Another new voice behind their bench. Rick Tockett taking over for Brad Shaw who replaced John Tordella. The club finished six games below 500 last season. Missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. Last time in, they were in fact was in the bubble in Toronto in 2020. Perhaps one of the most glaring statistical pieces about the Flyers is their power play, which managed to bounce up to 30th last year at 15%. But in the three prior years was last and so this has to be a definite priority for Takit. and a player that they acquired during the off seasonason making headlines, Trevor Ziggress coming in a trade with Anaheim in exchange for Ryan Paling and a pair of picks in 25 and 26. They also signed Christian D’vorak, left wing out of Montreal as the UFA and also goender Dan Vladar from Calgary. So, let’s start with the ads and let’s talk the Zegris trade in particular because I believe this was a player that after he came back from injury last season had a little bit more sandpaper to his game. But I’d also said that I believed probably the best move for Zegris would be out of Anaheim where the Michigan looked to be his trademark and perhaps a fresh start in a new city with a new coach. See what happens. No, you’re absolutely right. And he’s a Connecticut kid, so getting into Philly is a lot closer to Connecticut than Anaheim was. He made headlines when he did that Michigan move and everybody thought about what how skilled the kid is and he is. There’s no doubt about it. But they got to see what Rick Tocket in Philadelphia can get out of him now. Will this be his time to turn his career around when he is he going to play with D’vorak? Is he going to play with Mitchov? Who’s he going to play with? And can he and D’vorak give Philadelphia two lines that can score? because we know they’ve got one with Mechov and Couturier and Connect Me, but they need that second line. They they need that second line with Owen Tippet and maybe D’vorak and Zegris can give them that. This team has grown over the course of the last really two, three, maybe you can even stretch it to four years. A lot of these players have remained with the club. Tyson Fer reupted as an RFA. So did Noah Kates and the big one for them Kim York on defense 5 years 5.15 AAV and as you mentioned they have some pieces in place Matt Bay Mitchkov was a trophy candidate for a good part of the season Bobby Brink Noah Kates Jamie Dedale and Travis Sanheim quality players young players and I think a good group that Tak has to start to move forward with pocket has to get these guys to take the next step in their career and to improve again have a better year this year than they had last year. Young players, if you can see them have continue to have better and better seasons, then you’re headed obviously in the right direction. And that’s what Rick Tockett and his group of coaches are going to have to do. Jamie Ddale is a very talented young defenseman and great hands, able to do good things offensively. Let’s see if he can make the next step. They’ve given York the big contract. Now York has to make the next step and we’ve already mentioned up front with Zegris and Tippet. So, if these guys can do this bit, maybe they’ve got a shot at the being in the bubble and and by the bubble, the group of teams that are banging on the door of the wild card. Maybe they can bang on the door of the wild card if they can get these young guys to take the next step. I’m going to be curious to see what happens with their power play now because I don’t believe that they still have a true quarterback on the power play. And you could look at Ddale, you might look at Kknney as a guy that can start to set plays up from the outside. Only Tippet has to have a better season than he had a year ago. And that’s going to be a huge key for them is if they can move up even 10 spots in the league on the power plays, that’s going to make a big difference. And that’s probably what kept them out of the playoffs two seasons ago when they just missed out on the last night of the season. The other thing to look at, the goalending issue never seems to go away there. And of course, they thought that their goalending issues were solved with Carter Hart and we know how that all ended up. Sam Ers, Ivan Fedoto splitting the time last season. Dan Vladar has never been a number one goalie in the NHL, but does this create maybe the necessary competition to elevate everybody’s game? Yeah, I think it does. And I think it also is something that you’re seeing around the league. Everybody seems to want to have three guys that can play in the NHL. There’s goalie injuries now, I think, more than there’s ever been. and Vladar gives them that NHL goalender that’s there. So if Fedo can’t do it or Sam Erison can’t do it, you’ve got Vladar. Now, none of them are really what you think of as a number one goalie. So there’s got to be a development stage there for one of them to grab that. But still, again, there’s no number one goalender there. And at least the opportunity presents itself. Maybe Ersen matures the we have seen some promise. So again, I think we’re looking at potential for those two and maybe the security blanket is Vladar in this entire scenario. I would think that’s what Danny Brriier is trying to do here and maybe say do some competition for those guys and particularly for Fedottov who had missed a whole year of hockey while he did his military service in Russia. Maybe he’s just going to let them fight it out to see who gets that spot with Rick Talk in his group. Couple of prospects to potentially look out to crack the lineup this year. Oliver Bunk, right-handed defenseman. And Jet Luchenko, who had 56 points, 46 games for G, the OHL last season. He started the year with the Flyers, has some good speed, but then they sent him back so they wouldn’t burn a year of eligibility. I want to hit on the drops for one second here because in addition to pailing going to Anaheim and the Zegris deal. Jacob Pelletier was signed as a UFA by Tampa after not receiving a qualifying offer and Pelier was acquired on January 31st along with Andre Kusmeco from the Flames. They also got 2025 and a 2028 draft pick in exchange for Morgan Frost and Joel Farabby. But the net of this is when Kuzme was traded for two draft picks, the end result is they got four draft picks and Frost and Furby are going to probably be key components for the Calgary Flames this year. and Cosmo got resigned by Ken Holland and the LA King. And they’re not high picks that Philadelphia got on those four picks. They’re not guaranteed NHL players by any means. Yeah, kind of strange a strange move in in not qualifying Peltier. So, I I just think that perhaps I guess there was something they just didn’t like about Jacob Peltier because they got him there. You would think that would make them look pretty bad by having nothing after trading away those frost and therapy, but I guess they didn’t like him and didn’t even qualify him. That’s right. If you don’t qualify him and you don’t either say to the agent, “We’re not going to qualify him, but we’re going to sign him. We want to sign him, but we’re not going to qualify him because we don’t think he’s worth his qualifying offer.” That’s what a lot of teams do. They didn’t even do that. It looks like final note on the flyers. Rick Tocket started his career in Philadelphia, won Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh, replaces John Toddella. Now both gentlemen, former Adams Trophy winning coaches, both with a hard edge. What’s the difference between Takit and Torts? I think that Tortoella is a much more experienced seasoned coach than Rick Tockett. I think Rick Tockett has done a lot of things in his career, but I don’t think he’s John Tortoella. Now, having said that, I’m not sure that Rick Tocket has as quick an expiration date on his back as John Tordella because John is so hard and he’s tough on the players and particular types of players that he usually they he moves from team to team because of that. We’ll see what can do with this group. undoubtedly had a great season with Vancouver, won the Jack Adams award, but then things went south on him. And you can blame management, but I think we’re going to find out if Rick is a good coach or not now that he’s got a team that he has to get to overachieve and has to push them to get better and develop players, develop young guys and push the older guys to to as I said to overachieve so that they are banging on the door of the playoffs. And some of these players should be coming more into their prime now because when Tors took that club over few years ago, Chuck Fletcher didn’t leave the cupboard very full for him. No, it was pretty bare and it was rebuilding. I’ll never forget it. I was stunned when he took the job because I don’t see John as a a coach that can rebuild teams that that like a Roger Nielsen type guy. I saw him more as a guy who gets an experienced, ready to go team and can push them over the finish line. But he did a heck of a job, I think. I know he got fired and so on, but everybody does. But I think he did a heck of a job, particularly that first year. Anything else on the flyers before we wrap? No, I think I just wish my friend Keith Jones and my friend Danny Brier and my friend Rick Tocket all the luck in the world. I think they’re going to be it’s going to be tough, but they’re not in a good division. So, that’s the good side. There’s not a lot of there’s no great teams. Carolina and New Jersey, as we’ve already spoken about, are probably the cream of the crop. After that, you could get in. Let’s not forget the Washington Capitals either. Number one in the East last year. Yeah. No, let’s not forget them. They’re Yeah, but Yeah. Okay, I’ll give you those three.
In this Summer Coolers episode of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren dig into a franchise in transition: the Philadelphia Flyers.
Rick Tocchet steps behind the bench, marking the team’s third coach in three seasons after Brad Shaw and John Tortorella. Meanwhile, Trevor Zegras arrives in a headline-making trade, bringing high-end skill and a much-needed spark to a Flyers team that’s been stuck in neutral offensively—particularly on the power play.
The Flyers haven’t made the playoffs since the COVID-era bubble (2020), but now—with an infusion of youth, a tough-minded new bench boss, and real promise in net—the orange and black faithful may finally have a reason to believe.
🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00] Coaching carousel: Rick Tocchet replaces Brad Shaw, who replaced John Tortorella
[00:45] Flyers power play woes: 30th in 2024–25, 4 straight years in the bottom
[01:10] Zegas trade: Flyers acquire him from Anaheim for Ryan Poehling & picks
[01:45] New additions: Dan Vladar (G), Christian Dvorak (F), other depth signings
[02:15] Key re-signings: Cam York (5 yrs, $5.15M), Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates
[03:00] Core youth progress: Michkov, Brink, Drysdale, York
[04:00] Power play challenges: Still no true quarterback?
[05:00] Goalie outlook: Ersson vs. Ivan Fedotov vs. Vladar
[06:00] Prospect watch: Oliver Bonk, Jett Luchanko
[07:00] Front office vision: Did Danny Brière make the most of the Gaudreau return?
[08:30] Rick Tocchet vs. John Tortorella: Different leadership styles
[10:00] Can the Flyers punch into the playoff bubble in the Metro?
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Trevor Zegras represents a high-upside gamble—a flashy, creative player looking to reset his career under a new coach and closer to home.
Rick Tocchet brings grit, structure, and accountability—critical ingredients for a young team trying to learn how to win.
Goaltending remains uncertain—but there are options: Fedotov, Ersson, and Vladar all have potential.
The power play is still a major red flag. Even small improvement (from 30th to mid-20s) could put the Flyers in the Wild Card mix.
After years of rebuild mode, the Flyers now need their core (Michkov, York, Tippett, Brink) to mature into game-changers.
🎯 FINAL WORD:
With a new coach and a top-line talent like Zegras arriving, the Flyers aren’t rebuilding anymore—they’re trying to turn the corner. But unless the power play improves and someone steps up in goal, the orange-and-black may still be looking at another season on the outside of the playoff picture.
Still, for the first time in years, there’s more hope than hype in Philadelphia.
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🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil
📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn
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