The Philadelphia Flyers will play the first of what might be a few dozen games tonight without winger Tyson Foerster, and head coach Rick Tocchet is changing things up a bit as Philadelphia gets ready for the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
#Flyers lines at morning skate
Zegras-Dvorak-Konecny
Michkov-Couturier-Tippett
Grebenkin-Cates-Brink
Deslauriers-Abols-Hathaway
Grundstrom
York-Sanheim
Andrae-Drysdale
Seeler-Zamula
Juulsen-Ristolainen
— Jackie Spiegel (@jackiespiegel93) December 3, 2025
As you can see, the only line which hasn’t been altered much is the fourth line where Nic Deslauriers, Rodrigo Abols, and Garnet Hathaway look to be in this evening. Carl Grundstrom, who was recalled by Philadelphia last night from Lehigh Valley, seems to be the odd man out and will be a healthy scratch barring some last minute injury or something happening during the warmup. Nikita Grebenkin moves into the top nine and will be alongside Noah Cates and Bobby Brink. Grebenkin brings a bit more physicality to the line and should be a good fit as Cates and Brink are reunited after the last few weeks apart.
Meanwhile the top two lines sees Owen Tippett replacing Bobby Brink on a line with Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov. And finally, Travis Konecny gets bumped to the line with center Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras. Combining three of the Flyers’ top four point-getters on one line might rub some fans the wrong way, but Tocchet is reverting to the pairing notion, namely keeping two players who work well together in tact. Couturier and Michkov is the core of one line, Cates and Brink return to their usual hard-working, play-driving routine, and Zegras and Dvorak remain the same.
Prior to Foerster’s injury, Philadelphia looked to be gaining some momentum with each of the top three newly formed lines. Foerster found himself with Noah Cates and Travis Konency and looked to be finding some synergy. Meanwhile Brink was bumped over with Couturier and Michkov which seemed to be heading in the right direction.
The line juggling for now might not be written in stone, particularly if Grebenkin isn’t able to produce as a top nine or middle six forward. It’s possible he returns down to the fourth line but Tocchet and the coaching staff are most likely going to give him a bit of a leash to prove himself. As for Grundstrom, he’s had a good start to 2025-26 with the Phantoms and hopes to continue that production with the big club. He might be called on to replace Grebenkin higher up in the lineup, but for now is going to find himself more in a fourth line situation.
On the back end, Philadelphia looks like they’re going with Egor Zamula tonight alongside Nick Seeler as Noah Juulsen was paired with Rasmus Ristolainen (who was wearing a non-contact jersey) is taking another step towards returning by practicing with the Flyers. And finally, Sam Ersson is getting the start against the Sabres, a team he’s fared pretty well against.
Tonight isn’t necessarily a must win game this early in the season, but Philadelphia doesn’t want to be on a two-game losing streak heading into Sunday’s game against Colorado, a team that has a ridiculous .846 winning percentage. They’ve left just eight of a possible 52 points off the table thus far, and are showing no signs of slowing down soon.