Welcome to the 2\/9 edition of the PhHN Daily, where we\u2019ll talk about the Flyers Olympians and their roles at the 2026 games. We also look at the trade cost for a player that could be, and should be, high on the Flyers\u2019 list no matter what. <\/p>\n
Also on the 2\/9 daily, we look at a storyline that Flyers fans should be paying close attention to as the season plays out, and what looks like a demotion for Jack Hughes. <\/p>\n
Before diving into the news, I jumped on \u201cNo Pucks Given\u201d<\/a> with Dan Kingerski over at Pittsburgh Hockey Now yesterday. We discussed the eventful season in Philadelphia, as well as the drama surrounding Matvei Michkov and Rick Tocchet. To cap things off, we touched on the \u201cblockbuster\u201d rumors and why the Flyers make sense as a team that could look to shake things up. <\/p>\n Make sure to check out the episode<\/a>!<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s get into the 2\/9 edition of the PhHN Daily. <\/p>\n Read More: Flyers Trade Talk: Could the Trade Deadline Plan Change?<\/a><\/p>\n Olympic Lines & Flyers Roles<\/p>\n We are three days away from the men\u2019s hockey opening game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Practices have begun, and lineups are starting to take shape. Again, as a reminder, the Flyers will have three representatives on the ice: Travis Sanheim (CAN), Dan Vladar (CZE), and Rasmus Ristolainen (FIN). Radrigo Abols (LAT) was named to the Olympics, but will miss it due to injury. Rick Tocchet (CAN) will be behind the bench. <\/p>\n As practices begin, we can start to see how the lineups will be taking shape and what the Flyers\u2019 roles will be. <\/p>\n First, the team that has no Flyers implications, but most Flyers fans will likely be rooting for: <\/p>\n First practice for Team USA \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 saw some familiar Lines & Pairs from 4Nations.<\/p>\n Top-6 and D-pairs skated together today, bottom-6 is still “projected.”<\/p>\n Jack Hughes is a go, Charlie McAvoy is too, although in a full shield. pic.twitter.com\/3MiU12t7nt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Daily Faceoff \u2013 Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Now, for Travis Sanheim and Canada: <\/p>\n Not at home, so no fancy graphic for this one, but lines and pairs at the first Team Canada \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 practice are:<\/p>\n Celebrini \u2013 McDavid \u2013 Wilson Toews \u2013 Makar \u2014 Daily Faceoff \u2013 Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Sanheim\u2019s name is missing on the list because he and Shea Theodore were the team\u2019s widely reported 4th pair at practice. It does not mean that he is an official scratch for game one. However, it is an early indication that Sanheim will be on the bubble throughout the tournament. <\/p>\n Now, the other Flyers Olympian on the blueline looks to have a much larger role. <\/p>\n Lines and Pairings at the first practice for Team Finland \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddee<\/p>\n Granlund \u2013 Hintz \u2013 Rantanen Heiskanen \u2013 Lindell \u2014 Daily Faceoff \u2013 Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n It looks like Rasmus Ristoalinen will have a 2nd pair role cut out for him during the Olympics. This Finnish team will be sneaky good. If goaltending steps up, they are my \u201cdark horse\u201d to win gold. Of course, if you were a 4 Nations team, are you really a dark horse? <\/p>\n Goalies have not been announced yet. In all honesty, it is still probably a toss-up between Dan Vladar and Lukas Dostal for the Czechia starter, and Karel Vejmelka is not far behind. But we are starting to see the team that will be playing in front of the goaltenders. <\/p>\n In my opinion, the Czech team\u2019s two strengths are their top line and goaltending. Is that enough to get them a medal?<\/p>\n NHL rumors & news<\/p>\n NHLTradeRumors.me: Robert Thomas\u2019 name is very much out there, but Nick Kypreos is wondering about the reality that he is in a new city after the deadline. The insider has reported that the trade cost is high, and St. Louis is looking for more than the return Colorado got for Mikko Rantanen last season. That package included Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2nd rounder, and a 4th rounder. That is a steep cost<\/a>.<\/p>\n TSN: Another storyline Flyers fans should be paying close attention to: a handful of playoff droughts could be coming to an end this season. The Sabres, Red Wings, and Ducks are all looking like teams that will snap postseason droughts. Each of those teams is in the top five for current active droughts. The Flyers are sixth and could have the third-longest drought. The other two teams on the list? The Sharks and Senators are two teams still very much in play. This is something to keep an eye on<\/a>. <\/p>\n New Jersey Hockey Now: Jack Hughes has been demoted by Team USA. The Devils\u2019 star was already playing the wing during the 4 Nations last year, but was playing in a top-six role. This year, Hughes is no longer in that role, and his linemates remain unknown<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Suzuki \u2013 MacKinnon \u2013 Marchand
Stone \u2013 Crosby \u2013 Marner
Hagel \u2013 Horvat \u2013 Reinhart <\/p>\n
Morrissey \u2013 Parayko
Doughty \u2013 Harley<\/p>\n
Lehkonen \u2013 Aho \u2013 Teravainen
Luostarinen \u2013 Lundell \u2013 Kakko
Tolvanen \u2013 Haula \u2013 Armia<\/p>\n
Mikkola \u2013 Ristolainen
Maatta \u2013 Jokiharju<\/p>\n