Philadelphia Flyers
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Philadelphia Flyers, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Simon Benoit, Noel Acciari, Joseph Woll
Key Departures: Garnet Hathaway, Emil Andrae, Samuel Ersson
Outlook
In his first year as the Philadelphia Flyers bench boss, Rick Tocchet guided the team to their first trip to the playoffs in six seasons and their first playoff series win since 2012. The Flyers dispatched the Pittsburgh Penguins in round one before being swept in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Carolina Hurricanes. The summer saw the Flyers making biggest headlines in the NHL when they offer-sheeted the Anaheim Ducks Leo Carlsson with a five-year, $90 million contract that the Ducks chose to match. One of the more interesting betting splits with the Flyers was that they were 12-4 last season as a home favorite and 7-15 as a home underdog.
Offense
If the Flyers are going to take another step forward this season, they are going to need to find a way to generate more scoring. The 240 goals they scored had them in the bottom third of the league (21st), and their power play was dead last in the NHL last season. Travis Konecny’s 68 points (27 goals) led the team, and Trevor Zegras was right behind with career bests in points (67) and goals (26). His 10 power play goals and five game-winners led Philadelphia. Zegras flourished under head coach Rick Tocchet and was rewarded with a new four-year, $36.5 million contract, making him the highest-paid player on the team. It was a bounce-back season for Owen Tippett. He answered his 20-goal season in 2024-25 by scoring 28 for the second time in three seasons. The Flyers are hoping that Matvei Michkov, who reportedly came into training camp last season out of shape and saw a decline in both goals (26 to 20) and points (63 to 51), will have a bounce-back season. The team’s frustration hit a boiling point when they wouldn’t allow him on the team plane following a game and sent him back to Philadelphia on a commercial flight.
Defense
The Flyers, with 239 goals against last season, were ninth-best and only four more goals than the Minnesota Wild, who finished fourth overall. Even better was their 5-on-5 play, where they ranked fifth-best in the NHL. Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen comprise the Flyers’ top pair. Both are solid defensively, and Sanheim was a part of Team Canada’s blueline at both the Four Nations and Olympic tournaments. Jamie Drysdale (24 years old) and Cam York (25 years old) anchor the second pair and are poised to one day take over top pairing duties. Nick Seeler, David Jiricek and Simon Benoit will share time in a third pairing role, and all provide a physical presence.
Goaltending
Dan Vladar seized the opportunity given to him by the Flyers last summer when they signed the free agent to a two-year deal. Vladar posted a career-best 2.42 goals against average last season, tied his career-best save percentage (.906), and his 29 wins were nine more than the previous two seasons combined. One of his best games came in the round one clinching game against the Penguins, a 42-save shutout as the Flyers won 1-0 in Overtime. All this earned him a three-year extension that will kick in at the end of this season. Backing up Vladar this season is Joseph Woll. Once considered the goalie of the future in Toronto, the acquisition of Sergei Bobrovsky by the Leafs made Woll expendable. Woll is coming off his worst statistical season, but the Flyers are hoping he can revert to the goalie who has had sub-three goals against average and a save percentage that was above .900 in his previous four seasons.
Player to Watch
Porter Martone wasted no time showing he belongs in the NHL. The sixth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft joined the team after his one season at Michigan State (25 goals, 50 points, 35 games), scoring four goals and six assists playing in the Flyers’ final nine games of the regular season, helping them lock up a playoff spot. Martone also had two goals and five points in 10 playoff games, one fewer point than Trevor Zegras, who led the team in playoff scoring. A 20-goal, 50-point season is well within his range for the 2026-27 season.
Outlook
I believe the Flyers are in a tough spot to make a return trip to the playoffs. Their 27 regulation wins were the fewest of any Eastern Conference playoff team. Philly’s 16 wins last season in either overtime or the shootout was a league high. I would be inclined to lay the (-145) for them to miss the playoffs.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 93.5 (Over -110, Over -120)
To Make the Playoffs: (+120)
To Miss the Playoffs: (-145)
To Win the Division: (+1100)
To Win the Eastern Conference: (+2800)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+5000)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 43-27-12, 98 pts (3rd in the Metropolitan Division, 8th in Eastern Conference)
Over/Under: 40-40-2
Home Favorite: 12-4 // Home Dog: 7-15
Road Favorite: 3-2 // Road Dog: 9-25
Win Score 4 or more: 29 of 43 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 23 of 39
Puck Line Wins: 27 of 43 // Puck Line Losses: 22 of 39
Front End Back-to-Back: 8-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 8-6
Points Leader: Travis Konecny – 68
Goal Leader: Owen Tippett – 28
Teams First Goal Leader: Travis Konecny – 13, Owen Tippett – 12
Assist Leader: Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras – 41
Shots on Goal Leader: Owen Tippett – 220
Blocked Shots Leader: Travis Sanheim – 152
Depth Chart
Forwards
Travis Konecny / Christian Dvorak / Porter Martone
Tyson Foerster / Trevor Zegras / Owen Tippett
Alex Bump / Noah Cates / Matvei Michkov
Denver Barkey / Sean Couturier / Noel Acciari
Defense
Travis Sanheim / Rasmus Ristolainen
Cam York / Jamie Drysdale
Nick Seeler / David Jiricek
Goalies
Dan Vladar / Joseph Woll
