Kevin Kurz

Jett can't play in the AHL, Bob.

Flyers depth chart 3.0: Zegras the top center; Luchanko makes the cut; Bump, Andrae fall short Philadelphia has settled its key questions ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Panthers.

🔔 Zegras gets his chance at 1C
🔔 Luchanko and Grebenkin make the team, but will they play Thursday?
🔔 Defensive depth a major concern

And more analysis of the opening night Flyers' roster ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Why Flyers training camp was underwhelming in one important way The young prospects expected to compete for several open spots in the lineup didn't make an impact. What does it indicate about the future?

The Flyers may be a better team this season. Trevor Zegras, Dan Vladar and Christian Dvorak all looked decent in camp, to varying degrees.

But the inability of younger prospects to push for depth roles was disappointing.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Why Flyers training camp was underwhelming in one important aspect Flyers training camp was underwhelming in regard to the lack of impact from young prospects. What does it indicate about the future?

Flyers training camp is over.

And in one important aspect, it was decidedly underwhelming.

My column ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Why the Flyers’ Riley Armstrong is crucial to their rebuild: ‘It’s a huge job’ The Flyers have restocked their pool of prospects. It's up to Armstrong and his staff to help them develop.

It's not a reach to suggest that the Flyers rebuild depends on Riley Armstrong.

My in-depth feature on Armstrong's background, how he landed in Philly and formed a bond with Danny Briere, and how he's trying to turn the Flyers prospects into pros:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Flyers officially assigned the following players to the Phantoms today:

F – Denver Barkey
F – Alex Bump
F – Alexis Gendron
F – Devin Kaplan
D – Emil Andrae
D – Helge Grans
D – Hunter McDonald
D – Ty Murchison
G – Carson Bjarnason
G – Aleksei Kolosov

Anthony Richard placed on waivers.

Tyson Foerster on making his preseason debut after recovering from his elbow infection/surgery:

“For me, it’s just full go. I’m sure the trainers are going to be watching me, but for me it’s full go.”

One Flyers prospect makes an impression, but others struggling to have an impact Jack Nesbitt, selected by the Flyers with the 12th pick in the 2025 draft, had a successful first month skating as a legit NHL prospect.

Jack Nesbitt is headed back to Windsor. He left a good impression.

The other top prospects still in camp? They're having some struggles, particularly in Saturday night's preseason loss to Boston.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

One Flyers prospect makes an impression, but others struggling to have an impact Jack Nesbitt, selected by the Flyers with the 12th pick in the 2025 draft, had a successful first month skating as a legit NHL prospect.

One top Flyers prospect, now headed back to his junior club, left a great impression.

But a pair of other highly rated prospects are struggling to make an impact this preseason.

More 🔗

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

Jack Nesbitt, Spencer Gill reassigned back to their junior teams today, per Flyers

Matvei Michkov, Rick Tocchet build their relationship through ‘hockey language’ Plus, the Flyers explore new tactics on the power play, which ranked among the league's worst last season.

“I think we all know the future of this team is probably going through him."

On Matvei Michkov's camp so far, including his budding relationship with Rick Tocchet and how Tocchet might utilize him when the season begins:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

As Hockey Canada players’ NHL return nears, how will they be embraced by their new teams? The players carry significant baggage, and signing them could come at a cost for teams that goes beyond finances.

Following their acquittal, the return to the NHL of Carter Hart and Michael McLeod seems imminent.

I visited Carolina and Vegas — the two likeliest landing spots — to see how the teams are handling the possibility.

The two trips went... differently.

My story:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Philadelphia Flyers training camp battles 2.0: What we’ve learned so far With observations from preseason games and insight from coach Rick Tocchet, we can begin to evaluate some of the ongoing roster battles.

We're just one week into Flyers training camp, and the competition for roster spots and responsibilities is heating up.

Here's what we've learned about the camp battles so far:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

The Flyers lost more than just one of the greatest players in NHL history over the weekend. They lost a true ambassador.

"His spirit was relentless. He just wanted to be a part of things. He did fight through tremendous pain towards the end."

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Bernie Parent, Hall of Fame goalie and beloved Flyers legend, dies at 80 Parent backstopped the Flyers to a pair of Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975.

Bernie Parent, Hall of Fame goalie and beloved Flyers legend, dies at 80

My full story/obit on a franchise legend:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Roster for tonight's Flyers preseason opener

What I’m seeing at Flyers camp: York standing out to Tocchet, surprise prospect impresses Alexis Gendron, a seventh-round pick in 2022, has been the most pleasant surprise so far.

🔔 Cam York impressing
🔔 Top two centers could be set
🔔 A surprise prospect is getting noticed

And more of what I've seen through three days of Flyers camp

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Rick Tocchet has mentioned both days how much he's like Cam York so far. Mentions today that he could be a possibility for the power play, which, of course, Torts didn't use him on at all last season.

‘A lot less NASCAR laps’: Flyers note changes, expectations as camp practices begin There’s a different feel to training camp with Rick Tocchet taking charge.

From the absence of the infamous rope test, to an infusion of young talent, to management challenging this year's team to be better, there was a different feel for the Flyers as they opened up training camp today.

More
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www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

Rick Tocchet’s view of the Flyers — ‘That crest is everything’ — and his Year 1 priorities Tocchet has put much thought into how to get the best out of Matvei Michkov and his other new players.

The Flyers open training camp today -- which makes it coach Rick Tocchet's first day with the full group, too.

“There’s some differences in some system stuff we’re going to have to go over. But the foundation that I see has already been set."

More 🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Rick Tocchet’s view of the Flyers — ‘That crest is everything’ — and his Year 1 priorities Tocchet has put much thought into how to get the best out of Matvei Michkov and his other new players.

“Can I put you on the ice with an empty net?” Rick Tocchet asked Matvei Michkov.

“Yeah, I want to score the goal,” Michkov replied.

“Well, that’s great,” Tocchet replied with a chuckle, “But…”

That and much more from my convo with the Flyers' coach:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Philadelphia Flyers training camp battles: Here are the 5 competitions to watch Who will be the opening-night starting goalie? How about power-play quarterback?

Flyers training camp begins tomorrow. There are spots to be had -- both in terms of who makes the roster, and who earns various responsibilities.

Five battles I'll be monitoring for the next couple of weeks:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Danny Briere says that Carter Hart's agent has told them that he would like a "fresh start." He won't be re-joining the Flyers this season.

Two Flyers prospects who saw their their stock rise during rookie camp Things will get tougher when the Flyers open their NHL training camp on Thursday.

Jack Nesbitt knows he has to improve his skating. So when Riley Armstrong approached him with an unorthodox tip, he gave it a try.

"It made a huge difference," Nesbitt said. "It pretty much shocked me.”

More ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Two Flyers prospects who saw their their stock rise during rookie camp Things will get tougher when the Flyers open their NHL training camp on Thursday.

Two Flyers prospects who saw their their stock rise during rookie camp

www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Flyers trade goalie Ivan Fedotov to Blue Jackets: Sources Columbus sent a sixth-round draft pick to Philadelphia.

Ivan Fedotov traded to Columbus. Analysis, with
@Aportzline:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

The Flyers are trading goalie Ivan Fedotov to Columbus, as first reported by Elliotte Friedman. The return is a 6th round pick is 2026. They are not retaining any salary.

Flyers expect top prospect Oliver Bonk to quickly adjust as he finally turns pro With Jett Luchanko still nursing a groin injury, Bonk is arguably the most prominent player skating in this week’s Flyers rookie camp.

On Oliver Bonk, the Flyers' *other* first round pick in 2023 who is set to turn pro this season ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/662...

Jett Luchanko given a few more days off, per Danny Briere, for what is believed to be a groin injury. No word yet on whether he can play in the rookie games against the Rangers this weekend. Will be ready for main camp.

Flyers executives expect improvement, explain why ‘this patient approach is working’ The Flyers, it seems, are done being sellers, even if Keith Jones and Dan Hilferty stopped short of predicting a playoff berth.

“I feel really good about where we’re headed. This patient approach is working.”

The Flyers' top two execs left no gray area on Wednesday: they expect the club to be better in 2025-26.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...