The dust from the NHL Draft is over. By all accounts, it looks as if the Flyers had a pretty successful one. Unfortunately, we won't get to see the fruits of this draft for a few years, most likely. Fans will have to be patient before seeing some of these players donning the orange and black.
Next up in the NHL offseason is NHL free agency. That begins at noon on Tuesday, July 1. Some teams have already locked up some of their players or traded for others. Sorry, but Sam Bennett is not going to play in Philly. With that in mind, let's look at a few key things the Flyers can do to ensure an offseason that will help them greatly in 2025-26 and beyond.
Step One: Plug the Holes
Whether it is via trade or free agency, the Flyers only have a few major holes in the lineup. First, they could really, really use another goalie. Sam Ersson is decent, but beyond him, the team is kind of a mess in net. We can't have Ersson play 80 games in the net, so he needs help. This needs to be the biggest acquisition the team makes this offseason and should be the biggest priority.
After that, the Flyers need help at left wing and on defense. A winger who can add support somewhere on the top three lines would be a great addition. Likewise, a blueliner who can come in and either be a leader on the team or just be a great guy to add would help out. Outside of these three positions, the Flyers are pretty set.
Step Two: Find the Right Players
Now that we've identified the holes, we need to find the guys who can fill them. Nikolaj Ehlers would be the greatest prize to have at left wing, but he is an RFA. There will be competition for him, as it is rumored that the Carolina Hurricanes are pushing hard for his services. Jeff Skinner might be the best fit as he is looking for a bounce-back year. Brad Marchand would be a great acquisition, but Florida is doing everything it can to re-sign him. Jack Roslovic and Matt Nieto wouldn't be bad pickups either.
Defenders are going to cost you money, as there is always a need for them. If you can convince Dmitri Orlov or Brent Burns to come to Philly, it'd be worth the time, money, and effort. Ryan Lindgren would be a nice pickup, as would Aaron Ekblad or Jan Rutta.
The goaltender market is pretty weak. If the Flyers can't acquire one via trade, their best bets are guys like Jake Allen, Alex Lyon, Ilya Samsonov, or Vítek Vaněček. None of these guys makes you stand up and shout, "We gotta have him!"
Step Three: No Long Term Deals
It is tempting to go out and spend a lot of money on a top-tier free agent. I'm not saying we can't do it. I'm saying we should be careful about doing it. Gone are the days when the team gives a boatload of money to someone like James van Riemsdyk or Kevin Hayes and locks them up for the better part of a decade. Then we are stuck with a contract and a player we can't get rid of.
Any of those free agent goalies should get a one-year deal; two if you are desperate to sign one. No more than that. They aren't worth it.
Giving a big contract to someone like Ehlers or Ekblad may be worth it, but the danger is hampering the team later on. Older vets like Orlov, Marchand, Skinner, and Bruns could be signed for contracts ranging from one to three years. That is much more of what the Flyers need until the younger reinforcements arrive.
A player like Skinner and Roslovic could do wonders for some of the young forwards, while Burns could mentor and help develop the young blueliner corps. I know we want to go younger, but having some great vets could boost this team's future.