3 questions surrounding the Flyers this season

Entering the 2024-25 season, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Flyers.

Will the Flyers continue to show improvement a year after they just missed the playoffs? Can Sean Couturier return to form after a strong start and disappointing finish? Can Travis Konecny take another step forward into an elite talent?

There are those questions and so many more to ask about this team. But there are a few that are more important than the rest.

Can Sam Ersson be a number one goaltender?

The Flyers and goaltending have been synonymous for quite some time. It has been a long time since Philadelphia has had a true number-one goaltender. Someone they could trust game in and game out to get them the win.

Sam Ersson was forced to step into that role last season when Carter Hart took his leave of absence. While he started well, one reoccurring problem has been that once the workload gets heavier, Ersson breaks down. Is that completely his fault? Some of it may be. It's possible Ersson isn't able to handle the workload of a true NHL starter.

But even John Tortorella admitted that the Flyers took part of the blame in Ersson's late-season play. That's where Ivan Fedotov comes in. If he can help spare Ersson on certain nights, that can keep him fresh for when the team needs him most. If Fedotov can prove to be a capable enough goaltender that the Flyers feel confident with him in the net, that will solve a large problem.

And if he can't? Then the cycle of goaltenders begins again.

Is Jett Luchanko ready for the NHL?

By now, the Jett Luchanko selection has settled into most Flyers fan's minds. He has played well during training camp and the preseason. The games are real now and he is still on the roster.

While he didn't stand out during preseason play, he did enough to warrant a spot on the opening night roster. What does he need to do to stay there? Danny Briere and the Flyers will be looking for numerous things to decide if Luchanko will remain in the NHL past the nine-game allotted trial.

Does he need to produce offense? Does he need to be at his absolute best defensively? These are some of the questions the organization will be asking themselves over the next few weeks. If Luchanko doesn't score but plays well defensively, is that enough? If he scores at a high clip but is getting torched on the other side of the puck, can they work that out?

Luchanko will become the youngest player to debut for the Flyers when they take on the Canucks on Friday night. What happens next is up to him.

Can Jamie Drysdale develop into a top defender?

It's unfair to completely judge Jamie Drysdale on his play with the Flyers last season. He joined the team down the stretch and dealt with injuries both before and after the trade to Philadelphia. He showed flashes of the potential he has had since the Ducks drafted him sixth overall in 2020.

But because of the injuries, his development has stalled a bit. After offseason surgery, Drysdale looks like he is back to his old self. That was most evident in his skating during the preseason. Getting that speed back is a huge part of his game. And not having to spend every night with the trainers finding a way to just get on the ice is a huge relief.

The Flyers hope Drysdale can become a huge part of their dismal power play as well. With his speed, quarterbacking the unit and turning it into something the Flyers can have success on is key. Drysdale best season (2012-22) saw him produce 12 points on the man advantage out of his 32 total points. That's nearly 40% of his offense coming on special teams.

If the Flyers could boast even a league-average power play, they could get those extra points that turn them from just missing the playoffs to firmly making it. Drysdale is a key part of their youth movement. If he can stay healthy and continue to develop, the Flyers may have found the next part of their defense.

These questions won't be answered right away. It's going to take some time to figure things out. Most importantly, the Flyers need to prove themselves that they can take another step forward in what is the third year of Tortorella's tenure. If the above questions are answered positively though, that will go a long way to helping Philadelphia take that next step.