Welcome to 2025. Happy New Year's Flyers fans! Hope it is a good one for the team and a better one for you.
As we are just about at the midway point of the season, it's time to reflect on where this team is going. We've seen some great things, some not-so-great things, and some other things with the Flyers. With all this said, it's time to make some predictions that may or may not come true.
1. At Least Two Forwards Will Be Traded Away
With one eye on the present and another on the future, general manager Daniel Briere will have to make some difficult decisions. Someone will have to be traded away for either draft picks or top/near top-level prospects. But who will it be?
When it comes to the forwards, we've already discussed the chances of each player getting moved. I think anybody who is not Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov, Sean Couturier, Noah Cates, and (I think) Scott Laughton could probably be had if the right offer is made.
Most likely, Nic Deslauriers is gone. But who else? Is it Morgan Frost? Joel Farabee? Bobby Brink? We'll see. However, I think that at least two names will be moved. Maybe they are moved for someone else. It could be for a playoff run this year (and beyond). I can almost guarantee you that at least two forwards on the roster will not be suiting up in Orange and Black beyond the deadline...and perhaps three.
2. At Least One Blueliner Will Be Traded Away
Sticking with the trade deadline predictions, at least one defender is going to be moved. I think Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler are safe. Anyone else is pretty much up for grabs.
The hard part is that the defense is young and still learning. Do you give up on that and try out another young guy? Do you trade one while you have value? The Flyers have some promising young defenders coming up. It may be time to make room for them to come up.
3. The Flyers Will Make the Playoffs
No matter who is moved at the deadline, this team will make it to the playoffs...barely. They currently hold the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference. While that sounds bad, they are just two points from cracking the playoffs. They are within striking distance.
One thing to remember too, as the season goes on, they will be playing more and more divisional opponents. The Metro Division is fairly weak this year. The Flyers can take advantage of this by beating up on their rivals and backdoor their way into the playoffs.
Granted, when you get into the playoffs, it's a new season. They will probably be one-and-done, but hey, who knows? If they get hot at the right time...
4. Tortorella Will Be Around For Next Year
You can say what you will about him and his coaching style. You may like his style, his attitude, or the way he handles things. He doesn't care. He's even come out to say that he doesn't care if the team wins games as much as he cares that they are playing their best.
John Tortorella has done some great things here. He has unlocked Konecny's abilities and helped turn him into the star we all knew he could be. He has brought a sense of pride back into the franchise, which is something when you consider how young this team is.
He is tough and demanding, but he is fair. You are seeing the results on the ice. This team is fundamentally better. The guys who have bought into what he is selling, like Konecny, have drastically improved their games. Because of that, Tortorella will be back for the 2025-26 season.
5. The Flyers Will Own a Top 5 Pick
How can they make the playoffs and get a top-five selection in this year's draft, especially when two of the three first-rounders they own this year are conditional? It all comes down to Briere.
This is where Briere will swing some of that Howie Rosemanesque magic, just like when he traded away a first-rounder last year for a first-rounder for this year. They can use these picks to move up. It is possible that a truly bad team, like the Blackhawks, could cough up their first-rounder for one of the Flyers and a young player, like Frost, who may compliment Connor Bedard well.
However it happens, watch for Briere to move up in this draft and snag a top-notch talent. It may take moving a lot of pieces, but the Flyers have some pieces and assets in which to do it. And if he can pull it off, watch out for next year.