The Philadelphia Flyers expected to be a better team entering the 2025-26 season, but the majority of the NHL world didn't believe them. Thus far, every move has worked out in their favor. They hired Rick Tocchet to be their head coach, who has shown the ability to get the most out of any team he coaches. Trevor Zegras was a flyer of a trade, no pun intended, and the change of scenery from Anaheim has done him wonders, as he became the team's top scorer. Not to mention, signing Dan Vladar, who became a sensation for the Flyers and the solution to their goalie woes.
Through 37 games this season entering Monday, the Flyers own a 19-11-7 record, good enough for 45 points and third place in the Metropolitan Division. Yes, the playoff field is crowded, but the Flyers are only four points back of first place in the division. The Flyers have made a case to be certified playoff contenders, but they haven't gotten the respect they deserve just yet.
The Athletic's Sean McIndoe unveiled his latest NHL weekend rankings, and in the section "Teams I just don't understand (and why)," he has the Flyers in the No. 1 spot. Even though McIndoe has liked what he's seen from the Flyers, he just isn't ready to call them a playoff team just yet.
Flyers keep proving doubters wrong but still get zero respect from NHL world
"At some point, I’m going to have admit that this team is good. Not 'better than expected,' or even 'good enough to sneak into the playoffs,' but just plain good. Today is not that day because I can’t shake the feeling that any team where Christian Dvorak is the third-leading scorer and Dan Vladar is a stud in goal just might be fake," writes McIndoe. "But we’re almost halfway through the season and they’ve been humming along around .625 pretty much all year long. I already feel like I’m locked in on the Flyers as my 'team that makes the playoffs and I don’t accept it until the very last night of the season.'"
It's easy to count out the Flyers, considering the other teams in the conference. Yet, even after losing Tyson Foerster for the season due to an arm injury, the Flyers continue to keep pace i the top three spots in the Metropolitan Division.
As McIndoe mentions, Christian Dvorak and Vladar have been two of Philadelphia's "out of nowhere" top performers this year.
Dvorak joined the Flyers on a one-year, $5.4 million contract, and is currently a top six forward on the team. Not only that, but he's their third-best scorer, as he holds 24 points after scoring eight goals and recording 16 assists. That is great production they are getting from Dvorak, and the hope is that he'll continue.
Vladar, meanwhile, is the Flyers' undisputed starting goaltender. Through 22 starts, Vladar owns a 13-6-3 record, a .909 save percentage, and a 2.37 goals allowed average. Not bad for a goalie they signed to a two-year, $6.7 million contract.
The Flyers recently returned from the Christmas break, carrying a two-game winning streak. However, they lost 4-1 to the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. Next up, they face the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Tocchet's former team.
Based on their track record so far this season, the Flyers can be considered a strong team in the Eastern Conference. It will be interesting to see how they tackle the trade deadline. Adding some more pieces to their roster should help their case in making the playoffs and continue to prove their doubters wrong.