The Philadelphia Flyers have a much different vibe going on in 2025-26. Contrast this with the 2023-24 team, one that was winning games, but you couldn't help but feel the good times weren't going to last.
That inevitable collapse started in March, and the Flyers never seemed to put it behind them in 2024-25. As for the 2025-26 team? They're legit. Even if they don't make the playoffs, don't put it past the Flyers that they won't end up at least in the middle of the league standings, and not in a heartbreaking way.
Head coach Rick Tocchet has this team on the up and up, with a 5-3-1 record and 11 points. That's putting the Flyers on pace for a triple-digit point total at season's end, but what stands out more than anything else is the way some players have come along.
Philadelphia Flyers are building from outside and within the organization
Dan Vladar is the biggest standout. Vladar is one major reason the Flyers have put the NHL on notice so early, thanks to his 0.932 save percentage and 1.81 GAA. Because of his early-season performances, Vladar no longer looks like a career backup netminder for the time being.
The summertime trade for Trevor Zegras was a hit, and with nine points and two goals already, he's finally playing to the potential he never reached in Anaheim. Without him and Vladar, chances are, the Flyers would still be a distant eighth in the Metropolitan Division.
Then, there are players from within the organization coming into their own like Bobby Brink. He had a respectable 41 points and 12 goals through 79 games in 2024-25, but in 2025-26, he's on pace to finish close to a point per contest, with seven so far in nine games.
Noah Cates is another standout, with six points and three goals so far. Cates has put up 38 and 37 points in the past, but could be in line for between 50 and 60 points this season. All of the above players, plus the fact that captain Sean Couturier is also looking like a point-per-game player, are reasons why the Flyers will be in contention come the trade deadline.
The Flyers are closer than most casual hockey fans may think
One look at the Flyers' advanced statistics drives home how close they are. While they could stand to score more, ranking just 30th in the league with 24 goals, they're still snagging an 8.4 shooting percentage at 5-on-5, a shade lower than the 8.7 league average.
Their power play is sitting at 17.24, and that's the one caveat holding them back. As for their penalty kill? It's a healthy 88.57, while their save percentage at 5-on-5 is a solid 0.915, a cut above the NHL average of 0.913.
In all situations, they're shooting at 11.3 percent, and their save percentage in all situations is light years ahead of the 0.889 league average, clocking in at a brilliant 0.903. All of these numbers indicate just how well the Flyers are playing in most situations, and they're a key driver for what's making them a tougher team to play against in 2025-26.