We've handed out grades to the Philadelphia Flyers' top forwards, and we're moving on to their depth players. "Depth forwards" applies to players being utilized in the bottom six, frequently being healthy scratched and, in one case, a rookie playing his way into a bigger role.
Denver Barkey: B+
The kid can play! The only thing keeping Barkey's grade from being an "A" is the scoring (two goals, nine points in 22 games), but he's been outstanding in nearly every other way. In 13:34 average ice time, Barkey leads the team with a 59.74 expected Goals-For percentage (xGF%), per Natural Stat Trick--that is some elite play driving ability. All signs point to him being in the lineup for the remainder of the season (and probably next year, too). This has been a great rookie season so far, and it's looking like Barkey can only go up from here.
Bobby Brink: B
Oh, you know, just another ho-hum half-point-a-game season for Brink, who's got 13 goals and 24 points in 50 games. It's becoming clear though that, at 24 years old, Brink likely tops out as a good third-line winger who can play on your second line in a pinch--and the Flyers have a lot of younger options coming up through the pipeline, including one who's already here in Denver Barkey. Brink's having a good season but, as an arbitration-eligible RFA this summer, isn't showing he has another level that screams he needs to be here for the long haul.
Carl Grundstrom: B-
It's hard to believe GM Danny Briere was able to acquire Grundstrom for Ryan Ellis, a player who will never suit up for an NHL game again. Grundstrom got off to a blistering start in Philadelphia, scoring seven goals and eight points in his first 12 games with the team but, in his last 15 games, he only has a goal an assist. Ultimately, Grundstrom is a fourth-line winger who can put the puck in the net at a decent clip for someone in that role, and he's been a solid addition to the bottom six in general.
Noah Cates: C+
While Cates has two more points than Brink (10 goals, 16 assists), Cates has struggled far more with Tyson Foerster out of the lineup--Cates hasn't scored a goal since 2025, and only four points since the calendar flipped. Still, he's a useful NHL player, and better to have in the lineup than not. If he's able to put up a few more points down the stretch, he can get bumped up into "B" territory; for now though, he's just passable.
Rodrigo Abols: C
There's nothing particularly flashy about Abols's game (three goals and 10 points in 42 games), but it's a shame he suffered such a serious looking injury and was unable to compete for Latvia at the Olympics, and will likely be out for the season. The Flyers' center depth was already strained, and losing Abols who, at worst, was a passable fourth-line center, has really done a number on the team's depth. Abols hasn't been a standout player this season, but he hasn't burned the Flyers much, either, so he gets a passing grade for being just "fine."
Nikita Grebenkin: C-
Grebenkin's rookie season has had its ups and downs, and a lot of that can be attributed to lineup shuffling. Sometimes he's been on the first line, sometimes the fourth--and everywhere in between. Four goals and 12 points isn't the most exciting stat line, but we're giving him some grace due to who he usually shares the ice with (a snakebitten Garnet Hathaway, for example), and expect him to grow as a player over time. He gets a gentleman's "C" in the here and now, though.
Nic Deslauriers: D
"D" is for "Deslauriers." At this point, we all know Deslauriers's role on the Flyers: bring some good, veteran vibes and occassionally knock the snot out of another team's tough guy. He's got one point this season--an assist--and if his usage continues this way (only 21 games played this year, on pace for fewer than 40), it could be the last point of his NHL career: he's 35 years old and it's the final season of his contract. Lots of respect for the veteran enforcer, but his roster spot should be open for up and coming players.
Garnet Hathaway: F
In the 2025-26 season, there is perhaps no more disappointing Flyer than Garnet Hathaway. In 47 games, he has one (1) goal and one (1) assist--a whopping two points. Hathaway's never been a prolific scorer, averaging 20 points per season, but this sort of drop off in production is a bad sign for a 34-year old fourth-line winger in that it's probably just who he is now. Even more concerning is the play driving: Hathaway's usually graded out positively in expected goals, but this year he's sitting at an atrocious 45.27 xGF%. If Hathaway finishes the season this way, perhaps the Flyers should consider a buyout in the summer.