As the calendar rolls around to September, the NHL season draws closer and closer. After the disappointment of the season and the excitement of various off-season events, hockey will be played again this month.
The Flyers will aim to prove that last season wasn't a fluke. In year two of their rebuild, the hope is to see continued growth from their youth. After experiencing what it takes to make it to the playoffs, these players now have a better idea of how to handle themselves.
With a veteran core around them, these players should be able to take another step forward and bring this team closer to contention.
There will be a few events taking place before the 2024-25 season gets under way, however.
September dates Flyers fans should have their eyes on
Rookie Camp- Sept. 12
While the official date for the rookie camp has not been released, we can use other context clues to give us an idea. With two games against the Rangers rookies scheduled for Sept. 14 & 15, one can assume the camp will get underway earlier in the week. It’s not usually a long camp as it leads in main training camp. So they may report on the 11th and start skating on the 12th.
The headliner will, of course, be Matvei Michkov. He will take place in the NHLPA's Rookie Showcase, along with Ivan Fedotov, before reporting back to Philadelphia. 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko should be in attendance, as well as most of the rest of the 2024 draft class. The rookie camp will feature many of the players who attended the development camp earlier in the summer.
Denver Barkey, Alexis Gendron, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, and other familiar names should be in attendance as well.
After a few days on the ice, the group will take part in back-to-back games against rookies from the New York Rangers. This will take place at the PPL Center in Allentown for the third straight year. Both sides have swept the series during the first two years, with the Rangers having won the most recent games in 2023.
Don't expect to see every player appearing in both games. While Michkov is one of the top prospects for Philadelphia, he may not play in both games. That is more for the players on the bubble that the organization wants to get a better look at. Michkov will likely play on Friday before getting a rest the next day. It's hard to say if Luchanko will appear in both games either. He is expected to return to Guelph this season so unless tears it up, it's fair to say he will get one game as well.
Those who could appear in both games are more likely to be those who are entering their second to third year of rookie camp. That would be someone like J.R. Avon or Owen McLaughlin who have been around since 2021. Massimo Rizzo could see both games simply because this is the first up-close look the Flyers will see of him.
Training Camp - Sept. 19
While the Flyers will report to training camp on Sept. 18, the drills will get underway the following day. Most players from rookie camp will join the group as they compete with the NHL squad for a spot come October.
This is where the real business begins. The Flyers will have three days of skating before their first preseason game. And if it's anything like John Tortorella's camp in previous years, they won't be touching the puck right away. Expect to see plenty of skating drills in at least the first two days of camp.
If you can keep up, you'll be in good shape.
Flyers at Capitals - Sept. 22
The first preseason game on the schedule features a trip to Capital One Arena where the Flyers will take on the Capitals. While you will see some recognizable names on the roster, don't expect to see a ton of the returning group taking the ice. The first few games will feature those who are fighting to make an impression on the team. Those will be the players in juniors or those hoping to not get sent back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Could we see a Michkov and Alex Ovechkin showcase? It feels unlikely that the latter will be playing, but it will be the official debut of Michkov with his Flyers teammates. Yes, the rookie games will be the real first time he's on the ice, but the NHL preseason feels more official.
Flyers at Canadiens - Sept. 23
A different group of Flyers will head to the Bell Centre in Montreal to take on the Canadiens the following day. This early in training camp, you aren't likely to see many of the same players appearing in back-to-back games. Would Michkov going to Montreal be fun? Of course, it would be. The fanbase has largely been up in arms since Michkov fell into the laps of the Flyers in 2023. That has grown with the Russian's early arrival in Philadelphia.
If he does play, there should be plenty of hype in this one. Especially if David Reinbacher is in the lineup as well. Ivan Demidov, the Canadiens first-round pick this past summer, is still over in Russia and will not be in attendance for this. He was recently officially named to SKA St. Petersburg's opening night roster. Imagine the hype there would be for this game if he was here, though.
Flyers vs Islanders - Sept. 26
This marks the Flyers' first home preseason game. It would not be a shock to see Michkov in the lineup for this one. We should also start to get somewhat of an idea of the players who still have a chance. If any cuts have been made to this point, it's those who essentially never had a shot at making the roster. That's the junior-level players who might be attending their first training camp.
It could also be camp invites who were also getting their feet wet but were unable to make an impression simply due to a numbers game. Regardless, it will give Flyers fans their first look at the team since a disappointing ending last season.
Flyers vs Bruins - Sept. 28
If cuts haven't been made to this point, they will certainly have hit at this point. This will be the Flyers' fourth preseason camp and the unofficial halfway mark of camp. Most regular players will start to be in the lineup with each game as the group works to find chemistry ahead of the regular season.
This is where the organization will have a rather clear idea of those players who need more time versus those who are on the brim of making the NHL roster. It's after this that the cuts become harder as players who have survived to this point will be doing everything they can to stick around.
Flyers at Islanders - Sept. 30
In the final game of the September slate, the Flyers will only have two preseason games remaining after this. By now, most of the players on the ice will be who heads into the season. There could still be a few players sticking around. But at this point, it's about making sure everyone who will play in the NHL is sharp and focused heading in.
We should also have a much clearer picture of what the lines could look like on opening night. The most important will be who Michkov is lined up with. Will the Flyers go veteran-heavy or allow Michkov to create chemistry with some of the younger players on the roster? Fedotov will likely have a few more games under his belt so this will give the team a better look at what they can expect from him.
At this point, the Flyers will have already gotten their answer on Alexei Kolosov. If he reports to training camp, he will fight to show the team he can play in North America. If he doesn't, things become harder to predict. Under contract, Kolosov cannot play anywhere else and the Flyers don't seem keen on terminating his contract. Stay tuned for the outcome of that throughout the month.
We are closer and closer to the start of the 2024-25 season. There will be plenty of storylines to watch as training camp unfolds and the games begin. Which players have the most to prove? Who might force the Flyers to make a tough decision? And what will the final roster look like next month?
September is here and Flyers hockey is just about set to return.