Philadelphia Flyers 2024-25 Player Preview: Travis Konecny

After the trade of Claude Giroux, there was a leadership role vacuum on the Philadelphia Flyers. Sure, Sean Couturier and Scott Laughton were the de facto leaders in the clubhouse based on their longevity. However, Couturier was hurt for most of that period and Laughton was never a stats guy. Someone needed to pick up the slack on the ice. That mantle finally fell on the shoulders of Travis Konecny.

Konecny has had an interesting career in Philly thus far. He was a first round pick in 2015, selected 27th overall and taken 20 spots behind Ivan Provorov. He spent another year in juniors before making the team the following year, scoring 11 goals in his first season. The next season began a three year stretch in which he scored 24 goals in each season.

Then Alain Vigneault happened. The former Flyers coach and Konecny never gelled. He would scratch the rising star and blame him for the postseason struggles during the Bubble Playoffs of 2019-20. In the COVID-shortened season that followed, Konecny scored 11 goals and only 16 the following season when AV was fired.

The Flyers then hired John Tortorella as head coach and everything changed. Despite a reputation for being tough, Tortorella and Konecny clicked. Even with seasons cut short due to injuries, Konecny scored 31 goals in 2022-23 and followed that up with a 33-goal campaign the year after. He's hit the 60-point plateau in both of Tortorella's seasons as head coach. The way things are trending, a 70-75 point season isn't off the table.

Travis Konecny is a key piece to the Flyers future

Heading into this season, Konecny was entering his contract year. General Manager Daniel Briere didn't want to see him hit the market. Konecny was re-signed to an eight-year deal. This extension means the Flyers are building for a future with Konecny as a key part. Perhaps some of the young stars, like Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, or Tyson Foerster could outperform Konecny in the future, but it is his time to guide them.

Couturier may be the captain, but let's be honest. This is Konecny's team. This is his moment. He has been Philly's selection to the NHL All-Star Team in 2020 and 2024. We can expect him to be a constant there representing the Flyers, as Giroux used to do. Barring injuries, this will probably be Konecny's best season to date. And with the core of the Flyers leadership signed on for the foreseeable future, the future looks good.