There were not a lot of believers in the Philadelphia Flyers entering the 2025-26 season, with the team expected to be more in the running for the No. 1 pick in the draft than the Stanley Cup title. Yet, the team clinched third place in the Metropolitan Division and won their first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Saturday, the Flyers' season ended at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4. Even home ice could not help them, as the Hurricanes showed why they were the better team in this series.
During the handshake lines, Hurricanes head coach and former Flyers player Rod Brind'Amour gave props to the players and head coach Rick Tocchet. When he got to Tocchet, he praised him for the team he helped build in his first year in Philadelphia.
Listen in as Rod Brind'Amour goes through the handshake line after the @Canes closed out their Second Round #StanleyCup Playoffs series against the @NHLFlyers! 🎤 pic.twitter.com/LwqKtd4WCh
— NHL (@NHL) May 12, 2026
"Way to bring these guys back," Brind'Amour told Tocchet.
Rod Brind'Amour praises Rick Tocchet for bringing successful Flyers hockey back for fans
Game 3 was a bit of a homecoming for Brind'Amour, who played for the Flyers from 1991 until 2000. After that game, Brind'Amour said that Philadelphia and their fans always hold a special place in his heart. The former Flyer also that he is happy for the fans now that they have a playoff team to cheer on.
"I'm happy for the fans that they got a great team to support here now."
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 7, 2026
Former Flyer and Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour on what this playoff run means for Philly. pic.twitter.com/jdXGCfEdiv
"I love Philadelphia. I loved my time here. It's been 26 years, which is hard to believe, but I think once a Flyer, always a Flyer. Not this series, but I love how I was treated here. And I'm happy for the fans that they've got a great team to support here now."
Brind'Amour continued, saying that the Flyers may not be an Original Six team, but they do have history, from Bill Barber to Bobby Clarke, saying they put the team on the map. Brind'Amour said that now, it's great to see that the Flyers are back "firing on all cylinders."
This playoff run, regardless of how and when it ends, has been a memorable one for the Flyers. The team had not made it into the playoffs since 2020, while they were in the Toronto bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, they hadn't played playoff hockey on home ice since 2018. Not only did they make the playoffs, but they defeated a huge rival in the Penguins, and eliminated them in Philadelphia on a Game 6 overtime goal by Cam York.
Now, the Flyers are in offseason mode after getting swept by Brind'Amour's Hurricanes. They have plenty to build off of to ensure they can make a deeper run in the playoffs in the near future. Brind'Amour is proud as a former player that the Flyers looks to be in a solid position as a playoff contender for the foreseeable future.
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