The Flyers are drawing national attention for a reason

The NHL knows what it's doing when it comes to the teams it gives national attention to. One of the biggest reasons has to do with the audience they expect the games to draw. It is also fair to say it involves the excitement level surrounding the team.

And while the Flyers don't have the most, their 14 national games show the league is paying attention. Philadelphia is a heavy sports market, even if the Flyers aren't always at the forefront. The Eagles are the talk of the town most days, while the Phillies hold a high spot as well. Due to falling out of playoff contention in recent years, most fans haven't paid much attention to the hockey team in town.

That could change with Rick Tocchet at the helm and a team brimming with young talent. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about what the Flyers are building.

Matvei Michkov impressed in his rookie season and should only get better with time. Teaming up with Trevor Zegras should give the Flyers a lethal combination if all goes well. Travis Konecny continues to turn heads and is firmly in the prime of his career.

Younger players like Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett should be the backbone of this group for years to come. Noah Cates has developed into a solid second or third-line center. Travis Sanheim is the veteran of the defense and is turning into the top-pair defenseman the Flyers have been looking for.

And while goaltending has left plenty to be desired, Sam Ersson has trust from the organization and has shown glimpses of being a strong option in net. He may not be a star number one goaltender, but he can keep the Flyers in games when he's locked in. The options behind him are shaky, though the pipeline has a few potential stars. Carson Bjarnason should man the Phantoms' net, while Yegor Zavragin is excelling in the KHL.

The team could see some of its top prospects crack the lineup. Alex Bump is the biggest name as the fifth-rounder has turned heads and could become a scoring threat. Denver Barkey, while on the smaller end, dominated the junior level and is ready to make an impact. His teammate, Oliver Bonk, could claim a spot with injuries on the backend.

So, for those looking to catch the Flyers on the national level, there will be a few ways to do so. ESPN will carry four games, while ESPN+/Hulu has three. On TNT, Philadelphia will have five matchups, while ABC will play host to two games.

Of note, all three matchups between the Flyers and Sabres will be on national television. Not sure anyone asked for that, but the NHL gave it to us anyway. Six divisional games will be shown, though only one will be during the 2025 calendar year. The Flyers end the season with three of their final six games at the national level.