There hasn't been a ton of roster turnover for the Flyers, a group that isn't quite a contender yet but has proven it has what it takes to surprise a lot of teams. They added a few pieces, but will primarily run back a roster that made the playoffs for the first time after a five-year drought.
The Flyers still have some key areas they need to improve. Danny Briere tried to find the top-line center they've been looking for in Leo Carlsson, but the Ducks unsurprisingly weren't letting him go. They will hope that Trevor Zegras can take that step with more reps down the middle next season. With his future in Philadelphia set for the next four years, he has the trust to do so.
The power play is another area the Flyers desperately need to improve upon. With that, they need a defenseman whom they have confidence in to run the point and become the quarterback of the unit. That role, for right now, will fall onto the shoulders of Jamie Drysdale. He too recently signed a four-year deal and has shown noticeable improvement over the last two years.
While those two areas will be a work in progress, the Flyers' group of wingers has continued to be their biggest strength. They have a solid blend of players who have proven themselves in the league and a group of youngsters chomping at the bit to make an impact. They don't necessarily have a star amongst the group, but the collection of wingers they possess could fit together well.
And it should make for plenty of internal competition during training camp and throughout the season.
The Flyers competition on the wing should feature numerous battles
Let's start with some of the obvious. Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, and Porter Martone should make up the top six. Konecny has been one of the faces of the franchise for many years and typically holds the top spot in production. Tippett, while having consistency issues, is easily the most skilled forward on the roster when his game is at its peak.
Foerster lost a large amount of time with injury last season, but still boasts a top-notch shot and was locked in for eight years earlier this month. Porter Martone burst onto the scene at the end of the year and has a chance to make waves amongst the rookie class this upcoming season.
Moving on, Matvei Michkov is the wild card of the bottom six. His sophomore season, while statistically it wasn't a huge drop from his rookie season, was filled with ups and downs. He's seemingly putting in the work this offseason and should hopefully come into camp with a chip on his shoulder. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him start on the third line, but a strong camp could move him up.
Noel Acciari is a clear upgrade for the Flyers' fourth line and should give the group more offensive punch. His versatility at center is also a plus, meaning he can step in to take faceoffs when needed. The rest of the group, though, is not set in stone.
Denver Barkey and Alex Bump both proved they could handle the pace at the NHL level. Barkey's competitive nature and willingness to become involved in the play have made him a favorite of Rick Tocchet's. Bump has used an underdog mentality to surprise many people and carve out a role at the next level. Both exceeded expectations in their limited NHL time and should find themselves on the opening night roster.
The Flyers surprisingly re-signed Carl Grundstrom, who filled in at times throughout the season and performed admirably for his role. If he sticks with the team after camp, it's likely as the extra forward. Otherwise, he could be a veteran option on the Phantoms who is one of the first call-up options if the team needs more depth.
Rounding out the bunch is Nikita Grebenkin. Even though he remains unsigned, all signs point to him remaining a part of the organization. A still-undisclosed injury cost him the final month of the season, along with the playoffs. There hadn't been much word on his status until recently, when it was reported that he is expected to be ready for camp in September. Similar to Grundstrom, he could either be the extra forward or sent to the AHL for more reps.
The Flyers still have questions in other areas, but there is no doubt that the wing is their deepest position on the roster. The internal competition could become a strength as the Flyers will try to build upon last season's playoff appearance.
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