The Flyers are bona fide playoff contenders. With about 40% of the season gone, the Flyers have positioned themselves as one of the better teams in the Metropolitan Division, and they refuse to go away. If they have any team identity at all, it's that.
So, whether the fans like it or not, and even if it isn't prudent, the Flyers are going to be playing meaningful games quite often over the next 60% of the season. With that importance, certain players will become more important and more noticeable as the season goes on. This might be in a good way, and it might be in a bad way. Here is my list of the players who are going to be the most important for the team going into the 2026 portion of the season.
Honorable Mention: Owen Tippett
He receives a lot of criticism for being streaky, but Owen Tippett is fourth in team scoring, is driving play well, and is bringing an increased physical presence. His speed and ability make him a threat every game, and he's becoming a little more consistent with his production.
10. Samuel Ersson
The role of a backup goalie takes on many forms. In the modern NHL, it could mean anything from a quirky emotional support player at the end of the bench to a coach having to flip a coin because both players are great.
Sam Ersson needs to get a lot closer to the latter. He's had a rough start to the year, and in shaking off an injury, he threw off his groove. He's lost the 1A spot to Dan Vladar, who has played extremely well, but Rick Tocchet seems willing to keep him in the mix. He has to start responding with wins. He's been shaky during the 12 games he has played, and has a SV% of .869, which is the worst of his career.
9. Rasmus Ristolainen
The best ability is availability, and that's been the struggle for Rasmus Ristolainen in his career since joining the Flyers.
If he can stay healthy, his current role as a third-pair guy makes him valuable in stretching the Flyers' defensive depth. Ideally, the minutes reduction helps him maintain health and allows him to be a physical presence with offensive upside for the remainder of the season.
8. Travis Sanheim
The Flyers' de facto #1 defender is also playing with the pressure of the Olympics resting on his shoulders. Right now, most experts have Travis Sanheim heading to Italy with Team Canada, and he's the Flyers' ice team leader by a wide margin.
Sanheim needs to continue to thrive in this role and will likely continue to receive the lion's share of defensive shifts. If he's steady, the unit will most likely take after him.
7. Bobby Brink/Noah Cates
A member of one of the Flyers' most fun and consistent lines, Bobby Brink now finds himself without one of his mates in Tyson Forester for the remainder of the season. He's got his high-water mark in goals (12) firmly in his sights with nine already this year, and could put his career highs in play.
Simply put, how Brink responds and gels with who they have running in his place will be a huge factor in the scoring depth and overall success of the team moving forward as we flip the calendar.
Almost everything that was just listed for Brink can also be applied to Noah Cates. The reason Cates gets a separate mention is that he is typically the pivot to the line, meaning he has enhanced defensive responsibilities, and he's on both special teams units.
6. Travis Konecny
One of the longest tenured Flyers, Travis Konecny continues to move up the all-time scoring ranks for the team, and plays with the same fiesty streak that has made him a fan favorite.
His ability to stay healthy and deliver consistent production is a huge driver for the Flyers' current success and will mean a lot towards their continuation.
5. Jamie Drysdale
Currently the team's highest scoring defender, Jamie Drysdale is doing his best to show out in the ever-important contract year. The Flyers need that and more.
Drysdale is offensively gifted, and it is clear his reunion with good buddy Trevor Zegras is good for everyone. So can his potential be fully unlocked? He needs to continue to drive play and be effective in all three zones, but a point scorer is the most important thing right now.
4. Matvei Michkov
The sophomore effort from Matvei Michkov isn't off to the start that many of us wanted to see, but he's slowly coming back into form.
Michkov needs to stay out of the penalty box and earn the trust of the coaching staff. He's not wholly unproductive, but if the Flyers are going to be a playoff team, he needs to become that consistent threat again. He needs to earn his way into playing more than 15:00 minutes a night, and probably needs to be around 18 if he's going to develop into a point-a-game type threat.
3. Christian Dvorak
He's found a new rhythm in Philadelphia, and Christian Dvorak is already in spitting distance of his career-best season, and eclipsing the 40-point plateau for the first time in his career.
With more offensive freedom and not being bogged down as a defensive centerman, Dvorak is showing his game can evolve, and it is impressive so far. As he continues on this season, he'll have to do more of both, and show that he's worth of his hefty contract number. If he's able to succeed, it creates a whole lot of flexibility and depth that the Flyers crave.
2. Dan Vladar
All the expectations around Dan Vladar have been blown away. He's been impressive all season and claimed a number 1 spot for the Flyers, and in his brief time has stabilized the team.
Eventually, a regression will come, but how Vladar deals with the ebbs and flows of being the go-to guy will surely show us whether or not the Flyers hang in the race and push for the playoffs, or fall by the wayside.
1. Trevor Zegras
He's halfway to his peak season, and he's got more than half the year left.
Trevor Zegras has been so good that we're asking questions about him possibly being a point-per-game player, and throwing out lofty numbers in terms of years and dollars for an extension. The change of scenery to Philadelphia fits him, and he's in turn jived with the fans and the style of the team.
He's carried the offense and if he can continue to do so the Flyers will be in every game, and Danny Briere will be that much closer to trying to swing a big trade to get him an extra weapon or two.