The Philadelphia Flyers 2025-2026 Season Thread

[Maverick426h]

Yeah, best summarized by hitting multiple posts and Carolina gets their first goal on a lucky bounce off the back boards.
Carolina's top lines didn't beat us.
Jordan freakin' Staal did.
But, you just have to tip your cap to that guy.

And their third goal by Svechnikov hits the post, hits Vladar, and goes in.

I would say, in short, their savvy veterans came to play and we just don't have many healthy, savvy veterans. Sean Couturier has been amazing, but he can only do so much on that 4th line. Hell, I would strongly consider putting him on one of the top two lines for game four. We're going to lose the series anyway. Might as well try something drastic. He's playing very well. Let's see what he can do with two wingers who can score.

Jordan Staal has been around forever. I'm amazed that the guy is only 37, and also, he's physically enormous. You can't move the guy at all (unless you're little Jamie Drysdale, and you run into him at the blue line...LOL).

Bottom line though, we're not getting any breaks in this series, from the referees or the hockey Gods. In my opinion, we've played well enough to win at least one game, but their goal scoring is more timely and we're just hitting too many posts or missing on too many grade A scoring chances.

No shame here, because quite frankly, I think Carolina could definitely go on to win the Cup this year. Who is beating them!? I don't think anyone can.

 

[Maverick426h]

I appreciate the hustle and some of the incredible plays by our youngsters, but without Tippett and Cates, we seem to be too young and inexperienced to compete in this series. That said, we're learning a little something about guys like Martone, Bump, Michkov and Barkey.

Martone looks destined to be a top line forward for us and perhaps Bump and Barkey can be top six guys too. It sure as hell makes Michkov look more expendable. I hope he comes ready to play next season or his spot on the roster will be tentative.

 

[Chris p Bacon]

So in the off season we need to address, Size, Defense and 1 C if possible.
Me personally, I have seen enough of Andre, York and Drysdale on the back end. Drysdale could be awesome if he gained some size and quit being scared to be hit! I'm also need to see less of Barkey. Hopefully we have some better youth getting ready to make their move.

 

[Maverick426h]

So in the off season we need to address, Size, Defense and 1 C if possible.
Me personally, I have seen enough of Andre, York and Drysdale on the back end. Drysdale could be awesome if he gained some size and quit being scared to be hit! I'm also need to see less of Barkey. Hopefully we have some better youth getting ready to make their move.

If Bonk or Jiricek can make the jump to the big squad, they are bigger than guys like York, Drysdale or certainly Andrae. Also, Martone is going to grow into his frame and bulk up. That kid is going to be an absolute beast, and I think it will happen quickly too. If he were a little bigger and stronger right now, he'd be finishing a lot more in this postseason. He's getting outmuscled by older, stronger men, and that's fine. The kid is only 19. He will get there. The skill/talent and hands that he has for a bigger kid are ELITE. He's going to score boatloads of points next season, quite frankly.

I like the compete and the hands of Barkey a lot, but is he big enough or responsible enough defensively? Maybe he's a mini, poor man's Claude Giroux. I think it's too early to say.

These kids have been tossed into a jungle here against probably the best team in the East. It's really tough for me to be truly down on any of them because they're getting beaten by a powerhouse team.

Hopefully a move is made for a center, but also, don't absolutely force anything or severely overpay.

 

[Chris p Bacon]

Well, this season could be over today. We definitely came a lot further than I thought we would have. The future looks extremely bright for this squad going forward  IF Briere and company can make some good moves and fill the glaring holes, we could potentially be a little more dangerous next season. I'll be extremely curious as to what moves are made between now and next season.

 

[chy1127]

Well, this season could be over today. We definitely came a lot further than I thought we would have. The future looks extremely bright for this squad going forward  IF Briere and company can make some good moves and fill the glaring holes, we could potentially be a little more dangerous next season. I'll be extremely curious as to what moves are made between now and next season.

This year is lean for top centers. Malkin is the highest rated Center. Boone Jenner is next and is 33 with all of 38 points, followed by 34 years old Charlie Coyle with 58 points. If Risto is moved, Darren Raddysh would help the PP 1000000%. He will, however, cost a lot of $$$ as he will be a really hot ticket. Flyers have plenty of cap but cannot afford to go right back into cap hell. Not a good year to try to find a Center.

 

[Sparhawk]

This year is lean for top centers. Malkin is the highest rated Center. Boone Jenner is next and is 33 with all of 38 points, followed by 34 years old Charlie Coyle with 58 points. If Risto is moved, Darren Raddysh would help the PP 1000000%. He will, however, cost a lot of $$$ as he will be a really hot ticket. Flyers have plenty of cap but cannot afford to go right back into cap hell. Not a good year to try to find a Center.

I look forward to our conversations on what kind of poison pill contract we should offer Player X that will either cripple our franchise (losing draft picks) or theirs (bad contract).

 

[Maverick426h]

It would be great to just win this game. We're capable, but we can't just give them 9 power plays either. Poor officiating has been a huge part of that, but there have definitely been some stupid penalties and those seem to be the ones that really burn you.

 

[Maverick426h]

Look at Barkey going hard to the net and drawing that penalty. How many small youngsters like him are willing to do that!? Not many, that's for damn sure.

Love that Foerster finally got himself a goal.

 

[TheSnowdog]

I don’t think there was that much interference if any
Just a weak goal given up
But I’ll take it

 

[Retroram52]

The Third Period has been our downfall in this series. If we can get a goal or two and ramp-up our Defense, we may extend the season one more game!!

 

[Maverick426h]

I don’t think there was that much interference if any
Just a weak goal given up
But I’ll take it

Freddie Andersen must've sold his soul to the Devil to not give up more than two goals in a playoff game this year. It's absolutely wild because he's a veteran that is way past his prime and he's never really been a top goalie anyway, I would argue. Pucks are bouncing off his posts left and right, even getting behind him, but they refuse to cross the goal line.

 

[Retroram52]

Once again we allow a goal in the Third Period and that might the beginning of the end for the Flyers!

 

[Retroram52]

Well done! Nice response by Bump and the Flyers to score a goal and tie it up!!

 

[Retroram52]

We got to keep the game out of the OT. We have not been very good there either!

 

[Retroram52]

Oh crap! Here we go into the OT Period!

 

[Retroram52]

Excellent save by Vladar on Ahole!

 

[Retroram52]

Well, the Flyers gave it their best effort but that is all she wrote for this year!

 

[Maverick426h]

I feel bad for Dan Vladar. All we had to do was score three goals a couple times and this series could've easily been 2-2 headed back to Raleigh. Again and again, we COULD NOT score that 3rd goal. It's amazing, really.

It should've been a closer series, but Carolina had very timely scoring and our special teams in a penalty-filled series were mostly terrible.

 

[awaz]

Bummer to go out in a sweep. But no shame in losing to this Canes team.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to get excited watching Flyers games and we had that for the last couple months. I will take it!

Young team. Assets to work with. Let’s see what the offseason has in store.