The Philadelphia Flyers are revitalizing their rebuilding efforts under new general manager Danny Briere, and that means many more years of lackluster hockey in Philadelphia. Though unlike the Ron Hextall years, the Flyers need to have a plan and an actual itinerary this go-around. Looking ahead and trying to map out the theoretical timeline back to competition in Philly paints a path that may not be as painful as anticipated, but it’s still very much dependent on the caliber of leadership the Briere regime brings to the table.
2023-24
Overview: The next 82 games for the Flyers are going to be a complete waste of time. It’s another nose-to-the-grindstone John Tortorella lesson teachin’ season as he continues to shape the current group and weed out whichever players survive his 2023 offseason “subtraction” list.
Goal: Next season needs to be about the integration of many of the borderline prospects. Tyson Foerster, Elliot Desnoyers, Egor Zamula, Ronnie Attard, Bobby Brink, Olle Lycksell, and Sam Ersson should all get decent looks at the NHL level next season. If the offseason subtractions go well, there should be at least a handful of open roster spots that can be cycled out throughout the season to the young guys on the fringe. It should give the Flyers a good idea as to who can be a regular in 2024-25 and the 2024 offseason can further be used to subtract the vets if they don’t fit. They may take a step forward or two in the standings if the development goes well, but the playoffs still seem like a nonexistent dream.
2024-25
Overview: The more-than-likely arrival of Cutter Gauthier and quite a few of their AHL prospects that didn’t get a fair shake in 2023-24. Gauthier is one of the crown jewels of their rebuild and he shows up to insulate the in-house youngsters, and with any luck, he’s all he’s cracked up to be and a glimmer of hope breaks on the the seemingly endless abyss for the Flyers.
Goal: 24-25 is the hope and pray year. Gauthier should show up, and the rest of the prospect’s roles within the organization should be much better understood. The puzzle pieces start to fit together and by season’s end the skeleton of the future of the team should very much be in place. What Gauthier brings to the table will ultimately decide how much longer they have to focus on drafting. They’ll also have two picks in the first round of the 2024 draft, their own and Florida’s to round out their prospect pool. It is also another season that can already be chalked up to development and thus the playoffs are unlikely, though in turn, the 2025 offseason needs to be were Briere and co put on their big boy pants and don’t hesitate to make a splash or two with (hopefully) very few excuses left on the table not to.
2025-26
Overview: It’s time to start pressing the gas pedal a little bit. By now, they will have a pretty good idea of who sinks and who swims at the NHL level and the “rebuild” should shift towards the end stages of cleaning up and considering outside options to start winning with regularity again. It’ll be their last season without Michkov in tow and the organization should have the red carpet rolled out for his arrival.
Goal: The 2025 offseason should be a green light for the Flyers to add a big time player or two via free agency or trade. It should be about getting the Flyers back into the postseason, even if it doesn’t amount in much more than a first round elimination. Hope should be plentiful and the future should be well understood. If any of the prospects/young roster players aren’t showing legit NHL potential, it’s time to consider all options moving forward. Understanding what “go time” means and not being afraid to make moves in either direction will be the ultimate difference maker between Briere and the two regimes that came before.
2026-27
Overview: Matvei Michkov is here and it’s time to take serious steps forward. If the pressure to make the playoffs wasn’t on before, it is now. Many of their top prospects will be multiple years into their careers and all the veterans that make up the roster today will all be long gone. It should really be the genuine start of that “new era of orange” they love so much.
Goal: It’s time to return to perennial playoff contenders. Offseason moves need to be made, risks need to be taken and a winning product has to be on the ice. Interestingly, this would also be the season where John Tortorella’s no longer under contract with the Flyers. It’ll be their chance to put to rest the development era and hire an exciting coach that can get the most out of whichever youngsters make up this roster.
2027 and Beyond
With any luck, the end of heartache is upon us. This team needs to be making deep playoff runs. If they draft well over the in 2023, 2024 and 2025 there should be a steady flow of cheap, talented players to offset the costs of adding outside talent. It’ll be Briere’s ultimate test (provided he’s still employed by then) and he and Jones can hopefully bring the Cup back to Philly, well over 50 years later.
Conclusion
In the grand scheme of things, 2027 isn’t that far away, but after a decade of terrible hockey, asking to sit patiently for another four or more years, it may as well be a lifetime.
At the end of the day, this rebuild is just about being proactive towards their situation and unafraid to course correct on the fly. Sitting back and doing nothing more than just drafting is how Hextall failed. Attempting to duct tape major problems with lackluster, directionless solutions is how Fletcher failed. If the Flyers are struggling and the in-house prospects aren’t turning out as hoped, a shot of adrenaline in the form out an outside addition or two need to be made. If things are actually going well, then catering to the obvious holes on the roster can’t be ignored. It all seems like obvious blanketed statements, but it’s all stuff the Flyers have openly disregarded for years now.
Theoretically, this shouldn’t be that difficult of a process. There’s a decent crop of young talent already either on the roster or in the system. The salary cap in the short and mid term really isn’t that bad and can be remedied with a few moves. And in another year or two, their asset pool should be plentiful and trading for upgrades will be significantly easier than it is today.
Though, If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the last ten years of sub-par Flyers hockey, it’s just assuming every piece magically works out for the best is a near impossibility.
Michkov’s timeline should be the metaphorical green light for the team. They have their starting line marked on the calendar. Making sure there’s at least a semi-decent product for him to play with in 2026 needs to be priority number one for the Flyers. Remaining in the same one-foot-in-one-foot-out holding pattern for the next few years then panic building when Michkov shows up should not be the way things are handled.
A lot of their rebuilding efforts are dependent on the success of Gauthier and Michkov, but legitimate outside solutions need to be considered as well. It’s been many, many years since the Flyers made a trade or signing for a top level player. If there’s a sense things may not be on course and the team needs a jolt, then the front office can’t be afraid to give them one. And on the flip side of the same coin, if things are working out, the franchise needs to be cognizant of “go time” and not be afraid to make actual, worthwhile, high-caliber additions to the roster.
Are Briere and Jones up to the challenge? They sure talk a good game, but whether or not they can step up when the decisions get difficult will be the real test. They can piss away the next few seasons under the guise of a rebuild, but they won’t have the same never ending timeline and complacency that Hextall did. There needs to be palpable changes, both visually to the roster and overall directionally to the franchise, to remain in everyone’s good graces. Will this finally be the regime that carries the Flyers back to greatness, or it is just more smoke and mirrors? Guess we’ll just have to sit back and wait a few more years to find out.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Getty Images
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