As the dust settles on the 2025 offseason, it’s never too early to get excited about the new season on the horizon. So which Flyers are already on the radar when it comes to potential breakout seasons? Let’s take a look!
Number 5: Tyson Foerster
Foerster is dealing with an off-season elbow infection, so his status for the start of the 205-26 season is still unclear, but as one of the players who shone brightest after Tortorella was let go, it certainly makes him one of the more interesting players when it comes to achieving a higher ceiling than originally anticipated. He’s already posted consecutive 20-goal seasons in his young career, and there’s a chance he’s got even more scoring consistency yet to come.
Number 4: Jamie Drysdale
Drysdale has been a work in progress over the last season-and-a-half since being acquired from the Ducks, but he’s slowly but surely becoming a reliable defender. The hope is that in a post-Tortorella world not only will he see more ice time, but that he’ll be given a real opportunity to QB the power play as well. Particularly with Rasmus Ristolainen slated to miss the start of the season, expect a brunt of the responsibilities of the right side of the defense to fall on his shoulders.
Number 3: Alex Bump
It sure feels like the Flyers have something special with Alex Bump, despite the fact he hasn’t played an NHL game yet. Bump joined the Phantoms after winning a National Championship and was one of the best players on the AHL roster during their playoff run. By all accounts he was one of the standouts at development camp as well. Whether or not he starts the season at the NHL level is still TBD, but once he gets there, he probably hits the ground running and there should be no looking back.
Number 2: Matvei Michkov
Michkov posted 63 points and a team-leading 26 goals during his rookie season, coming largely as advertised. But he had a season-long feud with head coach John Tortorella, which resulted in long stretches where he’d barely play 10 minutes a night. Imagine this guy with a half-decent center and a coach that didn’t hate his guts? The best is yet to come for Michkov, and 2025-26 could be the start of something incredible.
Number 1: Trevor Zegras
Zegras leaves the abyss known as the Anaheim Ducks for the only slightly more lively Philadelphia Flyers, but that change could make all the difference for player who desperately needed a change.
Not only will he be with his two BFFs in Cam York and Jamie Drysdale, but he’ll be flanking any combo of Michkov, Konecny, Foerster and Tippett. That’s a pretty sizable upgrade from his days with the Ducks.
As long as he stays healthy, a return to his 60-point form is not only likely, but there’s a real chance for him to shatter his previous career highs as well.
Honorable Mentions
Emil Andrae
Andrae has been one of the top players on the Phantoms’ roster for the last few years, but was immediately put in the doghouse under Tortorella when he was in the NHL. His speed and skillset, particularly when it comes to being dynamic offensively, is desperately needed on the Flyers’ blue line. So even if he never ends up being a top guy, he should be able to carve out a nice little niche for himself if given the opportunity.
Bobby Brink
Brink had himself a pretty decent season in 2024-25 as one-third of the team’s best line alongside Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster, and he put up a new career-best 41 points, all while being one of the guys Tortorella was hardest on. He’s got an uphill battle in front of him given the sheer depth the winger corps is surrounded with, but he proved that he can be a reliable guy when given a chance to do so.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Getty Images
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