Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere and coach John Tortorella recently held their end-of-season media availabilities. The Flyers performed better than expected this season, leading to questions about their timeline for competing for a playoff spot. Briere acknowledged that several players exceeded expectations, but he believes it’s still too early to say if they are true contenders. He emphasized the need to be cautious and not rush the development of their young assets.
Tortorella also acknowledged that the roster is a work in progress and that the team still needs to add talent. He praised the team’s ability to adapt to his preferred style of play but noted that they struggled to generate goals in tight games late in the season. He believes they need to develop more offense within the offensive zone.
One of the challenges facing Briere is how to add high-end talent when the Flyers are unlikely to have top-five draft picks. While free agency is an option, Briere made it clear that the team isn’t currently in a position to spend big money on star players. He also ruled out trading young players or assets for over-30 veterans. However, he expressed openness to exploring hockey trades if they make sense and can bring more talent to the team.
The Flyers’ power play was a significant issue this season, ranking as the worst in the NHL. Assistant coach Rocky Thompson has overseen the power play for two seasons, but no coaching changes are expected. Briere stated that they will look for answers from within and mentioned that former NHL players like himself, Patrick Sharp, and Dany Heatley could contribute their ideas.
The Flyers announced that defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had surgery on a ruptured triceps tendon but is expected to be ready for training camp. Rookie defenseman Jamie Drysdale might also need surgery on a lower-body/core area injury. Briere expressed excitement about seeing a healthy Drysdale next season and believes he will be a different player.
The future of veterans Cam Atkinson and Ryan Johansen is uncertain. Briere mentioned the need for internal discussions regarding Atkinson and expressed caution in evaluating him after missing a significant portion of the season. Regarding Johansen, Briere doesn’t expect him to return and stated that the focus is on his medical situation and getting him back to a state where he can play hockey.
The Flyers’ goalie tandem for next season is expected to be Samuel Ersson and Ivan Fedotov. Tortorella praised Ersson’s performance in the team’s final three games and believes he had an impressive season overall. Briere acknowledged that they put Ersson in a tough position but commended his handling of it.
As for Carter Hart, who was charged with sexual assault in January, the Flyers haven’t received any direction from the league about what comes next. Hart is a pending restricted free agent.
Briere provided an update on Russian prospect Matvei Michkov, whom the Flyers selected in the 2023 draft. Michkov has two years remaining on his KHL contract, and while Briere would like to bring him to the team sooner, he believes they will have to wait the full two years.
Lastly, Briere expressed sadness about the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes to Utah. He was drafted by the team and has fond memories of his time there. He believes the fans and the city deserved better and wishes the organization could have taken a step forward.
Overall, while the Flyers showed promise this season, there are still areas that need improvement, such as their power play and offensive zone play. Adding high-end talent will be a challenge, but Briere is open to exploring hockey trades if they make sense. The team’s goalie tandem for next season looks set, and there are uncertainties surrounding veterans like Atkinson and Johansen. The future of prospects like Drysdale and Michkov will be worth watching, and the Flyers’ management is cautious but optimistic about their development.