Flyers Mailbag: Draft, Change, & the Perfect Offseason

It is time for our first Flyers mailbag of the offseason. This will not be the last one either.

With a critical offseason ahead, we answer questions about the draft, players, offer sheets, the future of certain Flyers, and more.

Read More: James: Things Are Finally Going Right for the Flyers

Could the Flyers Make a Draft Order Jump?

The simple answer to this is that there is nothing that will be off the table come draft time. Obviously, they still don’t know if they have to trade up yet because the lottery has not taken place.

That said, if things shake out the way that they are expected to, the Flyers will end up with the No. 5 pick, assuming at least one team wins the lottery. Getting that future center is a top priority in the draft. If the Flyers start to get the sense that the trio of Michael Misa, James Hagens, and Anton Frondell will all go before they pick, it would not surprise me if the Flyers try to jump up to four or even three.

However, if we are talking trade up, I don’t think it’s likely to happen with the Flyers’ own pick. Instead, I think it is more likely that the Flyers try to move up from wherever the Oilers and Avalanche picks end up.

There is a solid run of defensemen that I expect to go in the 10-20 range in the draft, and I could see the Flyers using some of their surplus to move up and land one (Sascha Boumedienne, please!).

Read More: Flyers Mock Draft 1.0: Round One

Hagens and Michkov Would be a Dream

If we’re strictly talking players in the draft, James Hagens is the perfect center to complement Matvei Mickov.

That is not to say I think he is the best center in the draft. Michael Misa has future number-one option potential. He could be the leading scorer on a cup-competing team one day. I would actually put Frondell above Hagens if we are talking draft rankings. I think Frondell has the potential to be a superstar in the NHL. When it comes to Hagens, he is much easier to project. While I would not say he is a sure thing, his skills should translate right to the NHL, so you’d have a pretty good idea of what he is.

Well, what is he? You might ask.

Hagens is a playmaker. He can shoot and definitely could be a 20/30 goal scorer at some point, but he will make his money in the league as a play-driving center who has a knack for setting up his teammates for goals.

He plays really well along the boards, which will do nothing but complement Michkov. Hagens is a speedy skater who can keep pace with Michkov and is a sound two-way player, which can help Michkov play more freely offensively.

No matter what, Hagens is my ideal center for Michkov.

Read More: Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: James Hagens (PhHN+)

Will the Flyers Use Offer Sheets?

While I cannot tell you exactly what’s going on in Danny Briere’s mind, what I can say is that he is well aware of the offer sheet speculation heading into this offseason. He referred to offer sheets as a “tool” in his end-of-season presser.

That said, it sounds like the Flyers will be, at a very minimum, kicking the tires on some RFAs this offseason. As for who? I think the Flyers will be looking at anyone they believe will immediately improve the team.

That sounds vague, but I don’t think they have anyone specific in mind. The next few years of RFA classes will have some impressive, immediate impact players in them; a lot of players worth whatever the pick compensation may be.

Mason McTavish stands out to me as a player who is on the verge of a breakout. Unfortunately for Anaheim, they have A LOT of RFAs in the next two seasons. They already have money tied up at center, and with Leo Carlsson due next season, McTavish could fall as a casualty. Anaheim, to me, also feels like a team that would prefer to take their compensation now, so I could see a trade for McTavish’s rights happening this offseason. It’s a win-win. The Ducks get to add some draft picks in a pivotal year for them; the Flyers can use their surplus to take care of RFA compensation now.

Gabe Vilardi and Marco Rossi could also be options at center. I could also see the Flyers getting risky and making a run at someone like Matthew Knies, too. Again, it’s risky, but the Flyers will want to make improvements right now. Knies would be that.

There are some talented defenseman like Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard, but I don’t see this being the offseason to make a huge swing on someone like that. The cap loosens, but not much. If they decide to go after a defenseman, I think it will be a UFA or a trade, not an offer sheet.

Read More: Three Centers the Flyers Should Target this Offseason

A Three-Part Question

Ah, the perfect Flyers offseason. This is definitely an eye of the beholder type of question. For me, the perfect offseason starts with locking up Tyson Foerster and Cam York on team-friendly AAV deals. That could mean sacrificing on something else, like years or even a clause. Both players should return, but what they get AAV will determine how aggressive the Flyers can be this offseason. To answer the last question while talking about York, I think his future remains the same. He owned up and took responsibility for what happened. I think he’ll get a clean slate and move forward. York’s future remains the same.

Back to the perfect offseason. After locking up all four RFAs, the Flyers need to ensure they get one of Misa, Hagens, or Frondell. Obviously, I prefer Hagens, but either would fit into the perfect Flyers offseason. Sticking with the draft, the perfect offseason would have the Flyers landing Sascha Boumedienne and or Carter Amico in the draft as well. Does not matter how, just get one, or even better, both.

Finally, the perfect Flyers offseason would involve an immediate impact center joining the active roster (draft picks do not count). Then address the goaltending. Bring in someone who can be a 1B for Ersson, until you know what you have with Zavragin/Bjarnason. Finally, if there’s enough left to spend, bring in a veteran defenseman with size. Cap may not allow for that without clearing space. That is the last thing on the list for me.

I was most impressed with Noah Cates this season. I feel like that one is obvious. His story is fantastic. Starting the year as a healthy scratch and finishing the year as the team’s “1C” is amazing. Sean Couturier also impressed me this season, especially late in the season. It was nice to see him playing well again.

Also, quite obviously, I was least impressed with the goaltending. Sam Ersson was hit or miss this season, but he was not the problem. Instead, it was Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov who made goaltending a huge weak spot for the Flyers. Backups should not be a guaranteed loss. Unfortunately, that is what it seemed like this season. Least impressed is an understatement for the goaltending this year.

Power Play, Power Play, Power Play

The power play needs to change, plain and simple. They took the first step by firing Rocky Thompson, but that does not solve the overall issue.

The Flyers need to bring in a power-play coach who can fix what Rocky left behind. That should be the first step. Maybe the new head coach will be a power-play guy, or maybe he brings one with him. The Flyers need to prioritize bringing in a coach who can and will fix the power play.

However, it is not just the coach who is the problem. The Flyers need to prioritize bringing in someone who can play net-front on the power play, as well as running the point. The Flyers might have Jamie Drysdale to run one of the two units, but unless the next coach is willing to give Cam York a second chance, they do not have anyone else who should be running point on the power play.

As far as net-front players on the power play, the Flyers are just throwing people in that position. They need a specialist; they don’t need someone who can play it if nobody else can. Instead, they need someone who can specialize in it.

The Flyers were not going to make the playoffs this year, even if the power play was significantly better. However, the power play will continue to hold the team back as they grow closer to competing. The power play needs to turn around before the Flyers can compete for a Stanley Cup.

Read More: Flyers Coaching Tracker: Where Are Things At Right Now?

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