Philadelphia Flyers
‘The Patient Approach is Working’: Jones and Hilferty Address the Media Ahead of the 2025-26 Flyers Season
VOORHEES, N.J.–Philadelphia Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones, alongside Comcast Spectacor CEO and Flyers Governor Dan Hilferty, spoke to the media at the Flyers Training Center ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The two addressed many topics, but the big theme that emerged was patience. As an organization, the Flyers remain in a rebuild, one that both Hilferty and Jones described as thought-out and methodical. Very early on, Hilferty sets the tone that the team is still in the rebuild when he says, “How I define a successful year is not necessarily the playoffs, although that would be great, but to see improvement throughout the year. To see our younger players (improve), and that competitive edge grow.”
Both Hilferty and Jones made it a point to recognize that they are moving forward in their plans, however. They mention how now they are in the phase of adding talent (ex: Trevor Zegras) instead of trading away talent, or being complacent with the current roster.
When asked why add now, Jones said, “We owed our players who are here. They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them… a lot of our top players have been patient.” Jones would go on to say, “We’re just in a better position to be able to move forward.” He would even go on to say that, barring something crazy, the plan is not to sell at the deadline.
Jones would go on to reiterate Hilferty’s statement that a success is not necessarily the postseason, but instead just seeing the team improve from last year. It was very clear that the theme of the day remains patience.
Here are some other updates provided by the Flyers’ brass on Wednesday Morning.
Read More: Flyers Release 2025 Rookie Camp Roster and Schedule
A Carter Hart Update
If you are looking for a Carter Hart update, you will have to wait until the league reinstates the former Flyers goaltender before the organization speaks on the current situation.
When asked by a reporter if the organization would be interested in a reunion if he were reinstated, Hilferty said, “At this point, we’re not going to comment on that situation. The NHL has made it clear they’ll speak first. Right now, we’re not prepared to comment at all about the Carter Hart situation.”
It was a very short update, but worth mentioning.
For what it’s worth, my gut reaction still tells me there will be no reunion. The organization is very high on Sam Ersson. Not to mention the addition of Dan Vladar gives them a competent backup to take a sizable share from Ersson, comfortably. The Flyers also have Carson Bjarnason and Yegor Zavragin in the pipeline. Personally, I just don’t see the reunion happening.
Tyson Foerster “On Pace” for Flyers Season Opener
Early in the offseason, Flyers forward Tyson Foerster made headlines when the news broke that he had suffered an “upper-body injury”. A few days after the news broke, Flyers GM Danny Briere told the media that the rising star had suffered an injury at the men’s World Championships, which had become infected in his elbow, requiring surgery to clean the infection.
It was feared that he could miss parts of the beginning of the season. While recent clues, like Foerster skating during optionals with his teammates or even attending golf outings, have made things seem pretty optimistic, Jones gave the official update.
On Wednesday, Jones said the Foerster was “on pace” to be available for the Flyers’ season opener against Florida on October 9th—great news for Foerster.
REMINDER
A quick reminder before you go! We are doing our last Flyers mailbag of the offseason. If you have any questions you’d like answered before the season gets into full swing, please leave them below.
Read More: Final Offseason Flyers Mailbag
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The patient approach is working?
Maybe that’s what you have to say if you’re a Flyers executive looking for another year of job security, but the Flyers were one of the worst teams IN THE LEAGUE last year. They’ve gone backward, not forward.
If Hilferty believes that “…a successful year is not necessarily the playoffs,…but improvement”, he needs to go.
First, they haven’t improved and second, the rest of the league judges improvement by wins and playoff success.
Every time I get a little but of hope, management manages to squash it with stupid comments like this.
My take on this is all coming soon. Just wanted to get some info from today out to digest first.
“It was very clear that the theme of the day remains patients”……I think what you intended to mean is ‘patience’….then again the fans could be the patients this season if things do not work out well.
Haha!! Thanks for pointing that out!!
Breaking:
Kirill the Thrill turned down eight years – $128M from the Wild contract extension offer….largest AAV in NHL…..this must prove he wants to be a Flyer with Matvei as a teammate
Have already seen a few reports denying this. Doubt Kirill would turn that down.
No current or future elite level 1Cs, 1Ds, or 1Gs. A bunch of mid-level low ceiling prospects. And two elite potential wingers to build around.
Worst Goaltending, PowerPlay, Defense core, and arguably pne of the worst Center cores IN THE NHL!!!
And they’re talking about “playoffs” still.
Meanwhile teams like San Jose are STACKING GENERATIONAL TALENTS like Celebrini and Elite guys like Misa and Smith. Fantilli in Columbus. Anaheim has McTavish amd Carlsson. Ottawa has Stutzle. NJ has Hughes and Hischeir.
And Philadelphia still can’t get a freaking top line Center ti save their lives.
Whole Couturier gets paid like He’s scoring 80 points a season and winning Selkes while performing like a bottom6 40 point Center.
Flyers are nowhere near finished rebuilding.
This team needs top5 picks or trades for elite level Centers (Necas? McTavish?) And Defensemen (Nemec, Byram).
I think Couturier is a major problem with this team.
I get that the Flyers are stuck with a horrible contract courtesy of (I think) Chuck Fletcher, but he’s blocking the minutes of players who will be part of the Flyers future and need the minutes more.
They can’t continue to play Couturier on the first or second line. At best he belongs on the third line and more likely the fourth. I just don’t see his level of play going back up to what it was pre-injury.
Naturally that begs the question about who plays center above him. I’d put Zegras, Luchanko, and Cates on the lines above him right now, and see what their ceilings might be.
I think the other question is how long does Couturier continue to wear the ‘C’ on his jersey? I think it ultimately goes to Michkov, but I don’t know where his leadership skills and English/communication abilities are at this time.
Passing on Caufield for York.
Passing on Buium for Luchanko.
Passing on Stankoven for Tuomala.
Passing on Perreault for Bonk.
Trading top5 pick Gauthier for a bottom pair RD who can’t score or play defense in Drysdale. (FLEECED)
How much better are The Flyers prospect pool if they stop thinking they can draft better then the consensus of the draft every year?
How bad is it going to look when Buium wins a Calder next year and Luchanko is in the AHL?
I could almost be tolerant of the picks if I knew at least one of them was going to pay off and be the right move. But they keep putting the arrivals of many of them off, which makes me believe (like Frank), that they got nothing.
It took Howie a billion years to realize that you don’t have to out-think the rest of the league and can just pick the players everyone else thinks highly of also.
I realize it’s a different sport, but you’d think that’s something Danny could learn as well.