A player the Flyers could pursue, an Eagles prediction, and other thoughts ...
From a center the Flyers should keep eyes on, to how much newcomer Bob Myers will remedy when it comes to the Sixers roster, consider the following...
First and final thoughts …
This NHL offseason promises to be a curious one for the Flyers. Their late-season push to qualify for the playoffs and their first-round victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins have combined to raise expectations for 2026-27 — even while general manager Danny Brière and the franchise’s other leaders would probably prefer to tamp those expectations down.
“From the time we started, we said it was going to be a rebuild, and we needed patience,” Brière said Thursday at the organization’s headquarters in Voorhees. “I think we’ve shown that that’s what we’ve done.
“Now, if there’s a chance to help improve the team and something that makes sense for the long run, we will jump on it. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s the same thing. We’re still in a growth part of the rebuild.”
If what Brière said is true, if the Flyers aren’t inclined to make a huge signing or trade for an established star to speed up their process — God, there’s no avoiding that word, is there? — then there are certain parameters and patterns within which any possible move would have to fit.
» READ MORE: Flyers' end-of-season injury report shows just how banged up key players were
The Flyers already have established one.
From Trevor Zegras to David Jiříček, from Owen Tippett-for-Claude Giroux (a deal made a month after Brière was promoted to special assistant to the GM) to Jamie Drysdale-for-Cutter Gauthier, Brière has either supported or consummated trades for talented young players who were underperforming with other teams.
If Brière sticks to that formula this summer, here’s a possible name for him to consider (and one he perhaps already has): Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright.
The Flyers have two major needs: a top-line center and a top-pair defenseman. Wright, in theory, would fill the former. The prospective No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft, he fell to the Kraken at No. 4; many scouts and evaluators came to believe that he wasn’t dynamic enough offensively to justify being the draft’s first overall selection. So far, that projection has been pretty accurate: At 6 feet, 192 pounds, Wright is not an especially imposing player, and over 153 games with Seattle over the last two seasons, he has tallied 31 goals and 71 points.
» READ MORE: Dan Vladař’s breakout season has earned him a contract extension with the Flyers. Now can he do it again? | Opinion
Though Wright is still just 22, the Kraken were reportedly open to trading him at last season’s deadline, provided Seattle received at least a top-six forward in return. Given how far Wright’s stock has fallen since the ’22 draft, that asking price is probably too high, and it’s a safe bet that the Flyers wouldn’t be willing to pay it. But it’s worth watching to see whether Seattle lowers its expectations about Wright’s value — and whether the Flyers might act accordingly.
Torts being Torts. Again.
After his Vegas Golden Knights beat the Anaheim Ducks, 5-1, on Thursday night to advance to the Western Conference finals, former Flyers coach John Tortorella declined to speak to the media. What’s more, the Knights allowed just three of their players to be interviewed — two at a news conference, one in a side room.
This situation was hardly new by Torts standards. By claiming to insulate his players from any distractions or noise, Tortorella often creates more distractions and noise.
Call me crazy, but maybe a coach who draws unnecessary attention (consider those two words to be bracketed by air quotes) to his team actually wants that attention … and is full of it when he insists otherwise.
Put down the notes, Josh
The Sixers fired Daryl Morey on Tuesday and have turned over player-personnel power, at least for now and perhaps for longer, to Bob Myers. Nothing will change.
The Sixers could have fired Nick Nurse. Nothing would have changed.
The Sixers fired Doug Collins. They fired Tony DiLeo. They fired Brett Brown. They fired Doc Rivers. They hired Bryan Colangelo. Sam Hinkie walked away before they fired him. Elton Brand receded into the background after they promoted him.
Nothing changed. Nothing will.
Aim higher.
Mike Sielski alerts
What about Boxing Day, Mr. Commissioner?
Here’s my game-by-game prediction for the Eagles’ 2026 regular season, in which they play in Dallas on Thanksgiving, at Lincoln Financial Field on Christmas Eve, and in Chicago the night before my wedding anniversary:
W
H
A
T
D
O
I
T
E
L
L
M
Y
W
I
F
E
Could have been worse, I guess. According to sources, the NFL considered scheduling games on everyone’s birthday, on your son’s bar mitzvah, on your daughter’s wedding day, and on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 9:39 a.m. Available only on Netflix.
» READ MORE: Check out the latest takes from the Inquirer's sports columnists right here!
