Five questions for Danny Brière and the Flyers as they embark on their first offseason with expectations

The corpse of the Flyers’ 2025-26 season isn’t even cold, but after this week’s exit interviews with players, coach Rick Tocchet, and general manager Danny Brière, attention quickly shifts to the offseason and the Flyers’ plans to improve heading into 2026-27.

The good news is that playoff teams generally have fewer questions to address than ones that missed out, and given the Flyers’ dire straits in recent seasons, the organization is surely in a better place this offseason than it has been in some time.

» READ MORE: Flyers GM Danny Brière addresses Matvei Michkov’s benching, key offseason questions, and the team’s future

But while the youthful Flyers appear to be in their ascendency after a first postseason appearance in six years, that doesn’t mean the team is without significant holes to fill this summer. With that in mind, here are five questions facing Brière and the organization entering a pivotal offseason with expectations for them to take another significant step toward Stanley Cup contention.

The Matvei Michkov situation has been talked about ad nauseam, but the fact is the Flyers need to bridge the disconnect with the Russian winger and find a way to make this work. While Michkov was demonstratively frustrated during his exit interview on Tuesday, things don’t appear to be at a code red-level yet regarding his long-term future with the organization. Now, if he comes to camp out of shape next season and gets off to another slow start, that might change things.

But the Flyers reiterated this week that Michkov remains a “big spoke” in the team’s future and someone they envision “being part of the picture for years to come.” They also said that Michkov understands what he needs to do this offseason to come to camp in proper shape.

Given his personality, they are confident he will take the disappointment from his individual season, one in which he still managed 20 goals and 51 points, and use it to fuel what Tocchet called a “vengeance tour” next season. The early signs are good, as Michkov was spotted on the ice this week in Voorhees and has already committed to spending at least part of the summer training in New Jersey.

A big summer and fast start from Michkov next season would go a long way toward quelling worries of another Cutter Gauthier situation. The Flyers are simply writing off last season as a learning year for a 21-year-old who started the season behind the eight ball. This summer should tell us if there is more to be concerned about.

» READ MORE: Matvei Michkov and the Flyers have a swirl of questions around them. His answers Tuesday will only add more.

When asked Thursday whether he felt pressure to make a major splash now that expectations have risen, Brière refused to take the bait.

“If there’s an opportunity to jump on something that could help us, yeah, it’s my job to look at everything. But I don’t feel that I’m forced to make a move just to make a move, because we’ve made it into the playoffs this year,” Brière said.

“We’ve said it for a long time. We wanted to build a team that was going to be here for for a long time, not just to go for it for a year or two, so that that’s still the same approach on on my end.”

» READ MORE: The Flyers won't be a true contender as long as they lack a No. 1 center. A trade for Robert Thomas could change that.

While that might have been the diplomatic answer, there’s no doubt that Brière sees an opportunity — and feels pressure — to add to his burgeoning roster. Standing pat would not only be too risky for a team that only snuck into the playoffs thanks to a borderline miraculous 20-game sprint to the finish line, but would also be a poor signal to send his players and fans, many of whom have been exceptionally patient amid the team’s rebuild.

That brings us to the Flyers’ never-ending search for a No. 1 center. While there may not be any unrestricted free agents that fit the bill, there are ways Brière could creatively add a top-line pivot this summer.

A move for Auston Matthews, if he tells Toronto he wants a trade in the coming weeks, seems unrealistic given Matthews’ interests and the fact he can all but pick his next destination. But established top-of-the-lineup centers and former All-Stars Robert Thomas, Nico Hischier, and Matty Beniers all could be available for the right price.

The Flyers could also explore the younger reclamation project route again with Mason McTavish, Shane Wright, Quinton Byfield, and Cole Sillinger some names to consider via trade. Then there is the bold and frankly underused offer sheet options for someone like Adam Fantilli, Cole Perfetti, or Mavrik Bourque.

Fantilli would be far and away the most interesting of the three, as he is a 21-year-old center with a 30-goal season under his belt and legitimate superstar potential. A sturdy and competitive goal scorer who is also one of the NHL’s fastest in transition, Fantilli would check several boxes for the Flyers. The catch? Columbus would be inclined to match most offers for the 2023 No. 3 overall pick. That said, a massive offer sheet from the Flyers with an average annual value of $10 million or so would put the division rival Blue Jackets in a cap bind and could make them think twice.

Any offer sheet for Fantilli with an AAV between $7 and $9.36 million would cost the Flyers their first-, second-, and third-round picks in 2027, while one between $9.37 and $11 million would make it harder for Columbus to match and cost Philly two of its next three firsts and 2027 second- and third-rounders, according to Puck Pedia. Those might look like steep prices up front, but the reward could be great.

The Flyers’ power play is not a new problem, as the unit has finished dead last in three of the past four seasons, including this year with a 15.7% success rate. Tocchet and his staff are the third coaching staff tasked with fixing the special teams unit, and they have their work cut out for them.

It seems for now like Jaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovský will get a second season in charge but everything else seems be on the table. In addition to execution and bad reads, Tocchet cited nerves and a lack of confidence as contributing factors to the team’s ineptitude with the man-advantage.

“I could feel tension from some guys,” Tocchet said Wednesday. “And we’ve got to release the tension, and that’s my job, to release that tension.

“So diving into it this summer, [things like] different schemes, different way of practicing, maybe less information — sometimes, giving too much information makes guys tighter."

In addition to schematic changes, the Flyers will likely attempt to upgrade some of the personnel. At the top of the wish list will be a power-play QB at the point, and maybe a net-front presence. Could the Flyers throw big money at top free agent Darren Raddysh, who had 22 goals, 70 points, and 10 power-play goals, the most among NHL defensemen? Brandt Clarke, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, Šimon Nemec, and Vince Dunn are some other names that could be available either via offer sheet or trade.

The Flyers won in spite of their power play this season, but if they are to truly take the next step, improving the power play to at least a respectable mark is imperative. As Tocchet said Wednesday, it’s time for “out-of-the-box thinking.”

» READ MORE: Rick Tocchet talks power play, Matvei Michkov’s ‘vengeance tour,’ and more at his end-of-season media availability

After three years of trade rumors, Rasmus Ristolainen is still a Flyer. But is this the summer the Flyers finally cash in on the rugged Finn?

The timing would make sense as Ristolainen is entering the final year of a contract which carries a manageable $5.1 million cap hit. He’s also set to turn 32 early next season and is coming off a strong Olympic showing and his best stretch of hockey in a Flyers uniform.

Losing Ristolainen would represent a significant blow to the Flyers’ blue line but he would likely fetch the Flyers a first-round pick or a promising young player in return. The Flyers also need to be wary of holding on to Ristolainen too long given his lengthy injury history. Keep an eye on Ristolainen in the days leading up to the draft, as the Flyers will likely revisit the market him, especially with fellow right-shot David Jiříček no longer waiver-exempt and needing an NHL roster spot.

The Flyers have five NHL restricted free agents highlighted by Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale. While both will undoubtedly be back, the questions start with for how long and for how much?

Zegras will be the more expensive of the two, with reports indicating his deal could come in with around a $9 million AAV. Still just 25, and after he posted career highs in goals (26) and points (67), Zegras is a player the Flyers would love to lock in for four seasons or more, especially given his flair and popularity with young fans from a business perspective.

While many NHL players are shifting toward bridge deals with the cap continuing to rise, Zegras could prioritize happiness and security after falling “in love” with Philly and hockey again following a difficult end to his time in Anaheim. Does something like $54-55 million ($9-9.2 million AAV) over six years get it done? The Flyers and Zegras’ camp sound like they are well down the road on an extension, and all signs point to him soon becoming the highest-paid Flyer.

Drysdale will be a tougher one to figure out as the 24-year-old had a breakout season on the defensive puck and really seems to have rekindled his confidence. The Flyers also believe Drysdale is just scratching the surface offensively after tallying a career-high eight goals and equaling his best point total with 32.

» READ MORE: Some wanted to change Trevor Zegras. The Flyers let ‘Z be Z.’ Now, he’s got his ‘swagger back.’

Another player who has made it clear he loves it here and is enjoying playing with close friends Zegras and Cam York, Drysdale would be a prime candidate for a bridge deal (2-4 years) with an AAV of $4.5-5 million. The Flyers may have lost the Gauthier trade but Drysdale is at least developing into a valuable second-pair defenseman who still has some untapped offensive upside.

One other thing to watch from the Flyers is whether they hand goalie and team MVP Dan Vladař a contract extension after his breakout season. The 28-year-old is entering the final year of a two-year, $6.7 million deal, and the Flyers also have a decision to make on RFA backup Sam Ersson.