Flyers announce development, rookie and training camp dates; will face future Rangers in sixth annual September series in Allentown

The next few months for the Flyers are coming into focus.

Following the selection of the next crop of NHL prospects at the draft June 26-27, with the Flyers holing up in Atlantic City, the new kids will hit development camp that Monday, June 29.

Beginning at 2 p.m., the young stars will hit the ice at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees. Aside from this draft class, players like forwards Denver Barkey and Porter Martone and defenseman Oliver Bonk could participate.

In the middle of development camp, which runs through July 3 — and, if like years past, would be the day the players scrimmage — is NHL free agency on July 1.

The Flyers do have some holes to fill with unrestricted free agents, and that Wednesday also is the first day players like goalie Dan Vladař, whose contract expires next summer, could sign an extension. While both sides have said they are interested in extending, the word around the NHL scouting combine in Buffalo is that conversations have not yet begun regarding term or money.

After some time off, the 2026-27 season begins in earnest with rookie camp beginning on Sept. 11. The next day, the Flyers’ prospects will head back to Allentown for the sixth straight year, taking on their New York Rangers counterparts in a two-game series at the PPL Center.

Game 1 will take place at 7:05 p.m. on Sept. 12, and Game 2 will be at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 13. The PPL Center is the home of the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

“We’re looking forward to hosting the Rookie Series once again,” general manager Danny Brière said in the team’s news release on Thursday.

“The series has become an important part of our evaluation process, giving our young prospects the opportunity to showcase their development in a high-level environment and gain experience competing against another strong organization.”

In the prospects series, the Flyers prospects hold a 5-4-1 record after splitting last year’s series.

Bonk was unable to play in last season’s series because of an injury that kept him out of the lineup with the Phantoms until early December. Barkey returned from a high ankle sprain suffered in late May and played in Game 1. The forward put on a show with his speed, quickness, leverage, and ability to win pucks. He consistently beat the Rangers’ defense, including scoring a nifty goal, with it all serving as a precursor to his season with the Flyers after he was called up in late December.

Two seasons ago, Flyers fans got their first look at Matvei Michkov, who arrived in North America that summer. The Russian phenom brought his creativity and vision to the ice as fans in Michkov jerseys dotted the arena. He scored a goal and skated in the first game alongside 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko.

NCAA players are not eligible to play in the series. This year, the expectation is that soon-to-be Michigan forward Jack Nesbitt; Shane Vansaghi, who is returning to Michigan State; Boston University forward Jack Murtagh; and Harvard’s Heikki Ruohonen will be unable to participate.

But fans could see several players who turned pro after their college seasons ended, including Martone, Noah Powell, and Cole Knuble. Those who are coming over from Europe for the first time, like Jack Berglund, Ilya Pautov, and Alex Čiernik, could also be on the roster. Pautov signed his entry-level contract on Monday, and, according to a source, is expected to spend the upcoming season in Pennsylvania.

The Flyers’ main camp will then open Sept. 17. This year marks a tweak to the NHL’s training camp schedule as teams will only play four preseason games. The NHL season is expected to start in late September, with schedules typically announced in July.