Kevin Kurz

Flyers’ Matvei Michkov is back on the right wing. It’s up to him to make it stick The young Russian needs to convince Rick Tocchet that his preferred position is his best spot, even in the coach's system.

Matvei Michkov is back on the right wing. It’s up to him now to make it stick.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Flyers post-deadline depth chart: Still searching for a center; where might Martone fit? The Flyers’ roster didn’t change much on trade deadline day but the overall depth chart has certainly shifted since the start of the season.

Post-deadline, the Flyers are still desperately in need of another high-end center.

"We’ve never hid from the fact that we’d like to improve that position.”

Reviewing of the depth chart ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Flyers ease logjam at one position, worsen it at another. That’s fine with Briere Briere also said he got trade offers for Rasmus Ristolainen, but "nothing that made more sense to trade him, for what he brings.”

The Flyers eased their logjam at one position, but exacerbated it at another on Friday.

That’s just fine with GM Danny Briere, who, like it or not, reminded everyone of his team-building philosophy in his one significant deadline day move.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Wild acquire winger Bobby Brink, send prospect David Jiricek to Flyers The Wild see Brink, 24, as a third-line right wing who can move up the lineup if needed. He's a pending restricted free agent.

Quick story on the Brink-Jiricek deal from me, @RussoHockey and @JoeSmithNHL

www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

What I’m hearing: Flyers check in on Robert Thomas as trade deadline nears Flyers see asking price for Blues forward Robert Thomas as too high; Rasmus Ristolainen market seems to be shrinking.

Yes, the Flyers checked in on Robert Thomas -- and the latest I've heard on Rasmus Ristolainen:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Which teams might pursue Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen, and what might they offer? Do any teams that might be interested in Ristolainen have a first-round pick and young center available?

We know the Flyers want a first round pick and a prospect for Rasmus Ristolainen.

Which teams could meet that price, and what could they offer?

ICYMI ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Improving Flyers buoyed by more aggressive defense: ‘You can really empty the tank’ The Flyers' game is trending in the right direction again but their odds of making the playoffs are still stacked against them.

Improving Flyers buoyed by more aggressive defense: ‘You can really empty the tank’

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Which teams might pursue Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen, and what might they offer? Do any teams that might be interested in Ristolainen have a first-round pick and young center available?

Dallas? Boston? Buffalo?

Examining potential landing spots for Rasmus Ristolainen, and whether those teams have what the Flyers are seeking:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Which teams might pursue Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen, and what might they offer? Do any teams that might be interested in Ristolainen have a first-round pick and young center available?

Which teams might pursue Flyers’ Rasmus Ristolainen, and what might they offer?

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Flyers’ long-term solution in net just might be Dan Vladar after all The 28-year-old goalie has been stellar in net but his value to the Flyers goes beyond just his strong numbers.

Flyers’ long-term solution in net just might be Dan Vladar after all

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Do I think the Flyers are good enough to make a run. No, I do not. But if it's going to happen, it obviously has to happen right now.

Next 6 games:

Today vs. Bruins
Monday @ Leafs
3/5 vs. Mammoth
3/7 @ Pens
3/9 vs. Rangers
3/11 vs. Capitals

Why momentum is building toward a Ristolainen trade, and what it means for Flyers After an impressive showing at the Olympics, will Ristolainen be on the move to a contending team?

NEW: Why momentum is building toward a Ristolainen trade, and what it means for Flyers

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Flyers look no closer to solving their center problems now than when season began Noah Cates broke a 19-game goalless streak against the Capitals, but that streak is unfortunately par for the course in Philadelphia.

NEW: The Flyers look no closer to solving their center problems now than when season began

My story from Washington:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

Flyers need two players to salvage their disastrous seasons after Olympic break With their games resuming Wednesday, the Flyers sit eight points out of a playoff spot in the crowded Eastern Conference.

Two Flyers players, in particular, have had disastrous seasons to this point. I spoke with them both over the weekend.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

A Michkov meeting, and listening on Ristolainen: What I’m hearing about the Flyers The Flyers were pleased with Michkov's game after a meeting with coaches and other team staff.

A "clear the air" meeting with Michkov; Ristolainen could be available (again); and more of what I'm hearing on the Flyers:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Appreciate that! And they don't prohibit it, I just wouldn't want to do it solo

After failing to make Olympics, red-hot Travis Konecny still yearns for the playoffs With 17 goals in his last 32 games, Konecny produced for the Flyers even as he battled injury leading up to the break.

After failing to make the Team Canada Olympic roster -- and perhaps thinking about it a little too much in the early part of the season -- a red-hot Travis Konecny still yearns for the playoffs.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Fact or fiction? Examining some of the talking points around this Flyers season Blame is being pointed in a lot of directions amid the Flyers' recent skid.

Fact or fiction? Examining some of the talking points around this Flyers season

www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

How Dan Vladar has become the Flyers’ irreplaceable leader in more ways than one The goalie is clearly the Flyers' MVP of the season during play, but what happens between whistles sets him apart.

“Some goalies like to stay in their bubble, and others step outside of it. From my experience, the best goalies I’ve played with would... try to get the guys going."

On Dan Vladar's importance to the Flyers, which is about more than just stopping pucks:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

How Dan Vladar has become the Flyers’ irreplaceable leader in more ways than one The goalie is clearly the Flyers' MVP of the season during play, but what happens between whistles sets him apart.

How Dan Vladar has become the Flyers’ irreplaceable leader in more ways than one

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...

Why is Matvei Michkov's conditioning level still an issue?

His inflated body fat percentage when he arrived has made the process more complicated -- particularly considering the kind of player he is.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

‘Rick Tocchet wants Matvei to succeed’: The latest on Michkov’s complicated season Michkov's production and ice time are down, and his coach still sounds frustrated about his lack of offseason training.

Rick Tocchet's blunt comments this weekend about Matvei Michkov raised some eyebrows. Daniel Briere attempted to calm the waters on Tuesday.

More on what's going on, with input from multiple Flyers team sources:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

How much has Tyson Foerster’s injury derailed the Flyers’ season? The Flyers, once in a playoff position, now have a 10-12-7 record without Foerster.

“He misses (Tyson) Foerster," Flyers Rick Tocchet said yesterday, regarding Noah Cates' 16-game goal drought.

Digging into a few more numbers, it's evident they all do -- perhaps more than anyone could have expected.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Flyers trade tiers: Options are limited if the team becomes a seller The team's recent downturn could make management more open to some sort of deal between now and March 6.

The way the Flyers are going lately, they are going to have to consider becoming trade deadline sellers.

But do they actually have anything to sell?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Flyers lose in Columbus, 5-3. With four games left before the Olympic break, feels like their season is on the brink, especially considering the way they've played for most of this month.

Flyers’ much-ballyhooed culture is starting to show worrisome cracks More than halfway through 2025-26, there’s reason to believe cracks are forming in the Flyers’ foundation from a cultural standpoint.

As soon as they took over, the new Flyers management regime made it a priority to reset the team's culture. They did, and it was producing some tangible results.

Now? Some worrisome cracks may be starting to form, based on what we've seen this month.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Why Flyers rookie Denver Barkey is already finding NHL success Barkey was supposed to be in the minors for a few more seasons. Instead he's in the Flyers' top six. Here's how he got there.

How Denver Barkey is quickly having success at the NHL level -- and what has to improve so it can continue.

“(He) tries to play the right way all the time."

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Flyers cancel practice today, for obvious reasons. Yesterday they flew back from Denver, meaning they'll have had two straight days off before tomorrow's important game against Islanders

Owen Tippett’s hat trick pushes Flyers to win over league-leading Avalanche Two of Tippett's three goals came in the third period, breaking what was a 3-3 tie at the second intermission.

The Flyers blew another multi-goal lead, took too many penalties, and were on their heels early again.

Owen Tippett made sure none of that mattered, keying a huge Flyers win in Denver.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

Elias Pettersson a Flyers target? Rasmus Ristolainen on the move? What I’m hearing Let's look at whether it makes sense to keep Ristolainen for a playoff push, and the likelihood of a Pettersson-Rick Tocchet reunion.

The Flyers need a No. 1 center. Is Elias Pettersson the answer?

(Spoiler alert: no).

That, and a few more odds and ends, here:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...