For the last 22 years (13 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 23rd annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what I take into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

Enjoy!

* * Pick up the DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated * *

Gone – John Tortorella (coach), Cal Petersen, Ryan Poehling, Jakob Pelletier, Olle Lycksell

Incoming – Rick Tocchet (coach), Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Dan Vladar, Noah Juulsen, Dennis Gilbert

Impact of changes

The Flyers needed more high-end scoring beyond Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov, so acquiring Zegras makes sense. Since the Flyers especially lack depth at the center position, Zegras will slot in on the first line if the Flyers decide to use him there. Injuries and reduced production have impacted Zegras the past two seasons, so the hope is that a fresh start will help turn things around. Dvorak will also fortify the Flyers at center, while Vladar represents an upgrade on Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov and should challenge Samuel Ersson for starts.

The Flyers also put an end to the John Tortorella experience, replacing him with the highly sought-after Rick Tocchet once the former Flyers power forward decided not to return as Vancouver's head coach. Just about any coach is better for fantasy teams than Tortorella, with the likes of Michkov (among others) seeing improved production when Torts was let go late in the season. Tocchet does insist that his players be defensively responsible and isn't afraid to bench or healthy scratch forwards that aren't (just ask Andrei Kuzmenko), so don't expect a sudden explosion of offense just because there's a new coach.

Ready for Full Time

After being chosen 13^th overall in last year's draft, Jett Luchanko unexpectedly received a four-game trial with the Flyers in 2024-25 before being sent back to the OHL. Despite a disappointing World Junior appearance (not the only one for Canada), Luchanko completed a strong OHL season with Guelph (56 PTS in 46 GP). Still only 19 years of age, Luchanko will try to make the Flyers' roster for good this season.

Other prospects who could challenge for an NHL roster spot include Alex Bump, who stood out at prospects development camp after turning pro from the NCAA; Nikita Grebenkin, a physical forward who was acquired from Toronto in the Scott Laughton trade; and Helge Grans, who could bring both offensive instincts and defensively sound play to the Flyers' blueline.

Fantasy Outlook

The Flyers aren't the most appealing team fantasy-wise, but they are making strides in the right direction. Acquiring Zegras shows a willingness to improve the scoring, in particular the power play. The Flyers finished with the league's third-worst power play (14.4%) in 2024-25, and Zegras should help with that. Other than Konecny and Michkov, no Flyer finished with double-digit power-play points. As well, Konecny and Michkov were the only two Flyers to reach 50 points in 2024-25. Michkov appears to be a piece that the Flyers can build around, but they need more of their young forwards to deliver at the NHL level.

Questions also remain on defense and in goal. Jamie Drysdale seems like the most likely defenseman to appear on PP1, but he was held to just 20 points and seven power-play points in 2024-25. Drysdale should be one of the last PP1 defensemen to be picked in single-season drafts, but at age 23 he still has a lot of growth potential. In net, the choices are Vladar and Ersson, who will likely post league-average ratios at best and probably won't pile up the wins as a team that is not projected to make the playoffs. Flyers goalies shouldn't be drafted high either.

📢 advertisement:

Fantasy Grade: C+ (Last year: C)

Check out the rest of the Dobber team previews here.