There\u2019s still about 10 weeks to go before the Flyers regular season begins Sept. 30 at home against Pittsburgh. Lots of things could happen between now and then. But if they don\u2019t, and Philadelphia enters the season with essentially the lineup they have in mid-July, then there will be a few players who have a bit more to prove this year. Whether it\u2019s a contract extension that has seen their value increase to the club, players who had somewhat disappointing seasons, or those who are starting fresh with Philadelphia, some have a bit more pressure on their shoulders than perhaps their teammates. Here then are five Flyers (and two honorable mentions) who need to rise to the occasion if the Flyers are to have a successful 2026-27 campaign.<\/p>\n
Honorable Mentions: David Jiricek and Joseph Woll<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard for essentially newbies to find themselves in a bit of a hornet\u2019s nest right from the start of training camp. Yet that\u2019s where defenseman David Jiricek and backup goaltender Joseph Woll seem to be before the season even begins. For Jiricek, it\u2019s somewhat unfair as the situation is out of his control. The Flyers traded Bobby Brink last March in exchange for Jiricek, a former first-round pick whose career hasn\u2019t really gotten off the ground. In Minnesota he got lost in the shuffle. And the minute the Wild acquired Quinn Hughes from Vancouver, Jiricek went from being the odd man out to essentially the odd man out of the organization.<\/p>\n
Jiricek, selected sixth overall by Columbus in 2022, enters training camp without something other younger players have: waiver protection. The Flyers are hoping like heck that Jiricek is able to show them something in order for him to remain with the club. That way he and Philadelphia avoid the sticky, messy problem of placing him on waivers, and hoping nobody claims him before sending him down to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. You never want to lose any trade, especially losing it because of Jiricek\u2019s precarious waiver situation. So Jiricek should be given every conceivable look and benefit in order to remain on the roster. <\/p>\n
As a result, Jiricek might be feeling as antsy as Philadelphia is entering this season. He wants (and needs) to prove he belongs in the top six (or at worst top eight). That way any noise about him not being good enough can be silenced for the time being. Ideally, Philadelphia would have the luxury of sending him down. But not at the risk of losing him. Should he look good at the start of camp, and look capable of playing sound defensive hockey while possibly adding a bit to the power play, then Jiricek could be a valuable piece this coming season. If there\u2019s any Flyer that needs to get out of the gates quickly, it would have to be David Jiricek.<\/p>\n
Joseph Woll<\/p>\n
Being a backup goaltender shouldn\u2019t come with a lot of hassle or angst. That would be true in many National Hockey League cities. Just not Philadelphia. Prior to Dan Vladar\u2019s arrival, the Flyer goaltending situation was never a strong selling point in recent years, and goaltender Sam Ersson never materialized into a capable starter or backup given his ridiculously low save percentage the last two seasons. Flyers general manager Danny Briere found a buyer for Ersson in Toronto, and got Joseph Woll (and defenseman Simon Benoit) in exchange. So while Woll is going to ideally adjust accordingly to his new surroundings, he\u2019s must be better than Sam Ersson was.<\/p>\n
That might not seem like a high bar, but Woll is going to have to deliver more quality starts (and wins) than Ersson did. Although having a save percentage of .899 in almost 40 games with Toronto, Woll should be able to provide Vladar with some both physical and mental rest. The playoffs shouldn\u2019t rest entirely on Vladar\u2019s shoulders dragging them there like he did most of last year. If Woll, who is 28, can be mentally tough, and give Philadelphia a chance to win each night, then he\u2019ll be doing his job. He should also relish playing in a tighter defensive system under Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet than he did last season in Toronto. Fans, and the team, hope Woll gets off on the right foot to start the year. And judging by the schedule, he\u2019ll get that opportunity in the second half of a season-opening back-to-back when Philadelphia visits the Devils.<\/p>\n
5. Jamie Drysdale<\/p>\n