Philadelphia Flyers 2025-26 season preview: Playoff chances, projected points, roster rankings

Analyzing the Philadelphia Flyers' 2024-25 season outlook by Sean Gentille, Shayna Goldman and Dom Luszczyszyn.

The Philadelphia Flyers face a crucial season as they continue rebuilding around rookie sensation Matvei Michkov. After dropping from 87 to 76 points last season, the team sits in hockey's challenging middle ground - not bad enough for elite draft picks but not good enough for playoffs. With coaching changes and modest roster improvements, Philadelphia must navigate between competitive respectability and strategic positioning for future success.

• Michkov emerged as a franchise cornerstone with 26 goals as a 20-year-old rookie, earning recognition as a potential top-20 NHL player
• The team boasts strong defensive foundations led by Travis Sanheim, ranking eighth league-wide in defensive rating despite offensive limitations
• Goaltending remains a major concern after allowing nearly 50 goals above expected last season, with Samuel Ersson struggling as starter
• Philadelphia projects to finish around 80 points again, potentially missing both playoffs and optimal draft lottery positioning