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NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Philadelphia Flyers.

Most of the previous season saw the Philadelphia Flyers in a qualifying position for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, a 4-9-3 finish left them trailing by four points for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

The Flyers are confident in reaching the postseason for the first time since 2020, as the majority of their roster is returning, along with one significant new addition.

“I do believe our team’s right there,” forward Travis Konecny said. “We’re going to work just as hard as we did last year. We’re going to skate and continue to work on some of the young guys getting a little bit better and some of the older guys adding stuff to their game as well. I’m really excited to see where this team can go.”

The player generating the most excitement is forward Matvei Michkov. The 19-year-old, selected with the No. 7 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 1, just days after having the final two seasons of his three-year contract in the Kontinental Hockey League terminated.

Michkov had 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 47 games for Sochi, the second-most points by a teenager in the KHL history (Kirill Kaprizov, 42 in 2016-17). He is expected to play a top-six role and on the first power play with Philadelphia.

Daniel Briere, the general manager of the Flyers, stated that he and his team are working to maintain expectations at a manageable level.

Briere stated, “We don’t view him as a savior. Certainly, that’s not the burden we’re placing on him. He’s just 19 years old and he’s here to learn and advance his game. We’re hopeful that he has limitless potential, but we definitely don’t anticipate him to be this team’s savior.”

However, Michkov doesn’t appear to be bothered by the high expectations.

“Winning is always the primary goal,” stated Michkov through a translator on July 24. “My purpose here is to aid the team in achieving victories. I’m here to play in my unique style and to secure a win.”

Philadelphia has provided support for Michkov, which includes hiring an English-language tutor.

Briere also holds the belief that Coach John Tortorella will offer a different type of support.

“Briere believes that ‘Torts’ will provide a positive influence on Matvei. He stated, “He’s going to mentor him on professional behavior. He’ll educate him on the importance of competition, playing and defending with intensity. Yet, he also encourages creativity, freedom, and attempts at making plays. I foresee a fantastic dynamic between the two.”

Michkov’s most significant contribution will be in offense. Last season, Philadelphia ranked 27th in the NHL for scoring, with an average of 2.82 goals per game, and were at the bottom of the league for power play, with a success rate of just 12.2 percent.

But one player won’t fix their scoring issues. Further maturation from a young group of forwards that includes Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee and Noah Cates will be key.

The Flyers also need a more consistent season from No. 1 center Sean Couturier. The 31-year-old, returning after missing most of the prior two seasons because of back problems, started the season well but ran low on energy in the second half, finishing with one goal in his final 37 games.

Briere is optimistic that Couturier can return to his form prior to his injury, a form that saw him achieve back-to-back 30-goal seasons from 2017 to 2019 and win the Selke Trophy for being the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2020.

“Briere stated, “We anticipate Sean to perform as he did in the first half of last season. He was injured, not that it’s an excuse. Last year, he was in pain everywhere except his back, which is fortunate.”

He’s set to become a significant force. Going forward, he’ll be a key player for us, leading this young group.

Another offensive spark could come from defenseman Jamie Drysdale. He had had five points (two goals, three assists) in 24 games after being acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 8 but played through a sports hernia sustained in October. He had surgery in April, has been skating since late July and said he’s focused on showing what he can do when healthy.

“Having someone who can dominate the game as he does has been a long-standing requirement for our defense corps,” commented Farabee. “We’re extremely excited to have him on board, irrespective of whether it’s a 5-on-5 or a power play, he’s going to be in action. It’s truly extraordinary and he’s a fantastic player.”

Briere is confident that the Flyers will once again be playing significant games late into the regular season, and possibly beyond. This confidence stems from the addition of Michkov, the ongoing development of their young forward group, and the expectation of healthy seasons from Couturier and Drysdale.

“Last year, we demonstrated that our team is competitive,” said Briere. “This year, we will strive even harder. We hope to utilize the experience acquired from the last season to improve our performance. Our goal is to once again play meaningful games down the stretch, hopefully with better outcomes.”