A few days ago, we looked at the five Philadelphia Flyers who might be in the eye of the hurricane, or in the glare of the spotlight from the opening faceoff on Sept. 30 onwards. That’s not to say that only those five players need to prove themselves early and often, but with new contracts signed and extensions for some in the offing, they’re naturally going to get more eyeballs placed on them. However, on the other side of the pressure coin, there are a handful of players who don’t need career years, or need to drag the team on their shoulders to the playoffs. That’s not to say they can simply lollygag, punch the clock, and go through the motions while maintaining a spot on the roster. But if they start slow, or don’t quite look right on opening night, it’s not the end of the world for them.
Here then are five Flyers who might have the least amount of pressure on them this coming season. Obviously all parties concerned hope they succeed. But it’s not life or death if they don’t.
5. Sean Couturier
It’s probably a given that, barring substantial injuries, center and captain Sean Couturier won’t be seeing top line, or even top six, minutes at any point this season. Couturier turns 34 in December, and with four years remaining on his eight-year contract, the goal is to stretch his efficiency as much as possible before he becomes a healthy scratch earning $7.75 million a year. After finding his footing on Philadelphia’s fourth line in the last third of the season with Garnet Hathaway and Luke Glendening, Couturier made the most of his limited minutes, becoming a dominant force on the line, providing a physical presence and also driving play far more than he had at any point in 2025-26. He showed another facet of his game that nobody thought he had. And while clearly having lost a step or two since he entered the league, this new version of Couturier looks to be a very useful piece to the Flyers going forward.
With Philadelphia acquiring Noel Acciari in free agency after the center spent last year in Pittsburgh, Couturier might see his faceoff work diminish slightly this season. Not by a lot, but it could help to keep him fresh down the stretch and in the playoffs. As well, Couturier could have far more in the tank than expected when it matters most, particularly if he’s in the 10 to 12 minutes range each game, far less than the 18 to 20 (or more) he was eating up for a good chunk of last year. In short, the forward is clearly on the downside of his career. Yet, if Philadelphia and head coach Rick Tocchet is able to utilize Couturier as well as he did down the stretch, then everybody wins. Nobody is expecting a 70-point (or even a 40-point) season from Couturier these days. Essentially, if he is anything close to what he was the last eight to 10 weeks the Flyers, then he’ll be fine. He still needs to do his job. It’s just that the job isn’t close to what was expected when last year commenced. The bar was so low with last year’s fourth line the first few months that Couturier would have to be ridiculously horrible to match that ineptness.
4. Owen Tippett
Winger Owen Tippett matched his career high in goals (28) and ended the year with 51 points. However, he was absent against Carolina for internal bleeding which, thankfully, was resolved over time. Tippett has been repeatedly talked about in trade discussions for some time, and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. He’s entering the third year of an eight-year deal that has a 10-team no-trade list clause implemented this season, but comes at a very economical $6.2 million per year. Tippett is playing well enough to be a possible piece of the Flyers’ future. At the same time, he’s playing well enough to possibly play himself out of town if Philadelphia looks to acquire a high-end center. He’s great to have, but also great to move if it helps the club get better.
There have been games where Tippett looked incredibly physical, a speed demon, and a sniper all at once. When that happens the notion of trading him seems foolish. But with the Flyers having the likes of Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny, Trevor Zegras, and Matvei Michkov seemingly looking to have impactful years, maybe Tippett takes a back seat to some of the younger prospects. He could also play second fiddle to that aforementioned quartet if most of them take steps forward. Either way, Tippett hopefully continues to play quite well, while taking charge like he’s known to do at times.
Tippett should be 100 per cent when training camp starts. He should also look ready when the season begins. If he’s not, it might be a cause for concern if he went on a dry spell like Couturier or Michkov did last year. Otherwise, Tippett can enter the season knowing there are far more juicier storylines that takes precedent over what he does or doesn’t do in 2026-27. Of course, that’s assuming he’s still here 84 games from now.
3. Noah Cates
With a contract that is shorter and friendlier to the club (and possible trading partners), center Noah Cates shouldn’t feel a lot of pressure heading into this year. He’s above the likes of Sean Couturier in terms of depth, but doesn’t quite have the offensive oomph that a guy like Trevor Zegras could have down the middle. Cates, who turns 27 this season, had career highs in goals and assists, ending up with 47 points while solidifying the third center spot perfectly. This despite the fact he went from having Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster at his side in 2024-25 to seeing one traded to Minnesota at the deadline and the other out for over half of the season from injury. It was a very good year for Cates, who should be entering his prime.
The problem with Cates might also be his own asset: he seems locked in as the third center, at least until Christian Dvorak starts to slide, or a youngster like Denver Barkey dazzles on a consistent basis. So barring a horrible tailspin, he should know the slot he had honed for the last two years seems quite secure this year also. Cates appeared to be working well with Matvei Michkov, developing a shorthand with the Russian despite the language barrier still not fully resolved. He might end up with 50 to 55 points. Or he could take a small step back. Either way, Cates understands what’s expected of him, and is living up to those rather moderate expectations quite nicely.
2. Rasmus Ristolainen
With his name continuously in trade talks, you’d think by now Rasmus Ristolainen has a bag packed already. And has all the various utility companies in Philadelphia on speed dial for when the trade happens and he needs to shut things down. Ristolainen has missed 108 games the last three seasons, just under 50 per cent of that stretch. So he’s not a constant. He was fine in the 44 games and playoff contests he played in, looking like “Playoff Risto” in his first time getting to that second season. And he played top pair minutes partnered with Travis Sanheim for most of the two rounds Philadelphia played.
On an expiring contract, and looking almost guaranteed to not return to Philadelphia on a short-term extension, some might wonder when he’s being dealt. Had the club landed either Darnell Nurse or John Carlson earlier in July, chances are Ristolainen is elsewhere now. Hopefully, he plays well, doesn’t end up injured, and can look like a decent addition to a club contending at the trade deadline. It appears Briere’s asking price for the defenseman is high (and most likely includes a first-round pick coming back), so that might not change until the deadline. But on the blueline, Ristolainen has to be feeling fairly loose and cool now knowing he’s most likely elsewhere sooner than later. And although David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk might not be close to being guaranteed a roster spot, it appears they are closer to being a regular part of the Flyers than Ristolainen will be looking forward.
Given his injuries, and that he’s most likely on his way out the door, is it any wonder Ristolainen might seem to be taking things day by day heading into training camp? If he’s wearing a Flyers jersey at training camp.
1. Porter Martone
He’s going to put pressure on himself. That swagger, cocksure attitude he possessed the final weeks of the season (and in the playoffs) was something to behold. His production in the clutch was quite apparent, with two game-winning goals in the first two games against Pittsburgh. He looked 29 but was still a teen. Porter Martone will be entering his first full season at the National Hockey League level. He’s bound to hit some hurdles or bumps in the road. But outside of putting Briere, Tocchet, or a player in a chokehold to start training camp, Martone is going to be given an extremely long leash this year. He could pick up where he left off, and conclude 2026-27 with Calder Trophy expectations, or at least being a lock for one of the nominee positions. Or, he could find the grind of a full season a lot for him to handle, and could see some time in the press box (or in Lehigh Valley) if that comes to pass.
Regardless of what happens, Porter Martone will put a smile on a lot of faces this season simply for being him, and knowing that what he did last year might just be scratching the surface of his potential. He won’t have the baggage of a poor showing in the playoffs. Heck, Philadelphia’s youth ran into a buzzsaw in Carolina, a club that manhandled Vegas in the finals. No shame in that. What Martone should enjoy is knowing that everyone has his back this coming season, as much as the organization did in Michkov’s rookie season. He probably won’t put up 80 or 90 points in his first year as a Flyer. But whatever he can contribute should do wonders for both himself and the team. And not just this season, but for years to come. Martone will be given every chance to prove himself, while also having people around him who realize he’s turning 20 in late October. While the bar might be higher given last year, Porter Martone will come to camp given every conceivable benefit of the doubt.
