It’s an inexact science. A lot of it depends on luck, being in the right place, fortunate bounces, and hot streaks. And, of course, injuries. So, while nobody knows how each Flyer will perform this coming 2026-27, it doesn’t stop BroadStreetHockey from taking guesses as to how many tallies the likes of everyone from Simon Benoit to Porter Martone will get over the 84-game schedule. Here then, in order from the net out, are the predictions for each Flyer skater.
Goaltenders (yes, we probably know)
Dan Vladar
Considering how he fumbled the puck in the playoffs last season which cost Philadelphia a goal, it’s going to be a good season if starter Dan Vladar avoids the same situation this year. Vladar doesn’t have the ability to get the puck into an empty net, so we’ll say he remains at a goose egg (0), much like any other season he’s participated in.
Joseph Woll
Same as Vladar, Woll has never had a goal to his credit as a National Hockey League goalie, making Ron Hextall the franchise all time leader with two: one in the regular season against the Bruins, the other in a playoff game against the Capitals.
Defensemen
Simon Benoit
Benoit is most likely slated to be the seventh defenseman on the Flyers. He’ll be ready should something transpire, and be there to shake things up in limited minutes. He is not destined to be a minutes-muncher. If he is, Philadelphia is going to be in a world of hurt. However, on the offensive side, Benoit is entering the 2026-27 season not having scored in his last 83 combined regular season and playoff games. He went scoreless last year for Toronto in 73 games. Prior to that, he registered a goal in Game Three of the opening round against Ottawa in 2024-25. So he’s probably due. We’ll put him down for one goal, whether it’s a fortunate shot off the glass that caroms in, or a surprising slapshot that finds the back of the twine.
David Jiricek
In 85 career games in the big leagues, David Jiricek has two goals. He scored once back in 2023-24 as a member of Columbus, and then again in Minnesota in 2024-25. Philadelphia is hoping that the offensive toolbox he brings with him helps Philadelphia’s power play. He has a shot that’s heavy, can hurt, and get through defenders. As well, it’s often a low shot, resulting in some meaty rebounds forwards in front can bang home. Or deflect without much difficulty. Jiricek is going to have a good season, and will see himself with six goals at the end of the season. We’re not sure if he’s going to be a staple among the top six defensemen all year. But if he does, much of it will be based on what he can do in the offensive zone.
Helge Grans
Of all the defenders here, Helge Grans looks most likely to be spending the season (or a large chunk of it) in the American Hockey League with Lehigh Valley. Grans was injured in the third exhibition game of the season against the Bruins, leaving early and leaving Philadelphia to pick up the slack with five defenders.
With Grans probably having maybe one or two cups of coffee with Philadelphia this year (provided Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald, and Ty Murchison aren’t out-performing him), Grans will be still looking for his first NHL goal when the 2027-28 season commences. He’s going to come up empty this year.
Nick Seeler
Seeler scored four goals last year, tying his career high in 2022-23. While playing 80 games last year, Seeler registered 10 points, his lowest total in the last four seasons. Although he’s looking more and more like the third-pairing staple, with fewer shot blocks (and bumps and bruises), Seeler isn’t going to light the lamp a lot this year. He’ll score a pair of goals, but provided the defensive ruggedness (and quasi-enforcer status) that will make him a regular over the course of Philadelphia’s year.
Rasmus Ristolainen
You can criticize John Tortorella all you want, but Rasmus Ristolainen is still playing in the NHL thanks to the coach (and assistant Brad Shaw) completely overhauling his style of play. Before he landed in Philadelphia, Ristolainen had 46 career goals as a Sabre. Since then, in the five seasons (some of which were injury-riddled) with the Flyers, the towering blueliner has scored just 11 times. But he’s been a steadying presence on the back end when he’s been healthy.
Provided he plays a full slate of games, and isn’t traded at some point during the season given he’s a free agent at year’s end, Ristolainen will be good for two goals this year. One of them will probably be a surprisingly skillful offensive rush. While the other will be an empty-netter, most likely on the road against his former club.
Cam York
Cam York doesn’t have to score again and he’ll be etched forever in Flyers folklore. York’s last goal resulted in a tossed stick, as his overtime-winner clinched the series against Pittsburgh in ridiculously thrilling fashion. York was probably thought of as the team’s second-best defensemen. But due to Ristolainen still playing quality minutes when he’s healthy, and the huge jump Jamie Drysdale seems to be taking in his game, York might be the team’s fourth best defenseman now. York potted 10 back in 2023-24. He’s scored four times in each of the last two years. He’s also scored a game-winner in each of the last three regular seasons. This year? York will score five times, including another game-winner. Ideally, it’s late in regulation in the season opener at home against Sidney Crosby and company.
Jamie Drysdale
If you’re not liking what Jamie Drysdale is bringing to the table, then there’s not much I can do for you. Drysdale had 32 points last year, scoring a career-high eight goals, and looking more and more like a great two-way defenseman that still is learning on the job.
With a foreseeable first unit power play that will rely on a lot of youth and Drysdale at the point, the defenseman has a chance to take a huge leap forward on the offensive side of things. An effective power play makes Drysdale far more valuable, while also increasing his points total. We’ll put Drysdale down for 11 goals this season, assuming the power play picks up and Drysdale can be a guy who gets shots through so Martone, Foerster, or Michkov can bang home (or get a stick on). Another solid season will make this recent contract extension look like money well spent.
Travis Sanheim
In 81 games, Sanheim logged a ton of minutes as Philadelphia’s top dog on the back end. He had 11 goals, was a +12 on the plus/minus ledger, and ended up with 20 penalty minutes all season. It was a sensational year for the Flyers number one defenseman. This year? Well, look for a few other defensemen to possibly take steps forward, and maybe slightly easing the workload Sanheim had to carry the last few seasons. He might take a slight downturn in the goal total (seven for 2026-27), but overall his game will see next to no drops. If the goal total diminishes slightly, there’s plenty to still appreciate about one of the better (and underrated) defensemen in the league.
Forwards
Noel Acciari
Acciari had his second-best goal-scoring season with Pittsburgh last year. He scored 13 times, providing a lot of depth on a veteran-heavy Penguins club. Now with the other Pennsylvania club, Acciari is hoping to create some mojo or oomph with Sean Couturier on the fourth line, one that should be infinitely better than what Philadelphia tossed up this time last year. Acciari isn’t expected to score 20 goals. But if he was able to score nine goals this season in a limited role that wouldn’t be a problem for a fourth-liner who can take faceoffs, provide energy, toss some hard hits in, and kill penalties.
Nikita Grebenkin
After sustaining an injury late in the season, and having some complications which put him out of the lineup for the start of training camp, Nikita Grebenkin is ready to go. And ready to be hit. Grebenkin scored four goals last year, the first four goals of his career. However, it might be quite dicey to see the youngster get a full slate of games in. A lot of people anticipated either Cole Knuble or Jett Luchanko making strong cases to stick around. But just because they’re not in the lineup for the Flyers now doesn’t mean they won’t be at some point this year.
Grebenkin will score three times this season, and possibly in roughly half a season not because of injuries. A rotation with another veteran (Carl Grundstrom?) might be in the cards for him.
Carl Grundstrom
That goal-scoring streak Grundstrom displayed at one point in 2025-26 seemed more like a one-off. He was good enough for nine tallies, and provided some energy and punch on the fourth line or in a bottom-six setting. Grundstrom isn’t going to score 20, and he might be doing quite well to hit double digits. We think he’ll be at eight goals, the same total he had with Los Angeles back in 2023-24.
Sean Couturier
Accepting his new role, captain Sean Couturier made huge strides in being a difference-maker during the playoffs. He was physical, mean, greasy, and looked like a new player after a trying first 55 games. Couturier looks to be on the fourth line again with Acciari. He should also find himself with roughly the same goal output this season, although not quite reaching the dozen he had in 2025-26. Getting a little bit longer in the tooth, and slowly but surely closing in on Bobby Clarke’s franchise record for games played, Couturier should find himself with 10 goals at year’s end.
Alex Bump
If one was to extrapolate what Bump did last year with this year, he’d roughly see himself with 25 goals over 84 games. He’s still in his rookie season entering play this year, and might find a bit of the sophomore slump despite not having a full season under his belt. Bump had five goals over 17 games, and made an impact at times when the Flyers desperately needed it down the stretch. He might be the biggest question mark entering the season.
However, if Bump can finish a full season healthy and with 16 goals, that isn’t a bad rookie year at all by most standards. He should find himself with some quality players regardless of where he finds himself in the lineup. It’s expected he’ll be slotted somewhere in the bottom six, possibly alongside Acciari and Couturier. Nonetheless, a 16-goal season in his first proper year isn’t too shabby.
Noah Cates
The Flyers have a lot of questions. One of them might be is Noah Cates ready to take that next step and become a 20-goal scorer? After potting 16 in 2024-25, he slightly increased that amount to 18 last season. And this playing without Tyson Foerster for most of the year, and having Matvei Michkov not quite playing at the level many expected. A new season means new linemates, and possibly one of those two wingers put him in that ballpark figure. On the other hand, should Foerster find himself with Cates, expect Cates to possibly hit 50 points this season, but with more assists getting him there. In the end, Cates will get himself 16 goals and be a credible two-way player down the middle.
Christian Dvorak
Before starting his tenure as a Flyer, Christian Dvorak was seen as a depth piece. Somebody that could help the dearth at center, while taking some of the load off an aging Sean Couturier when it came to minutes and faceoffs. Nobody expected Dvorak to end up with a 51-point season, not after hitting 40 points previously in any year. Yet, he did, including scoring 18 times.
Now with a new contract extension kicking in, Dvorak is going to be needed to do much of the same, but most likely with a little wrinkle in his wingers. Depending on how things pan out, Dvorak could see himself with Travis Konecny and Porter Martone for most of the year. Or he could be overtaken by Noah Cates and find himself as the third-line center. Either way, Dvorak is going to be happy with 15 goals. It’s not a huge drop from last year. It might be a case of more wealth being spread around regarding the offense.
Denver Barkey
Provided that whatever day-to-day injury Barkey had after taking a hard hit in the exhibition season isn’t lingering all year, the youngster will be the team’s dark horse in terms of offensive production and efficiency. Barkey has a lot of room to develop, and is not going to be mistake-free all year. His high hockey IQ, and ability to win puck battles, makes him a crowd favorite. Give him a sniper or snipers on either side of him and he could see his numbers dramatically increase by mid-April. It might be a huge ask to see the youngster end up as a second-line or third-line center. On the other hand, if he delivers, it will be a great season for Philadelphia. Barkey will score 13 goals this season, overcome some growing pains, and relish the chance to get to the playoffs again.
Travis Konency
Philadelphia’s second-leading goal-scorer with 27, Travis Konecny led the team in points last year with 68. It was the type of season where he was never really in the spotlight, and never really got red hot. Yet that consistency was an asset in a year that had ups and downs. Konecny is probably going to miss hitting 25 goals this year, but could still end up atop the team’s point totals if he’s feeding the likes of Matvei Michkov, Porter Martone, or Trevor Zegras with great scoring chances. As well, not that it made a huge difference, but seeing Konecny possibly on Philadelphia’s second power play unit isn’t going to help him score more.
Konecny is going to get 22 goals this year, and that shouldn’t be considered a setback.
Owen Tippett
He has developed into a more consistent game-breaking kind of player. Owen Tippett took the bull by the horns more than a few times last season, and either willed the Flyers to a victory or to at least get up off the mat and fight back. Tippett had 28 goals in 2025-26, matching his 2023-24 total. A 20-goal season was between those bookmarks, and looked to be a sign that maybe Tippett was that guy who could break things open.
Well, this season Tippett is the Flyer hardly anyone is speaking of. And he will be the team’s leading goal scorer at year’s end. This is the year Tippett breaks 30 goals. Heck he’s going to break 35 goals. When it’s all said and done, the winger is going to have 37 goals and lead the club in goals.
Trevor Zegras
Provided he doesn’t spend all season in the sin bin for tucking his jersey in, Trevor Zegras is going to tackle this season with the same zeal he did in year one with Philadelphia. Highs both in goals (26) and points (67), Zegras managed to switch into the middle and didn’t look too shabby doing it. There’s still work to be done on the faceoff dot, and knowing his coverage in the defensive zone. But overall he’s been everything you could hope for. And he’ll continue that this year. Don’t expect a breakout goal-scoring season, but he should easily hit 50 to 55 assists this year with a power play that’s on the rebound. Zegras will end the regular season with 24 goals, and a sizable chunk of those being game-winning goals late in the game or in overtime.
Tyson Foerster
After scoring 20 in 2023-24, and 25 in 2024-25, many expected Tyson Foerster to crack 30 goals easily last season. The pace he was on at the time heading into December had many believing 40 wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. We all know how that ended. One goal against Pittsburgh in December and then disaster. Foerster did yeoman’s work, putting in the effort and getting back for the homestretch, giving the Flyers a morale boost if nothing else. He concluded the year with 13 tallies. The summer saw him sign an extension that now looks to be highway robbery if he is anything like he was the pre-injury seasons.
Foerster is hoping for big things from himself. And the club and fanbase are likeminded. The biggest thing is can he return to that sniper he looked to be before the injury. It’ll probably take sometime, and he is probably going to get out of the gates a bit slow. Foerster will get going, most likely in December and then be steady after that. Is that going to work out to be a 35-goal season? Doubtful. As much as he’s improved on his shot, it’s a tall task to score 35 after being injured, particularly to the shoulder. Look for Foerster to have a steady season, but probably end up down around 25 goals. Hopefully I’m wrong, and short by about 10 to 15 goals.
Porter Martone
Calder Trophy talk is already audible and the first game hasn’t been played. Porter Martone brought himself to the conversation thanks to an incredibly impressive 19-game sample size, just under half of it in the regular season, and just over half in the playoffs. Martone is going to be a huge part of what Philadelphia does this season. He hasn’t lost any of that edge he had last season, and is only to glad to mix things up, even if it’s a teammate like Ty Murchison in a scrimmage earlier in training camp.
Martone’s shot is high-end, and lethal. The goal against Pittsburgh which buzzed by the ear of the Penguins’ Stuart Skinner is still one to loop from time to time. But now, more teams and scouts are going to take a good hard look at No. 94. He’s not going to have an easy road, and he knows it. Martone is going to have a very strong rookie season. And he’s going to end up with 25 goals for his efforts. How many of them come on the power play remains to be seen. And if the power play gets going, he might have 25 by the All-Star break. Either way, a 25-goal season by a rookie is nothing to sneeze at. Especially if those goals helps the club get back to the dance with far more room for error than last year.
Matvei Michkov
A 51-point season that had plenty of drama is done. Over. Finished. Now, a leaner, and meaner Matvei Michkov has a desire to prove everyone wrong. And big time. Michkov has looked faster, more focused, and definitely with far more gas in the tank than he did the opening 55 games of last season. With Martone also in the lineup, perhaps Michkov gets more favorable matchups with which to strut his stuff, and get his goals. He’s going to have far longer shifts, and be more effective later in those shifts than most people expect. And he’s going to score. And score. And score some more.
Is it crazy to suggest Michkov could be nearing a point per game pace at year’s end? Not really. Michkov has that playmaking ability to get the puck to a guy in position. And with Martone possibly that guy on the power play, the world is his oyster. He’s going to get 32 goals this season. That total will shut up any naysayers who railroaded the sophomore last season while making Tocchet a happy man. This season will put Michkov back on the map, and with a hefty contract extension in the offering before the summer of 2027 commences.
