The Philadelphia Flyers have just two games left in the preseason, and Rick Tocchet appears to be using them to get a look at a potential opening night lineup.
There are still a few roster spots to be won, with battles at both forward and defense still ongoing. Jett Luchanko is still in training camp with the team, as is Rodrigo Abols, as the two forwards fight for a spot on the fourth line. However, neither Luchanko nor Abols will be in the lineup for Thursday night’s game against the New York Islanders.
The Flyers’ roster for Thursday night is essentially the top four lines and three pairs that they practiced with on Wednesday.
Lines and pairs today:
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) October 1, 2025
Tippett – Zegras – Michkov
Grebenkin – Couturier – Konecny
Foerster – Cates – Brink
(Luchanko) Deslauriers – Dvorak – Hathaway
(I've yet to see Abols rotate in for a rep)
York – Sanheim
Seeler – Drysdale
Ginning – Zamula
Gilbert – Juulsen
It’s interesting to see Owen Tippett up on the top line with Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov, although Tocchet could be wanting to see how that line works in the final two preseason games. If they are able to play well in all three zones, that would allow Christian Dvorak to drop down to the fourth-line center role.
That could mean bad news for Luchanko, who either has to stay in the NHL or be sent back to the OHL for this season. Does a decision come in the next couple of days? Does it happen before the Flyers’ final preseason game this Saturday? If he’s not going to be in any more exhibition games for the Flyers, why keep him around?
Thursday will also be the first game off for Abols, who played in each of the Flyers’ first five preseason contests. He impressed in each one, looking like he’d be a lock for the roster, but he may not make the opening night lineup if these lines are any indication.
Still, Abols is the type of guy that the Flyers should want to keep around as an extra forward. He’s 29 years old, so there’s no real need for him to play big minutes in the AHL, and he should see time on the fourth line throughout the season — particularly since the Flyers need to move on from Deslauriers.
But Tocchet didn’t speak too highly of Abols after practice on Wednesday.
“He wants to be an NHL player. It’s my job to give him feedback on how to be an NHL player,” Tocchet told the media via Charlie O’Connor. “I think for him — he’s 6-foot-4, pretty good skater, he’s got a hell of a shot. You guys saw it the other night. There’s some things there. But I think there’s more there for him to be an NHL player. I don’t think, you know, he’s got the job, that he’s an NHL player right now. He’s trending to that. We had a talk today about that. I like his frame, I like his thinking. To me, right now, (it’s) the consistency. Can he put together games of consistency?”
Who knows if that’s to keep Abols motivated or the media (and players) guessing, but the forward has been one of the Flyers’ best players throughout the preseason.
If Thursday night’s roster is indeed the opening night lineup, the Flyers could do a lot worse. But they could still do a lot better with the likes of Abols or Luchanko on the fourth line for Deslauriers. And ultimately, it’s surprising that they’re not getting another game or two to showcase their stuff, especially after Luchanko had his best game of the preseason on Monday night.
