The Flyers are still looking for their first win of the season, after losing 3-2 in overtime to the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes — and questionable officiating.
Owen Tippett was called for a slashing call in overtime, one of several debatable calls against the Flyers on the night, and former Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere ripped the game-winner past goalie Joseph Woll in his home debut.
The Flyers stayed on the bench after, wanting the goal reviewed by the NHL. Right before Gostisbehere scored, the Flyers thought Andrei Svechnikov cross-checked Nick Seeler and bumped Woll as he skated atop the crease to set a screen.
Facing the team that eliminated them from the 2026 playoffs in a sweep , the Flyers played a little better than the first two games of the season. However, they still went 0-for-4 on the power play with nine shot attempts and two shots on goal, including a man advantage that carried into overtime. And while Carolina is known as a high shot volume team and put 40 shots on goal, the Flyers could only muster 18.
Philly is now 0-1-2. It is the first three-game winless streak to start the season since 2014-15, when they lost four straight back then.
It didn’t look like the Flyers would earn a point in this one because, just 10 seconds in, Sebastian Aho put the Flyers in a 1-0 hole. The Hurricanes won the opening face-off, with Jaccob Slavin dumping it into the Flyers’ end and Andrei Svechnikov chasing it down as it rang around.
He sent it back behind the net to William Carrier, who put the puck in front, but onto the stick of Christian Dvorak. The center tried to tap it to Matvei Michkov, but it went right to Aho, who scored off the glove of Woll.
Video: 76 Seconds with the Flyers before the 2026-27 season opener
With the Flyers struggling, Tippett told The Inquirer on Saturday morning that simplifying everything right now was important. Well, he did that in the offensive zone and, as a result, found the back of the net.
The play started in the neutral zone when, after a pass from Travis Sanheim missed Tippett, Rasmus Ristolainen bodied Aho along the boards a few feet into the Flyers’ end. The puck popped loose, and Tippett grabbed it to begin the rush.
Trevor Zegras got the puck and found Sanheim trailing, but the defenseman, instead of shooting straight down the pike, tried to feed Tippett for a redirect as he was crashing down the right side. It didn’t connect there either, but Tippett got the puck back for a turnaround shot that was blocked, then a one-timer from above the circles, and eventually, off a scramble, collected it for a snapshot past Pyotr Kochetkov’s glove.
Sandwiched around two power plays —the first one was only 70 seconds — that saw the Flyers get four shots to the Hurricanes’ two, was Michkov’s first goal of the season.
Skating with Travis Konecny and Dvorak, Michkov was left all alone as his linemates were battling to get the puck down the right boards. With two Hurricanes drawn to Konecny, Michkov skated down the middle, got the pass from his fellow winger, and buried it past his countryman Kochetkov as the goalie came out of the crease to challenge.
Carolina tied it 2-2 in the third period, scoring a power-play goal on a bumper shot from Aho off a pass by Nikolaj Ehlers. Michkov was in the box for a legitimate holding call.
Owen Tippett (center) battles for the puck in Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Breakaways
Ristolainen left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury and will be reevaluated on Sunday. Ristolainen blocked a shot by Hurricanes defenseman K’Andre Miller with 3 minutes and 31 seconds left in the second period. He finished that shift, ending over a minute later, but missed his next shift and played one 37-second shift to start the third period. Tocchet said Flyers general manager Danny Brière was speaking with the trainers at that moment. They will decide tonight or tomorrow if they need to make a call-up for the upcoming road trip. … Carolina earned their first win of the season.
Up next
Flyers hit the road for a three-game trip beginning on Monday in Tampa Bay against the Lightning (7 p.m., NBCSP).
After a first postseason appearance in five years and a captivating surge to the second round of the NHL playoffs, Flyers hockey returns Wednesday night with the Orange and Black hosting the rival Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2026-27 lid-lifter at Xfinity Mobile Arena (7:30 p.m., TNT, HBO MAX, and TruTV).
Increased success brings increased expectations, and general manager Danny Brière has been the first to caution his young players that it only gets harder the second time around.
On the eve of the Flyers’ opener, Brière sat down with The Inquirer to chat about the momentum around the Flyers, some of his top young players, and much more.
Q: Why were you comfortable running it back with basically the same roster, especially with increased competition expected?
A: We have a young team that took a big step last year. You want to see how far they can take it. I think the players also earned it; they took a big step. I mean, it’s not like we didn’t try to improve the team. You’re always looking. You want to help take that next step. We did, but it just didn’t work out. There’s other things that were in the books. But at the same time, I know fans love to see trades, but I’m not going to make trades just to make trades. It has to make sense. We’ve worked hard building the culture around here. We have a group of young men that bought into that, and we’re not just going to dismantle that just to please the few fans that just think we’re playing fantasy hockey.
The goal is to improve the team, and we think we did that. Maybe not at the top, first line or first pairing, but I think Joseph Woll is going to be a huge addition to our team. I think Simon Benoit and Noel Acciari will bring us a lot of depth. You look at last year, starting the year, our fourth line was putting us in a tough spot at times. I think now we have a fourth line that’s much closer to the other three; whoever you want to use as the fourth line. So to me, I think we’ve improved the team. But like I’ve said [previously], I’m worried. I’m worried all the time about some of our young guys, especially, thinking that they’ve made it. Every team is trying to improve, and we’re still looking to improve if we have the chance.
The Flyers believe goalie Joseph Woll will make a major difference, and alongside Dan Vladař, form one of the NHL’s top goaltending tandems.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Q: Do you look at what other teams in the Metropolitan Division are doing, and does that put any added pressure on you?
A: No, I don’t see it as pressure. You see it as OK, every trade brings in some kind of comparison to other trades. So that’s why we’re always looking at it to see, OK, what’s a fair value now if we’re talking about this guy vs. that guy and what they did? So, yeah, we’re keeping a close eye on everything that [teams are] doing, but I don’t try to make trades to compete with the other GMs. I make trades to improve our team.
I don’t see it as a competition vs. the other GMs; it’s a competition as far as on the ice. The goal is not who makes the most trades; it’s winning. You look at a team like Carolina, they’ve been pretty steady, and they’ve given the chance to their young guys to take the next step. I know it’s not always sexy, but you have to be careful with what you have sometimes. You don’t realize, and one day you wake up and they’re better elsewhere, and you’ve missed. But there’s also a case sometimes where prospects need a fresh start, and they need to go somewhere else to expand their game. So we’re aware of that, too.
Q: You said Saturday that David Jiříček’s camp was ‘OK.’ Are his defensive warts maybe more pronounced than you first thought?
A: No. We’re working with David. We’re going to try to help him. He’s working, he’s trying, and he’s still a young guy. He’s going to make mistakes. Yes, after I had my comments, he had a tough second half of the game [Saturday], and that’s going to happen. It’s going to happen with young guys. It doesn’t change what we think of them. We just have to keep working with him and try to build him up. It’s been a rough go for him the last few years, bouncing around a lot, new systems, new coaches, new teammates. So we’re going to keep working with him.
Q: It seems like Matvei Michkov’s whole mentality has changed. Take us through your first meeting with him this season, and what are your expectations for him?
A: I was really pleased with the way he showed up, the work he put in this summer. It really stood out when you saw him on the ice. It stood out when you saw him in street clothes. He really put in the work, and I’m really pleased with the fact that he’s trying to speak more English. He spoke to you guys [the media] here, in English without a translator; that’s a huge step. And I think it’s all part of it, right?
He feels better about himself. He’s more confident. He’s trying to close the gap with you guys [the media], close the gap with his teammates, and in return, he’s going to feel more confident on the ice. So I think it’s all part of the development that we see in young guys, and everybody has a different path. Not too many players go through what he had to go through in his short career. He’s been through so much already. We don’t have a template to prepare someone to go through what he has gone through. So we’re trying to stay cognizant of that, and again, working with him and realizing everybody has a different path.
The Flyers have been blown away by Matvei Michkov’s preseason, which has been a product of the work he put in this summer.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Q: With Rasmus Ristolainen’s age and contract situation, if the team is in contention, would you be comfortable keeping him and then potentially losing him for nothing?
A: Yes, absolutely, because part of the reason is the protection he gives our young guys, and I’ve said that before. And I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s too early, and so many things can go different ways, but yeah, if we’re in a playoff spot at the deadline, it’s something we have to consider as well. The value of protecting our players, our young players, might be greater than acquiring a future asset. But maybe not, and that’s something that we’ll evaluate as we get closer.
Q: With LeBron James choosing the Sixers, does it have any impact on the Flyers? And do you think having the NBA’s biggest star choosing Philadelphia can help you lure big stars too at some point?
A: That’s a good question. I think it shows, and you look at all four major sports in the city, they’re all very competitive teams. They want to win, and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to win. LeBron signing here, I think it shows that Philadelphia is a sports hub. So I think it’s good for the other three major sports to have a superstar-level player come in to Philadelphia like that. So I think it’s a good thing.
The Flyers say they are in the business of trying to lure a star to Philadelphia. They believe LeBron James’ arrival can only help.Gabriela Carroll /
Q: Is there someone who was a big surprise for you at camp?
A: Matvei, the way he showed up. I was very pleased last year with a lot of guys — Dan Vladař to start with. I hope Woll can come in and play at a similar level as he does to have one of the best tandems in the league. I thought Jamie Drysdale took a huge step last year; that was good. Even Cam York, I thought, was a much better all-around defenseman last year than he was the year before, so that pairing was a big reason why we took the step that we did last year as well.
Q: What’s your message to guys like Cole Knuble and Oliver Bonk, who look so ready for the NHL, but were sort of victims to the numbers game?
A: Keep pushing the envelope. We told them, and everybody knows, the short camp has kind of played against them. That’s what it does; it protects the veteran better. But we’re not going to stop evaluating because the season starts. We’re going to keep watching them.
The other message to them and Jett Luchanko was, I don’t think it does any good to keep them in a sheltered role here at this point in their career. We felt it’s better for them to have the chance to play heavy minutes, play against the other team’s top lines, play on the PP, play on the PK, touch every situation. For Jett and Cole, they’re starting their pro career. Oliver has one year under his belt, but he was injured for the first, I think, two months of the season. So I think they’re in a great spot. They’re getting closer to being ready, but they still have a lot to learn, and I don’t feel it’s going to hurt them to spend a little bit of time in the minors.
Q: What is your overall message to the fan base heading into the year?
A: We feel we’re still going in the right direction. We’re still building. They have an exciting team in front of them. Now, I don’t know exactly where it’s going to go, and that’s what happens with a young team. We’re still a young team, but I really feel they have an exciting team that they’re seeing develop right in front of their eyes.
The Flyers won their first game of the preseason, 2-0, against the Boston Bruins on Thursday, their first home game and the first game featuring most of their projected NHL lineup.
Audible excitement filled the air among the sparse crowd as Michkov appeared to think about going for a “Michigan” lacrosse-style goal from behind the net early in the first period. He backed off, and instead helped generate the Flyers’ first sustained offensive possession, ending his shift with a rebound goal.
It was just the first of many positive shifts from Michkov in his first game of the preseason.
“[Michkov], I thought, obviously, he was skating really well, and felt it with the puck still, which was really nice to see,” head coach Rick Tocchet said.
Michkov has mostly been practicing with Noah Cates and Owen Tippett, but his line with Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak was the Flyers’ best line Thursday. The Russian winger was noticeably quicker on his feet and was active as a passer. After fielding questions and concerns about his fitness heading into last year’s camp, Michkov made a strong start to his third NHL season despite facing the Bruins’ “B-team.”
The other massive question facing the Flyers is the state of the power play. After spending significant time in practice the past few days tinkering with their top two units, the Flyers finally got to try at least one of them in an actual game. The results?
“Needs to be better,” Michkov said.
There were definitely things to like, especially from the top unit featuring Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone, and Michkov. On their first opportunity, they cycled and got two good looks on net, with some creative motion and passing.
“We had a couple good entries,” Martone said. “Pucks are bouncing, but we’ve got a lot of skill on that unit. I think if we put it together, it can work really well.”
Tocchet characterized the power play as “not bad” for the first game. He said the Flyers are going to run with the top unit for a bit, and give the players time to get used to each other. There were already encouraging signs.
“[Michkov], I love that he took it to the net,” Tocchet said. “I know he didn’t score. I don’t care. He took it to the net. … A lot of the best power plays, you’ve got to go low with it.”
The second unit saw more mixed results, to be expected since the absence of players like Owen Tippett, Alex Bump, Noah Cates, and David Jiříček from the lineup meant the group was significantly different from the one that practiced together in camp.
‘The kids are all right’
The absences of those key regulars opened the door for prospect Cole Knuble to get some power-play time. Tocchet said Knuble, one of the few prospects in an NHL-heavy lineup, stacked another good game onto his impressive camp, and is “pushing” for an opportunity. With Denver Barkey injured and questionable for opening night, he might just get one.
Knuble, 22, scored a greasy rebound from in front in the third period after starting the rush with a pass to Jett Luchanko, and he nearly added an empty-netter. His line with Luchanko and Jacob Gaucher carried an expected goals share of 84.77%, according to Natural Stat Trick, and was the Flyers’ best line by that metric.
Cole Knuble, 22, is making a strong push to make the opening-night NHL roster.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
“My game hasn’t changed game to game or day to day, even,” Knuble said. “That’s important to me, and to always bring that compete and energy and play with pace.”
Luchanko, the Flyers’ 2024 first-round pick, also played a strong game, picking up an assist on Knuble’s goal and making smart plays with the puck using his speed. Based on the numbers, he and Knuble are unlikely to make the NHL roster, but they flashed some great chemistry that the Flyers will likely explorer further in Lehigh Valley.
On a Woll
Joseph Woll, playing his first full game of the preseason, earned a 28-save shutout in his home debut. Dan Vladař’s injury status remains “day-to-day,” so Woll could get a bit of run to start the season.
“He looks big in net,” Tocchet said of his new 6-foot-3, 213-pound netminder. “He made some really good saves, really solid.”
Flyers goalie Joseph Woll stopped 28 shots to earn a shutout in his first appearance in front of the home fans in Philly.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The Flyers play their final game of the preseason Saturday at home against Washington and will ice another lineup primarily made up of NHL regulars. This will represent their final opportunity to test things before they finalize their roster by Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline and open up the season Wednesday vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins (7:30 p.m., TNT/TruTV/HBO Max).
One day last spring, just after the Flyers had finished an off-day practice in Raleigh during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Matvei Michkov lingered in the locker room, the only player there.
Two or three media members were hanging out, too, chatting with him about soccer, Michkov chatting back in splintered English. There was no tension. He was not sullen. If anything, he was effervescent: smiling, happy to engage. He did not in any way appear to be shattered by the hard but necessary treatment he had been receiving from head coach Rick Tocchet — limited ice time, often on the team’s third line — and would continue to receive. In just a few days, Tocchet would bench him for Game 4 of the Hurricanes’ series, the overtime loss that ended the Flyers’ season.
Now here we are, on the precipice of a Flyers season unlike any in the franchise in at least a decade, and Michkov is a reason, maybe the primary reason, for the welcome-if-unfamiliar atmosphere around the team. After the progress that the Flyers made last season — qualifying for the playoffs and winning a series for the first time since 2020, reassuring their fans that the team was, in fact, improving — they’re back to being a team on the rise again. It probably goes too far to say that expectations are or should be high for them, but there is certainly cause for cautious optimism.
Michkov is at the core of both that caution and those good feelings. His struggles, the fits and starts in his maturation, have been well documented. Considering how long it has been since the Flyers have drafted and developed a bona fide superstar, how often their fans and followers have been sold or were eager to buy bills of goods that turned out to be worthless, it was understandable that people might be concerned that Tocchet was hindering Michkov’s growth, if not stopping it altogether.
The subsequent four months, and some perspective, should have tempered that worry. Michkov had acknowledged that he was out of shape throughout last season; over the offseason, he said, he improved his diet and lost 29 pounds. And for all the complaints that Tocchet should have just thrown Michkov on the ice more often to sink or skate, for all the tongue-holding that the head coach did and failed to do, in 81 games Michkov still scored 20 goals and put up 51 points, the third-most on the team. If that measure of production constitutes a disastrous season, then the Flyers will happily take their chances on a lighter, presumably faster, revitalized Michkov. He is 21. Nothing is settled or ruined for him.
Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and star Matvei Michkov didn’t always see eye to eye last season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
That relative gamble (what, were they really going to give up on another highly drafted player and trade him after one suspect season?) is emblematic of the approach that the Flyers took all offseason. Yes, they shocked the NHL with their eye-popping offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, but if you focus on the moves that they made (not the one they couldn’t quite pull off), it’s easy to see that they’ve made similar bets up and down their roster.
They re-signed Tyson Foerster to an eight-year, $56.8-million contract on the belief that an excellent two-way player who hasn’t scored more than 25 goals in a full season can be the kind of player who scores 40. They re-signed Trevor Zegras to a four-year, $36.5-million contract on the belief that he can tap even deeper into his well of skill and creativity. They re-signed Jamie Drysdale to a four-year, $26-million contract on the belief that he can be more than a solid No. 2 or No. 3 defenseman, more than just a coping mechanism for the departure of Cutter Gauthier.
Those players and others like them — Michkov, Foerster, Zegras, Drysdale, Porter Martone — will chart the course of this Flyers season and the franchise’s future, in the near and the long term. What the Flyers are banking on, really, is a factor that so many who work in, cover, and follow sports often forget: that athletes can and do get better with time, that a player won’t remain the same from his second year to his third and his third to his fourth, that a lengthy period of regression or stagnancy — like Michkov’s — doesn’t mean that player won’t return to form or make a great leap. It might even have been a necessary wake-up call.
Who makes that leap? Who shuffles just a few steps forward? Who seems stuck in place? The answers to those questions will define the ‘26-27 Flyers and will make them fascinating to watch. One player in particular.
Matvei Michkov walked into the press room at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees on Thursday after the first day of training camp, and you could quickly see there was a lightness to him. Not just because, as he said in a recent interview in Russian, he’s lost around 29 pounds since last year’s training camp.
For the first time since arriving in North America in the summer of 2024, Michkov sat in front of the media for a press conference, taking and answering questions in English. Only once or twice did he look to Slava Kuznetsov, the team’s translator, for clarification in Russian or to find the right word to use in English.
“I know now a little bit better English,” he said about his comfort level. “My first years so hard for me; I stay in Philly [with] zero level [of] English, second year a little bit better, [and] now a little more better.
“This is my first interview [in] only English. This is hard for me, guys. Sorry. And yeah, I feel much better now. I think Philly, this is my second home.”
Philadelphia Flyers take the ice during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Simon Benoit shoots on goal during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerFlyer goalie, Carson Bjamason enters the ice during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerFlyer goalie, Carson Bjamason enters the ice during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Alex Bump shoots during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerFlyer Cam Dineen, (85) shoots on goal during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Matvei Michkov shoots on goal during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers fans gathered behind the glass, during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Owen Tippett enters the ice during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers take the ice during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Sean Couturier, left, shoots on goal during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerFlyer Tyson Foerster practice during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Sean Couturier talks to the media during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Trevor Zegras skates during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Matvel Michkov chases a puck behind the goal during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerFlyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones and General Manager Danny Briere look on from the balcony during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Sean Couturier talks to the media during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Trevor Zegras skates during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov talks to reporters and answers questions in English for the first time during his first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Ty Murchinson handles the puck behind the net during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers fans gathered behind the glass, during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov talks to reporters and answers questions in English for the first time during his first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff PhotographerPhiladelphia Flyers Matvel Michkov chases a puck behind the goal during the first day of training camp Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The 21-year-old winger’s maturity and comfort level have skyrocketed not just with conveying his thoughts to the media, but with his coaching staff and teammates. Alternate captain Travis Konecny noted it will make it easier to communicate this season, especially on the bench during the heat of battle.
#Flyers forward Matvei Michkov: “I feel, right now, lighter. I [am] lighter right now on the ice and [have] more speed. Every skill, more speed, better skills." pic.twitter.com/J4E9MPtiKs
With that, the hope is it will all translate to a rebound year for Michkov.
Despite an impressive first season that saw him tie for second in rookie scoring with 63 points, finish fourth in Calder Trophy voting, and named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team, Michkov followed it up with 20 goals and 51 points in 81 regular-season games in Year 2. Not terrible, but he was scratched in the playoffs as he struggled with the pace and finished with just one assist in eight postseason contests.
After arriving last year out of shape and ill-prepared for the season, he spent this summer working out and having fun — “50-50,” he said — while dropping a significant amount of weight and getting leaner. He was invited to work out with fellow Russian NHLers like Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev, which he called a good experience, and had Flyers performance development coach Lorne Goldenberg come to Russia to push him further for two weeks.
Matvei Michkov revealed Thursday that Flyers coach Rick Tocchet tasked him with working on his shot, particularly one-timers, over the summer.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
“I feel right now, lighter. I [am] lighter right now on the ice and [have] more speed,” he said. “Every skill, more speed, better skills. … I eat right now just good food, no fast food, no sugar — little bit maybe [on a] day off; I like chocolate, but just days off.
“And this is hard work too. This is hard work, not only on the ice but [in] life too. … I want to play better for [the] team, for Flyers, but my first option is the team. I need to support everybody who plays [for] the Flyers.”
It may have been Day 1 of training camp, but coach Rick Tocchet noticed a quickness and added strength in Michkov’s skating. Tocchet liked how Michkov was pushing the pace during his set of laps, which each group did at the end of their second on-ice session of the day in Voorhees. “When guys start getting tired, their stride gets choppier, and his was still long; that’s a good sign,” Tocchet said.
Michkov also showed the rewards of the work he put in to strengthen his shot.
“Every practice I work on my hands, one-timers,” he said. “But I think this is my little problem; I need harder [shot] on one-timer, and this is plus [to] score for me. This is a good situation. … Tocc talk to me, you need to work on one-timers, and I work on one-timers all summer. And I think now, I [am] feeling better.”
Skating on a line with Denver Barkey and free-agent signee Zach Aston-Reese, Michkov was moving well and getting to the net, firing a shot past Dan Vladař at one point. Tocchet thought the two youngsters, Barkey and Michkov — who had chemistry last season when paired up as wingers — were “buzzing” and showed how much they had grasped the concepts the staff had preached.
The Flyers believe a fitter and more mature Matvei Michkov can have a “vengeance tour” kind of season in Year 3.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
And Michkov showed some feistiness at one point when he and fellow 2023 first-round draft pick, defenseman Oliver Bonk, got into a pretty good shoving match at the far end of the rink.
“Well, you can definitely tell he’s put in the work. He’s put in sacrifices, and he looks in good shape,” captain Sean Couturier said. “He’s skating well out there, making plays, so it’s exciting to see.
“He’s always been a big part of our team, so we expect that out of him, and he seems to want more. So that’s encouraging, and it’s fun to see.”
It’s that time of year again. No, not the return of football, the leaves changing color, or weekend trips to the apple orchard. On Thursday, it’s officially time to “do that hockey,” as the Flyers assemble for the start of training camp.
On the heels of the Flyers’ first non-COVID playoff appearance since 2018, the team enters 2026-27 with serious expectations and excitement for the first time in almost a decade. Can Rick Tocchet’s team live up to the hype and build on last season’s breakthrough? Here are five story lines to watch for as camp opens at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees.
The biggest question surrounding the Flyers’ offseason was whether Matvei Michkov would take his training seriously and show up in better shape after getting behind the eight-ball from the onset last season.
We probably won’t have a definitive answer until the games begin for real on Sept. 30, but the early signs have been promising. Michkov, 21, notably participated in a training group for Russian players run by Artemi Panarin this summer, and also facilitated a visit from Flyers training staff member Lorne Goldenberg to his homeland. Time will tell if that work will translate to on-ice production, but he appears leaner in social media pictures and videos. In a recent interview in Russian, the winger took accountability for showing up out of shape last season and claimed he has lost 29 pounds since then.
Interesting, introspective conversation here with Matvei Michkov discussing his weight and fitness. Says he’s down about 30 pounds from where he was a year ago. Seems like he’s in a good headspace. I’m excited to watch him play this year. pic.twitter.com/gL0H4YlSiN
General manager Danny Brière said Tuesday that since returning to the area earlier this month, Michkov has “a different swagger” to him. “He’s got a pep in his step. He feels good. He looks good. So I’m excited about Matvei’s season,” the GM said.
Tocchet said he’s anticipating a “vengeance tour” this season from Michkov, who will need a new contract at season’s end. Showing up in shape would go a long way in setting himself up for a breakout Year 3.
Numbers game
With the new 84-game schedule and condensed training camp, young players and roster bubble guys will have fewer opportunities to make an impression. Add in that the Flyers bring back a young and relatively unchanged core, and barring injury, there aren’t many obvious roster spots up for grabs.
With 20 virtual roster locks by my count, plus defenseman David Jiříček, who is no longer waiver-exempt and thus almost assured a place to start the year, that leaves two spots for the bubble guys to compete for. The Flyers could elect to keep 14 forwards or eight defensemen, with forwards Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundström, and Zach Aston-Reese, and defensemen Oliver Bonk, Ty Murchison, Hunter McDonald, and Helge Grans essentially battling for two spots.
Defenseman Oliver Bonk is one of the players who figures to be right on the roster bubble to open the season.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Bonk’s training camp will likely decide whether the Flyers go with seven or eight defensemen. With seven defensemen already ticketed for the roster, the 2023 first-rounder will have to blow the brass’s doors off to make the team, especially since he isn’t subject to waivers. The Flyers won’t want the 21-year-old sitting long, so if he isn’t going to have a pretty regular spot in the top six, he’ll likely be headed for Allentown to log big minutes for the Phantoms.
While the Flyers didn’t make a ton of offseason moves — their big swing for Leo Carlsson didn’t connect — there will be some new faces this week in Voorhees.
Backup goaltender Joseph Woll, who owns a .906 career save percentage, and depth defenseman Simon Benoit were acquired from Toronto in a trade that sent Emil Andrae and Sam Ersson north. The Flyers also signed former Pittsburgh Penguins grinder extraordinaire Noel Acciari to a two-year contract to elevate the team’s much-maligned fourth line.
Newcomer Joseph Woll should represent a significant upgrade to Sam Ersson as the Flyers’ backup goalie.Connor Hamilton
Forwards Aston-Reese, Danila Klimovich, Jack Studnicka, Nolan Foote, and Riley Thompson, as well as defensemen Jiříček, Jackson Edward, Andrew Perrott, and Toms River’s Cam Dineen are the other newcomers who will make up the numbers at camp. Towering 2026 first-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii will also be present, although he is expected to be returned to London of the Ontario Hockey League at some stage.
Power-play progress?
It’s a fool’s errand to place too much stock in preseason NHL games, but the Flyers’ dormant power play could really benefit from some experimentation — and, fingers crossed … momentum — leading up to the opener against Pittsburgh.
The unit, which has been the Flyers’ Achilles’ heel dating back to when Achilles roamed the earth, has finished dead last in the league four of the last five seasons, including a paltry 15.7% mark a year ago.
With Trevor Zegras, Michkov, Porter Martone, and others in tow, the excuse can no longer be we just need more high-end talent. And if that is the excuse, why did the Flyers elect to run it back with the same cast of characters and not look to add a power-play specialist on the blue line or someone to man the front of the net?
Brière said Tuesday that Tocchet and power-play coach Jaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovský spent a lot of their summer dissecting the power play and trying to figure out where it went wrong from an operational standpoint. That’s all grand, but we’ve heard that before.
The Flyers acquired David Jiříček from Minnesota last March in part because of his booming shot and power-play potential.Bailey Hillesheim
The Flyers are betting that a fitter Michkov, a full season of Martone, and Jiříček’s big shot from the point will be enough to yield better results. In what should be a tight Metropolitan Division, that calculation could be the difference between making or missing the playoffs.
Finding some continuity, flow, success, and confidence with the extra man in the four-game preseason would do wonders for a young team that seems burdened by the team’s recent struggles in that area.
September surprises
As much as the Flyers’ roster seems set, there seems to be someone every season who comes out of nowhere in training camp to push for a spot.
Last year, long shots Rodrigo Ābols and Adam Ginning earned their way onto the squad, while in 2024, an 18-year-old Jett Luchanko shocked the entire league by making the team just a few months after he was drafted 13th overall. Back in 2023, the Flyers kept three goalies, and a year earlier, a murderer’s row of Hayden Hodgson, Tanner Laczynski, Wade Allison, and Ronnie Attard all survived the chop.
That brings us to Bonk, who leads this year’s list of breakout candidates and seems to be the player in the best position to force his way onto the roster with a good camp. The consensus top defensive prospect in the organization, he has regularly showcased a poise and calm on the puck beyond his years.
Bonk is also highly motivated, as his chance to make the team last year ended before it started thanks to an upper-body injury in rookie camp that ultimately kept him out until December. After a strong showing — and nifty assist — in the Rookie Series, Bonk seems destined to play more than the one NHL game he got into last season. But will he be able to do enough in a short camp to convince the Flyers to keep eight defensemen out of the gate?
🚨 GOAL! 🚨
Denver Barkey gets the game’s first goal off the feed from Oliver Bonk! Jett Luchanko had the other helper.
The other roster dark horse is rapidly rising center/wing Cole Knuble, whose dad, Mike, played for the Flyers. Knuble, whom the Flyers have gone out of their way to praise for a few years now, has turned heads whenever he’s attended a prospect camp, with player development head Riley Armstrong telling The Inquirer he was his biggest standout at the recent Rookie Series. The 22-year-old, who played three years at Notre Dame, is a high-IQ, high-motor forward who keeps improving and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. While there isn’t an obvious roster spot open for him, if Grebenkin’s injury lingers or someone else gets dinged up in camp, Knuble could pounce.
Murchison, 23, is a third name to watch, as he caught Tocchet’s eye with his combination of physical strength and smooth skating during an impressive three-game stint with the Flyers in December. The Californian, who missed the second half of last season with a shoulder injury, was also notably picked to captain the Flyers in one of the games at the Rookie Series.
Former fourth-round pick Cole Knuble is a player the Flyers think is close to challenging for NHL playing time.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
General manager Danny Brière walked into the press room on the second floor of the Flyers Training Center on Tuesday morning for his annual preseason media news conference.
The room is lined with windows on one side, and below, as he answered questions for approximately 20 minutes, players went through drills. But these weren’t the rookies, who had been in camp since Friday and were skating in the afternoon; these were the big boys in presumably their final captain’s practice before they officially hit the ice Thursday for the fourth training camp of Brière’s tenure.
Among those on the ice were forwards Owen Tippett and Noah Cates, two players whose seasons ended early due to injury, and new guys like goaltender Joseph Woll.
Here are the major topics the GM touched on before Thursday.
On Matvei Michkov
Coming off a roller coaster sophomore campaign, Matvei Michkov has acknowledged several times that he did not prepare properly entering last season, and it affected his game.
Although he played better following the Olympic break, finishing with 20 goals and 51 points in 81 regular-season games, Michkov was scratched in the playoffs, struggled with the pace, and had just one assist in eight postseason contests.
But Brière said that the winger is walking around the training center with “a different swagger” right now and wants to “prove that last year was just a little hiccup.” Through social media posts, pictures, and interviews with Russian media, it appears the 21-year-old also had a different mindset preparing for Year 3.
One video posted on X features Michkov speaking about a member of the Flyers’ training staff, Lorne Goldenberg, who was hired in May as a performance development coach, going to Russia over the summer to work with him. According to Brière, it was Michkov and not the organization who requested that.
After an up-and-down sophomore season, Matvei Michkov has a lot to play for, including a new contract, in Year 3.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“I believe so,” Brière said when asked if he learned and responded well to how last season went.
“I think we saw him mature as the season went on last year. Everybody has a different path. You all wish that guys were all like Sidney Crosby, and they were at 16 years old a total pro. But the reality is, those are really rare.
“Everybody has a different path along the way. But what I was excited to see was, I think his maturity level increased as the season went on. In the offseason, seeing him here, he’s got a pep in his step. He feels good. He looks good. So I’m excited about Matvei’s season.”
Unlike last year, the Flyers are no longer allowed to conduct fitness testing, with a new collective bargaining agreement going into effect at midnight on Tuesday. The CBA also has new rules regarding contracts, as teams are no longer allowed to sign players to eight-year deals; seven years is now the max. For Michkov, it is a big year as he will be a restricted free agent come July 1. The GM said there have been talks, but they are not close to signing an extension.
“He’s a polarizing player, his personality and everything. He’s been a superstar since he was 14, 15 years old. I think he’s comfortable in the spotlight; that’s just who he is,” Brière said when asked about Michkov maybe having a quieter year off the ice.
“But yeah, definitely things were overblown, and it goes both ways. They’re probably going to be overblown when it’s good; they’re going to be overblown when it’s bad. I think a lot of it is his personality. He’s very polarizing, and I think it’s not all that bad because he strikes me as one of those guys who, when things are good and he’s in the spotlight, he’s not afraid of the big moment.
“So, I try to see the positive in it, but … I thought last year was overblown in his case.”
Flyers general manager Danny Briere clarified one of his previous comments about “taking a step back” and stated that the goal remains making the playoffs.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
No complacency
On July 1, the GM said: “We took a big step forward last year, and there’s a chance, a good chance, that we take a little bit of a step back this year. We’re ready for that. But I’m excited where this young group of guys are going.”
On Tuesday, he softened the blow of “a step back.” Brière said he didn’t explain himself properly, stating the foundation of it was that he did not want the young players to be complacent because they made it to the NHL and had a good start. Although he knows it’s a young team, he doesn’t want the players to take a step backward in their development.
“Today the goal is to make the playoffs,” he said later. “The most important part for me, and that’s where you’re [the media] not going to like my answer, but we hope our young guys take another step. And if they do, I think we’ll be very competitive.
“I think last year going into the season, we were just hoping to be competitive. We were hoping to be in the mix, in or out of the playoffs, was going to be a good season. I see us as more competitive than we were last year, and a better team than we were last year, so that’s where it leaves us. Time will tell, but certainly I’m hoping that after the players tasted the playoffs last year, and that they’re eager to get back there once again.”
The complacency message goes for rising stars, like Porter Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey, and the veterans, too. Despite a shortened camp and the roster seemingly largely set, Brière is expecting some battles for spots, not just in the lineup but also for added responsibilities like the power play — which he said coach Rick Tocchet and his staff devoted toward trying to figure out how to pull it out of the NHL basement — and penalty kill.
“We talked about the power play,” he said. “I said it last year, I expect our penalty kill unit to be better. So don’t get complacent. Don’t think that because you’ve been on special teams the last three or four years, that you’re automatically going to be on it. We have a lot of guys fighting for positions. So that’s kind of the message. Not just about roster spots; it’s also about responsibility within the roster.”
Breakaways
Brière said forward Nikita Grebenkin’s status for the start of training camp is a little up in the air and he could “miss the first couple days of camp.” He said the winger, who suffered an upper-body injury in March and missed the rest of the season and playoffs, “had a little flare-up last week.” Grebenkin spent the entire 2025-26 season in the NHL, a first in his career, and had four goals and 14 points in 55 games. He is the only player, Brière said, who, as of publish time, could miss the start of things on Thursday.
Nikita Grebenkin (upper body) is the only member of the Flyers who might not be on the ice to start training camp.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
No, we’re not just talking about the start of the NFL season. Flyers hockey also returns this month, with the Orange and Black opening up training camp on Sept. 17 before officially dropping the puck on the season on the 30th against the Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
So on theheels of the team’ssurprising run to the second round of the playoffs and the increased expectations that come with it, how willRick Tocchet line up his upstart team for opening night? Here’s our suggestion for what lineup we’d like to see — not necessarily what we expect to see — to start the season.
Forward lines
Here’s how The Inquirer would like to see the Flyers line up on opening night against the rival Penguins.Steve Madden
The Flyers enter the season, at least on paper, with their strongest roster in quite some time. There is serious competition for spots at forward and on defense, and not a ton separating the two wingers who will play on the first line from the four that will comprise the second and third lines.
Trevor Zegras remains entrenched as the team’s No. 1 center, although who his wingers will be remains up for debate. We like the idea of pairing Zegras with the team’s other creative mastermind, Matvei Michkov, especially with the Flyers hell-bent on getting the latter back on track after an up-and-down sophomore season.
Michkov and Zegras also showed instant chemistry during the preseason and had some success in sporadic minutes over the course of the year. According to Natural Stat Trick, in 169 minutes together at five-on-five, the pair earned basically an even share of the shot attempts, outscored opponents 7-6, and created 38 high-danger chances compared to 30 against. The Athletic recently reported that the Flyers are intrigued to see if the two can develop chemistry.
Rounding out our top line is a volume shooter in Tyson Foerster, who would relish a first extended chance to be set up by playmakers of the ilk of Zegras and Michkov. Foerster’s defensive responsibility would also offset some of the risk/concerns with Michkov’s game away from the puck.
Travis Konecny, Christian Dvorak and Porter Martone stay together on our second line after a quietly impressive run in April. The trio logged a Corsi percentage of 50.93% and won the scoreboard battle 5-1 in 80 minutes together last season at five-on-five. This line wouldn’t be a ton of fun to play against either, as Konecny and Martone both play in-your-face hockey and thrive at getting under opponents’ skin. This could just as easily be considered the top line depending on how you look at it, too.
After Porter Martone’s impressive late-season cameo, the Flyers have high hopes for the 19-year-old as he enters his first full NHL season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Our third line is centered by Noah Cates, who continues to develop into one of the league’s better defensive forwards. On one flank he’d have speedy power forward Owen Tippett, who raised his game a level last year and could finally be poised to crack the 30-goal plateau.
The other wing will likely come down to a battle between goal scorer Alex Bump and diminutive playmaker Denver Barkey. While Barkey is ahead of Bump in the pecking order, if the Flyers want to squeeze their 12 best forwards into one lineup, Barkey’s feistiness and versatility to play up and down a lineup make him a more natural fit on the fourth line than Bump. Bump could also play out of his element on the fourth line or be the odd man out altogether if the Flyers believe Barkey, who they are extremely high on, needs to play in the top nine and Nikita Grebenkin is healthy enough to start the year.
Sean Couturier, who thrived in a bottom-six role in the postseason, is poised to slot in as the team’s fourth-line center. Veteran free agent acquisition Noel Acciari represents an upgrade on Garnet Hathaway and should provide some beef and nastiness at right wing, as well as the versatility to take some draws at center when needed. That leaves Barkey, Grebenkin, and the speedy Carl Grundström competing for the final spot in what could be a rotation at least out of the gate. Grebenkin’s health remains a question mark, but he is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab from an upper-body injury.
Defensive pairs
The Flyers’ defensive pairs will look quite similar to last year, if Rasmus Ristolainen sticks around that is.Steve Madden
Any discussion about the Flyers blue line starts with Travis Sanheim, who has elevated himself into a bona fide top-pair defenseman and is playing the best hockey of his career at age 30. Sanheim played the 10th-most minutes in the NHL last season and posted career highs in goals (11) and plus-minus rating (plus-12), all while shutting down opposing teams’ top lines.
His partner to start the year is projected to be Rasmus Ristolainen, who is still around despite the latest cycle of trade rumors swirling around his name. The rugged and defensively solid Finn complements Sanheim well and allows his partner the increased freedom to jump into the rush. Ristolainen, who is a free agent at season’s end, might not be here come March, but for now he remains a big part of the Flyers’ blue line.
Rasmus Ristolainen remains a Philadelphia Flyer for now despite widespread speculation that he would be traded during the summer.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Jamie Drysdale and Cam York have long been close off the ice, so it came as no surprise that they thoroughly enjoyed their time playing together on the second pair last season. In almost 500 regular-season minutes, the results were mixed, while in the playoffs the two got caved in at points, particularly against Carolina (31.76 Corsi %). This pairing probably isn’t ideal long-term given their size and lack of physicality, but they’ll get another shot to prove they can play together in 2026-27. The Flyers are counting on both, particularly Drysdale, to take another step forward this season.
As long as Ristolainen remains in Philadelphia, the third pair figures to feature some sort of rotation. The selfless Nick Seeler is the most veteran option on the left, while former Toronto Maple Leaf Simon Benoit, beyond being Ristolainen insurance, could push for playing time due to his combination of size, skating, and snarl. The Flyers also like Ty Murchison, who impressed before suffering a season-ending injury last season, quite a bit on the left as well.
Former top-10 pick David Jiříček, 22, will try to revive his career with his third NHL team after being acquired from Minnesota last March for Bobby Brink. The towering Czech, who can handle the puck and possesses a booming shot, was tasked with working on his defensive game in the American Hockey League last year and figures to get the first shot on the right given he’s no longer waiver-exempt. He also should get a look on one of the power-play units given the team’s longstanding ineptitude in that area. Righty Oliver Bonk, 21, will push hard for a roster spot as well, but he’ll have to blow the Flyers’ doors off to usurp Jiříček given the team has the option to send him to Lehigh Valley without waivers.
Goaltenders
Projected Flyers goaliesSteve Madden
Long the biggest sore spot in the organization, goaltending improbably became the team’s biggest strength last season thanks to the revelation that was Dan Vladař. The 29-year-old career backup enjoyed a breakout season, starting a career-high 51 games and posting a .906 save percentage (eighth among goalies with 40 starts) and saving 13.8 goals above expected (10th-best), according to Money Puck. Now, after signing a five-year, $27.5 million contract in the summer, the question becomes: Can Vladař do it again?
All signs point to yes based on his mental makeup, play in the postseason, and the way this team is set up to defend under Tocchet. Vladař also may not have to, as the Flyers significantly upgraded the backup position by swapping Sam Ersson for Joseph Woll.
Woll, 28, has a .906 career save percentage and, when healthy, has shown the capability of being a No. 1 goalie in this league. Woll’s presence should not only ease the physical burden on Vladař but also allow the Flyers to feel much more confident about their chances on days the Czech netminder gets a rest.
In his first year with the Flyers, goaltender Dan Vladař came out of nowhere to finish sixth last season in the Vezina Trophy voting.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Flyers’ offseason was highlighted by the massive acquisition they almost made rather than any of the moves team completed.
After catching lightning in a bottle last spring and riding that wave all the way to the second round of the playoffs, the Flyers went for broke this offseason — almost literally — by tendering a $90 million offer sheet to budding star Leo Carlsson. While the bold act firmly announced the Flyers’ ambitions and eagerness to become a contender again, it ultimately fell flat as the Anaheim Ducks matched the offer and retained their prized youngster.
Not landing Carlsson means the Flyers’ offseason, at least to this point, has amounted to upgrading the backup goalie spot with Joseph Woll, adding a bottom-pair bruiser in Simon Benoit, and bolstering the fourth line with 34-year-old Noel Acciari. Nice depth adds, sure, but hardly the needle-movers you’d expect for an up-and-coming team looking to build on the momentum from its first non-COVID playoff run in eight years.
Instead, general manager Danny Brière and the Flyers are banking on internal improvements from young players being enough for the Flyers to repeat — or better — last year’s success in what should be an improved Metropolitan Division that already includes the Stanley Cup-winning Carolina Hurricanes. Will that gamble pay off? Here are five players the Flyers will need more from if they are to avoid taking a step back.
1. Matvei Michkov, RW
No surprise here. Michkov will be looking to rebound from a sophomore season that saw him start slow, face public criticism for his conditioning, and clash with coach Rick Tocchet. Michkov’s play was markedly better post-Olympic break — 22 points in 26 games — but he struggled mightily in the playoffs, culminating with him being benched for the Flyers’ playoff finale.
Michkov expressed in May that he wasn’t happy with his season overall and acknowledged that he needed to work harder this summer. To his credit, it appears he’s followed through. He was spotted on the ice in Voorhees the day after exit interviews and participated in a renowned summer training group in Russia with NHL players like Artemi Panarin. He looks considerably leaner based on pictures that have surfaced on social media in recent months.
Panarin, Sergachev, Michkov, Lyubushkin, Kuzmenko, Podkolzin, Khusnutdinov. NHL players are training together under the guidance of Dmitry Yashankin pic.twitter.com/BctASqMF2L
When you consider the 21-year-old finished with 20 goals and 51 points in a down year, with a better offseason of training and added motivation, the sky really seems to be the limit for the Russian winger. Brière, Tocchet, and Co. are expecting a “vengeance tour” from Michkov in 2026-27 as they seek a second consecutive playoff berth.
2. Jamie Drysdale, RHD
After a couple of underwhelming years split between Anaheim and Philadelphia, Drysdale took a major step forward last season and flashed glimpses of the skill set that made him the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 draft. But is there even more meat on the bone?
Drysdale’s biggest progression last season came defensively, as he cleaned up some of his poor habits and became a more reliable defender. He improved his plus-minus from minus-32 to minus-3 and set career highs in average ice time (21:33) and goals (eight), while also equaling his career best of 32 points.
With a sturdier defensive foundation and a new four-year, $26 million contract to boot, the Flyers will hope a more confident Drysdale can take another step offensively and channel his effortless skating and puck-moving ability into increased production. While many expected the Flyers to add a proven power-play quarterback this summer to address the last-ranked unit, the team did not, meaning Drysdale likely will get the first crack at the point. The Flyers will need to click at a much higher rate than 15.7% with the man-advantage if they are to remain a playoff contender, and Drysdale grabbing the PP1 job with both hands would go a long way toward that aim.
3. Porter Martone, RW
After a banner collegiate season at Michigan State, the 2025 first-round pick didn’t miss a beat once he signed with the Flyers on March 29. Martone racked up six goals and 15 points in 19 games (including playoffs) down the stretch and, at 19 years old, was consistently among the Flyers’ most noticeable skaters during the postseason.
While the burgeoning power forward is still just scratching the surface of his immense potential, he showcased the skill set and moxie of a player who looks destined for stardom. The question now will be how quickly Martone can make that leap to become a top-of-the-lineup player and whether that can be as soon as this season.
Rookie Porter Martone, 19, has bona fide star potential and doesn’t seem like someone who gets daunted by the moment.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Flyers will be wary of heaping too much pressure too soon on the teenager, but Martone looks to have the broad shoulders and mental makeup to handle it. Given Martone’s pedigree as one of the top prospects in all of hockey — The Athletic ranked him No. 3 — the Flyers see having him for a full 84 games as one of their most obvious avenues toward improvement.
4. Tyson Foerster, LW
Amid Dan Vladař’s breakout season, Trevor Zegras’ resurgence, all the drama surrounding Michkov, and the late-season Martone hype train, it was easy to forget that the Flyers played most of last season without one of their top players in Foerster. To make matters worse, the 24-year-old’s arm injury came right as he looked to be breaking out.
Flyers winger Tyson Foerster missed 39 games last year after injuring his arm on a one-timer in early November.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
With 11 goals in 21 games before his injury, on the heels of nine in nine to conclude 2024-25, Foerster was quietly playing at a 40-goal pace for the first quarter of the 2025-26 season. The Flyers rewarded him handsomely this summer with an eight-year, $56.8 million extension that will keep him in Philly until 2035. Now Foerster, who is also one of the top defensive wingers in the league, will need to prove he can live up to his contract and stay healthy, the latter being something he has struggled with to this point of his career.
Foerster has the shooting release to become a consistent 30-goal scorer in this league and should provide a major boost for an offense that ranked 21st in goals last season. If all breaks right, could he even become the Flyers’ first 40-goal scorer since Jeff Carter in 2009?
5. David Jiříček, RHD
The Flyers are going to need a young blueliner to take a major step forward in 2026-27, and the likeliest candidates are Jiříček and Oliver Bonk. Jiříček, who turns 23 in November, will probably get the first chance, given he is almost two years older and, more importantly, no longer waiver-exempt.
Acquired from Minnesota at last year’s trade deadline for Bobby Brink, the 2022 sixth-overall pick is on his third team and is looking to revive his once-promising career. Blessed with great size at 6-foot-4, puck-handling ability, and a booming shot, Jiříček is a worthy gamble for a Flyers team that lacks a true high-end offensive defenseman in its pipeline. The team can also point to its strong recent track record with reclamation projects like Zegras, Drysdale, and Vladař as a reason for optimism.
The Flyers were patient with Jiříček last season as they sent him to the minors to have him rebuild his defensive game and learn the team’s style of play. Now, he will get a chance in training camp to show he’s made the necessary improvements and is finally ready for a full-time NHL role. Jiříček projected as a power-play quarterback when he entered the league, and given the Flyers’ persistent struggles in that area, he should be another option there given his big shot from the point.
“The potential is high … 21-, 22-year-old, 6-foot-4 defensemen of his caliber are tough to find,” Brière said after acquiring Jiříček in March. “We know we have to work with him. … But that’s why I go back to the Jamie Drysdale learning curve. That gives us hope that he can get on the same track and eventually become a difference-maker for us.”
Long fans of David Jiříček going back to his draft year, the Flyers believe they can get the best out of the toolsy defenseman.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
These are the Philly area’s best athletes under 25 years old.
By
Inquirer Sports Staff
Published
The Philadelphia area's sports scene is on the rise — and we're not talking about the addition of LeBron James to the city's professional ranks.
The region's professional sports franchises are only part of the picture. There also are athletes enrolled in the area's many colleges and universities, a wealth of talent at the high school and amateur levels, and others who dominate individual sports like boxing or figure skating. We decided it was about time to spotlight some of the best.
Welcome to The Inquirer's first 25 Under 25 list, highlighting the region's best athletes under the age of 25.
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The criteria is simple. To qualify for our list, an athlete must:
Be under 25 as of July 1, 2026, and
Currently reside in or train in the Philadelphia area (the city, collar counties, or South Jersey) and/or play for one of the area's colleges or professional teams (including their minor league affiliates).
That second rule means that high school students from the Class of 2026 are ineligible, since many have already arrived on their respective college campuses across the country. A few of them can be found on our list of the best players fromhere, which includes Philly athletes playing elsewhere. However, there is one exception this year, which we'll explain when we get there.
With those qualifications in mind, we went searching for the best of the best. And after much debate among our sports editors, we came away with 25 athletes who truly show the region's depth of talent at every level across a variety of sports. Here they are, presented in alphabetical order.
Jasmine Bascoe
Age: 20
Jasmine Bascoe was an all-conference selection for Villanova as a freshman in 2024-25 after leading the Wildcats with 16.2 points and 4.3 assists per game in 34 games.
Bascoe, who’s from the Toronto area, followed a stellar freshman season with an even better sophomore campaign, again leading the team in points (18.9) and assists (4.8) per game. She was the Big East’s leading scorer last season, beating UConn stars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd. Bascoe led Denise Dillon’s Wildcats back to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a two-season drought, and the Wildcats retained Bascoe for a third season. If Bascoe takes another step forward, Villanova could be a team to watch in March.
“Denise, she trusts me, and I have all my trust in her, so I’ll do whatever she needs me to do,” Bascoe said ahead of her sophomore season. “I love it in Philly — nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Bascoe’s Villanova inspiration
Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe is having an impressive freshman season. She draws inspiration from a Wildcats legend.
She watched Jalen Brunson from home in Canada and hopes to shape her game around his. So far, it's paying off for her and the Wildcats.
Justin Crawford
Age: 22
Justin Crawford, one of the Phillies’ top five prospects entering the year, made his big league debut on opening day and has appeared in all but 10 games so far this season. Heading into play Wednesday, Crawford is slashing .270/.316/.361 as a rookie, and, after an early adjustment period at the plate, has hit .305 since June 1. The center fielder's defense also has steadily improved.
As for his struggles against left-handed pitching, which relegated him to a platoon role earlier in the season, Crawford hopes to pick the brain of new teammate Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champ and two-time Silver Slugger. And like Crawford, Arraez is a lefty who hits for average. Since Arraez’s arrival earlier this month, Crawford has been even better, slashing .342/.381/.500.
Commentary from David Murphy
Justin Crawford delights his dad Carl and showed the Phillies the weapon they might have in the nine-hole
Crawford didn’t just perform as advertised on opening day. He showed the value of what was advertised.
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Reese D’Ariano
Age: 17
The youngest member of the current United States field hockey team, Reese D’Ariano has plenty of international experience at just 17 years old. Before the field hockey World Cup in Belgium, D’Ariano won two gold medals with USA field hockey, including at the 2024 Indoor Pan American Cup in Calgary, Canada, where she was named tournament MVP. D’Ariano, who is a rising senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School and committed to the University of North Carolina, is one of the top prospects in her class.
Before she began training with WC Eagles, her field hockey club, D’Ariano would train at a multipurpose field with her mother while her brother had swim practice. “Obviously, the progression was slow if you saw it day to day,” D’Ariano said. “But as the weeks and months went on, it was a pretty drastic change in how I progressed.”
Climbing the ranks
Reese D’Ariano embraces role as youngest player on USA field hockey’s World Cup roster
The 17-year-old, West Chester native was 9 the last time the U.S. women’s national team qualified for the FIH Hockey World Cup. This will mark her biggest stage, and she's looking to contribute.
Riley Davis
Age: 16
Entering her senior year at Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Riley Davis is the top-ranked lacrosse player in the Class of 2027, according to Inside Lacrosse. The five-star recruit and Penn State commit is a two-way midfielder for the Irish and also plays on the school’s varsity basketball team.
Riley’s father, Ben, played seven years in the MLB as a catcher. Her mother, Megan, was a two-sport athlete at Rutgers. Her brother, Tague, set Louisville’s freshman home run record (18) last year and led the nation in home runs (34) as a sophomore. Her older sister, Finley, is entering her freshman year at Furman, where she will play lacrosse after playing with Riley at Notre Dame.
Despite all that competition, Riley is considered the most athletic in a family of high-level athletes. “Riley is the best athlete in the family,” Ben told The Inquirer in April.
A family of stars
Former MLB catcher Ben Davis’ family is full of athletes. His daughter, Riley, might be the best.
Riley Davis is ranked as the No. 1 lacrosse player in the class of 2027. Her mother, Megan, and older sister, Finley, are “the anchor and the force” that guided her success.
Cooper DeJean
Age: 23
Securing your first career pick-six in the Super Bowl on your birthday is the kind of story dreams are made of. But that’s Cooper DeJean’s real life. DeJean, however, is much more than just that moment. He earned first-team All-Pro honors as the league’s best slot cornerback in 2025. He’s also one heck of a basketball player.
Now, he is taking on a new role as a safety in Vic Fangio’s base defense. He’ll still see the majority of his snaps in the slot, but his growing positional versatility is a testament to his skill as he becomes one of the Eagles’ most important players.
“Playing nickel in this defense is kind of like playing safety in a lot of ways,” DeJean said. “A lot of the techniques are pretty similar.”
DeJean’s making moves
How Cooper DeJean’s ‘first love’ of basketball helped set him on a path to the Eagles
Growing up in small-town Iowa, playing multiple sports was the norm. But DeJean stood out, especially on the basketball court, and he has the highlight reel to prove it.
Audrey Derivaux
Age: 17
A four-time world junior swimming champion, Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux was the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2027. But Derivaux recently reclassified to the Class of 2026 to start her collegiate swimming journey at Texas a year earlier than expected. Derivaux shared the news on her social media with an Instagram post captioned, “See you in August, Austin! Can’t wait to rep the Longhorns next season!”
(Editor’s note: Derivaux reclassified to 2026 after our list was complete.)
Derivaux, who turned 17 earlier this month, in 2024 was the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012 when she was 14 years old. She competed in the women's 400 individual medley, but fell short of earning a spot in Paris. In July, she competed in the USA Swimming national championship, finished with the second-best time in the 100-meter butterfly, and won a trio of under-18 events (the women’s 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the women’s 400-meter individual medley).
Derivaux on the rise
Meet Haddonfield’s Audrey Derivaux, the 14-year-old who’s swimming’s next rising star
The rising sophomore at Haddonfield Memorial High School became the youngest swimmer to reach the finals of an Olympic trial since 2012. Could the 2028 Olympics be next?
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Natalie Dove
Age: 24
Since her professional debut in 2023, Natalie Dove is undefeated in nine fights — with two knockouts and five unanimous decisions. Dove, a super flyweight, remained undefeated in her most recent bout, an eight-round slugfest against Maria Micheo Santizo in April that ended with a split decision.
“No Love” Dove initially was exposed to the sport as a self-defense method and started sparring in Philadelphia at 14. She fought in amateur tournaments and trained as a hopeful for the 2020 Olympics before turning pro. Since May 2025, Dove has fought for Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. She credits her toughness in the ring to her upbringing in Philly gyms and learning to hold her own “in a gym full of grown men that … talk [trash] the entire time.”
“I really don’t care what anyone says,” Dove said last year. “If anything, I’m probably the biggest bully in the gym. I think it just made me tougher and it made boxing fun for me.”
When Doves fly
How Philly’s Natalie Dove went from shadow boxing in her sleep to fighting with Jake Paul’s promotion
The 23-year-old Philly native had Olympic dreams. Now, she's preparing to face Randee Lynn Morales on Saturday for Jake Paul's MVP.
VJ Edgecombe
Age: 21
By the end of his first professional game, VJ Edgecombe already had flashed his star potential. The No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft finished third in NBA Rookie of the Year voting and is set to start alongside Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and LeBron James. But don’t let him slip under the radar behind those huge names.
Edgecombe averaged 16 points per game last season and performed even better in the critical stretch in which Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George were sidelined. Brown, whose Celtics were eliminated in seven games by the Sixers, praised Edgecombe as a difference-maker in that first-round series. His teammates agree.
“He’s the guy,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ season ended. “I’m telling you guys, that guy is something different, and this was only Year 1. Year 2 is going to be better.”
Sixers’ future is now
‘I want us to go down in history’: Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe’s bond will shape the Sixers’ future
Maxey and Edgecombe have served as the life source of this Sixers season. The franchise will likely will go as far as they can take them — now and in the years to come.
Tyson Foerster
Age: 24
Before an upper-body injury sidelined Tyson Foerster for 49 games, the winger was on pace for career-best numbers with 13 goals in 29 games thanks to a shot head coach Rick Tocchet called “really elite.” The Flyers signed Foerster to an eight-year extension this offseason, so, barring a trade, the winger will be in Philadelphia for years to come. He couldn’t be happier.
“For me, I love Philadelphia, and I love playing with these guys,” he said. “They asked me if I would look to extend this year, and it was a no-brainer for me. I mean, I don’t play hockey for the money, so it’s all fun, and just happy to be here, hopefully, for the next nine years.”
Foerster’s big payday
Tyson Foerster talks lucrative extension with the Flyers: ‘It was a no-brainer for me’
Foerster missed 49 games because of injury a season ago, but cited his love of the Flyers and his teammates for why he inked an extension perhaps ahead of schedule.
Colton Hiller
Age: 16
Colton Hiller, the No. 2 player in the Class of 2028, is a 6-foot-7 small forward for Coatesville. In his sophomore season, he averaged 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.8 steals. Ahead of his junior year, Hiller is uncommitted but holds offers from more than 15 schools, including Villanova and Penn State. Last summer, he was part of the gold-medal winning Team USA at the FIBA U16 AmeriCup, where he averaged 13 points in six games.
In his two seasons with the Red Raiders, the five-star recruit has already surpassed 1,000 career points. He plays travel basketball in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, representing the 17-and-under PSA Cardinals, based in New York.
Despite having ‘a lot of eyes on me,’ hoops star Colton Hiller plans to stay at Coatesville
The 15-year-old, who’s nationally ranked, just wrapped up a stellar sophomore season. With the spotlight only getting bigger, Hiller has remained committed to developing in his hometown.
Maxwell Hiller
Age: 17
Maxwell Hiller — yes, he’s Colton’s older brother — also is a five-star recruit, but not in basketball. The Coatesville offensive lineman is entering his senior year and is the top-ranked interior O-lineman in the nation and No. 2 player overall for the Class of 2027, according to 247Sports. With more than 40 college offers, Hiller received his first college offer in eighth grade from Penn State. In April, the 6-foot-5 lineman committed to Florida.
“I don’t even watch the play, I just watch [Max],” Colton said of his brother. “I definitely like when he gets people on the ground, just pancakes, and that’s probably my favorite part.”
Max also played basketball, using it as a way to stay in shape, and even received an offer to play college hoops at La Salle.
Two Hillers are better than one
Meet Coatesville High’s Maxwell and Colton Hiller, who are rising stars in different sports
Max is a rising junior and ranked as one of the best offensive tackles in the country. Colton, who recently turned 15, is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard ranked No. 4 in his class.
Salman Khalil
Age: 21
Cairo-born Salman Khalil has been a standout in squash for Penn since he joined the Quakers in 2023. He was the Ivy League’s Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 and was the conference’s Player of the Year as a sophomore. Khalil, a rising senior, has been a standout for Penn as it has claimed its first two Potter Cups as the collegiate squash national champion in his first two seasons.
As a sophomore, Khalil became the first Quaker to claim the individual national championship (Pool Trophy) and the Potter Cup in the same season — and he did it while fasting for Ramadan. In addition to his career at Penn, Khalil is No. 52 in the squash world rankings. He holds a 42-16 record in noncollegiate events.
Khalil’s big win for Penn
Penn captured another national squash title even as three players fasted for Ramadan
Salman Khalil clinched the Potter Cup national team championship by beating Yale's Tad Carney. Khalil, Marwan Abdelsalam, and Omar Hafez of the Quakers were fasting during the final.
Makai Lemon
Age: 22
Makai Lemon, the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2026, hasn’t played a snap in the NFL yet. But with A.J. Brown gone, the rookie has big shoes to fill and a big opportunity in front of him. At Southern Cal, he averaged 14.6 yards per catch and racked up 1,156 receiving yards in 12 games in his final season. Lemon is known for his elite ball skills, despite being just 5-foot-11, on the smaller side for a receiver. He suffered an injury that sidelined him during minicamp and has been dealing with a hamstring injury during training camp. But when it’s time for him to take the field, Eagles fans will be “getting a dawg,” Lemon told the crowd on draft night.
“You drafted the guy that’s going to match the city’s intensity when it comes to pro football,” said Ray Fenton, Lemon’s former coach at Los Alamitos High School, located outside Los Angeles.
What Lemon brings
What the film says about Eagles first-round draft pick Makai Lemon
What does the newest Eagles wideout do well, and how does it fit in the new-look scheme?
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Isabeau Levito
Age: 19
Isabeau Levito became a household name this winter as one of the “Blade Angels,” the women’s figure skaters representing the U.S. at the Milan Cortina Olympics. She missed out on the podium, but she still got to bask in the experience of being an Olympian.
“It was just so cool with all these athletes from different sports all in one place,” Levito said. “It was very magical, and it was a dream come true.”
The South Jersey native also skated to a fourth-place finish at the 2026 World Championships in March. Levito has eight podium finishes at major events in her career, including silver at the 2024 World Championships and gold at the 2023 U.S. Championship. And she’s already started teasing her next routine.
What’s next for Isabeau?
South Jersey figure skater Isabeau Levito reached the peak this year with the Olympics. She wants more.
The Olympics were "very magical and a dream come true," Levito said. But she also wished she pushed herself more and is eager to get back to training and up her content for next season.
Porter Martone
Age: 19
Porter Martone, who got his start blasting holes in the wall of his parents’ basement before starring at Michigan State, made an immediate impact following his NHL debut, with 10 points in his nine regular-season games. After the Flyers’ season ended in the second round against Carolina, Martone joined Team Canada at World Championships and got ice time on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, scoring one goal and four assists in 10 games.
“He wants to be out there when the game’s on the line,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “He’s unflappable.”
Martone’s origin story
Flyers rookie Porter Martone blasted holes in his parents’ basement before becoming an NHL phenom
The teenager has taken the NHL by storm in the playoffs. He honed his scoring touch growing up in Ontario, firing slap shots in the basement and beating "Jeff" the goalie in his backyard.
Matvei Michkov
Age: 21
Matvei Michkov’s sophomore NHL season was a bit turbulent, but the 21-year-old’s potential is sky-high, if his post-Olympic break stretch leading the team in points is any indication. At his best, the winger is a game-breaker and an elite talent the Flyers desperately need.
“He knows he needs to improve off the ice in his training — and that’s not a secret — he’s admitted that himself. … So, the big thing for Matvei is adapting," general manager Danny Brière said.
Coming to America
Matvei Michkov is 5,100 miles away from his home in Russia. But in Philly, ‘life has become easier.’
The 21-year-old's adjustment to North American culture, the English language, and the NHL is ongoing. But the Flyers winger is starting to feel more comfortable on and off the ice.
Quinyon Mitchell
Age: 25
Quinyon Mitchell is the oldest player on our list and the only one who has already turned 25 — he beat our cutoff date by about two weeks — but the Eagles cornerback is more than deserving. He won the Super Bowl and was runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and has just kept improving.
Mitchell was named first-team All-Pro in his second season and was ranked 47th on the NFL’s top 100 Players of 2026 by his peers, and there’s still room for him to grow. Mitchell’s lockdown coverage makes him a ball repellent. He was targeted just 85 times last year and gave up 36 catches for 451 yards and one touchdown. But in two NFL seasons, Mitchell still hasn’t picked off a pass in the regular season. He’s hoping to change that in 2026.
“I’ve been working with the staff on catching and eye placement and stuff like that, so I just need to get better,” Mitchell said.
Commentary from Marcus Hayes
Quinyon Mitchell looked like an All-Pro vs. the Lions. His Florida family and friends were there to see it.
The Eagles cornerback allowed zero catches against Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jared Goff, and the highest-scoring offense in the NFC.
Andrew Painter
Age: 23
After years of anticipation, Andrew Painter got his first crack at the Phillies’ rotation this year, and it didn’t go as many hoped. The 23-year-old had a 7.06 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts, before being demoted to triple A. His first game back in the majors showed promise. After giving up a double and a home run early, he settled in for six strong innings and only allowed one hit after that.
“When he’s done some things with his delivery, which is going more directly to the plate rather than spinning off, he’s had more life,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowskisaid.
His three starts since — including one that was cut short by hamstring tightness — have been trending in the wrong direction. But at his best, Painter still represents a ton of potential.
Commentary from David Murphy
Andrew Painter has reached his Roy Halladay moment. It is on him to seize it.
Failing is easy. The hard work is what comes next with his demotion to triple A. It's an endeavor upon which Painter must embark, much like Halladay did at his age.
Jordyn Palmer
Age: 17
Westtown School star Jordyn Palmer is a 6-foot-2 rising senior guard/forward who is No. 9 in her class, according to ESPN. Palmer, a three-time Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 23.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 3.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks as a junior, helping lead the Westtown School (28-2) to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game. She has 1,746 career points and 894 career rebounds.
She has offers from more than 20 colleges, including South Carolina and LSU. In June, she was named Miss Pennsylvania Basketball, awarded to the best female high school basketball player in the state, voted on by fans, coaches, and media.
Best is yet to come
Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer — a basketball phenom and highly sought-after recruit — has untapped potential
The 6-foot-2 junior, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation, has had constant attention on her since she was 14. She has taken her game to a new level, but the best of her talents has yet to be displayed.
Labaron Philon Jr.
Age: 20
Labaron Philon Jr. is one of a few professional players on this list who have yet to make their debut, but there are high hopes and plenty of hype surrounding the former Alabama point guard who fell to the Sixers as the 22nd overall pick in this summer’s draft.
Of course, the expectations have eased in recent weeks as the Sixers added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. But the 20-year-old brings shooting (48.2% for the Crimson Tide in two seasons) and a spark off the bench behind Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Philon’s Sixers career already got off to a good start at NBA Summer League, and he’s got a plan for his transition into the league.
“Having the same ‘dawg’ mentality that I had at Alabama and being the same person,” Philon said after his Sixers debut. “Being me, really.”
Philon’s ready for Philly
Labaron Philon Jr. is ready for his rookie season with ‘a lot at stake’ after Sixers added LeBron James, Jaylen Brown
"Being a rookie and being able to be around all those guys is a privilege for me," Philon said after the Sixers added James and Brown this offseason.
Lavar Scott
Age: 22
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott comes from a racing family, so it’s no surprise that he was able to climb the ranks of stock car racing to become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR. In two full seasons in the ARCA Menards Series, Scott finished in the top five 22 times for Rev Racing, including four second place finishes.
He earned a full-time spot in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026, making 22 starts in Alpha Prime Racing’s No. 45 Chevrolet. Scott has earned five top-20 finishes in 22 starts this season. Still looking for his first NASCAR win, Scott is chasing a feeling that he first learned racing go-karts at five years old.
“It’s a feeling that when I go to bed, I think about, [when I] wake up, [I] think about, [when I] sleep, [I am] thinking about. It’s just the feeling of standing on top of your car after a win and [celebrating] with your friends and family and knowing you did your job really well that day,” Scott said in June.
From South Jersey to NASCAR
South Jersey’s Lavar Scott, one of NASCAR’s three Black drivers, is chasing greatness and not looking back: ‘There was no Plan B’
Go behind the scenes at Pocono Raceway with 22-year-old South Jersey native Lavar Scott and the family that helped him become one of three active Black drivers in NASCAR.
Luigi Suigo
Age: 19
Standing at 7-foot-3, Italian-born center Luigi Suigo was the marquee addition for Kevin Willard this summer as he tries to lead Villanova back to the NCAA Tournament. Suigo, born in northern Italy, has played professionally in Europe since 2023. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26 games during 2025-26 for KK Mega Basket of Serbia. Suigo entered the 2026 NBA draft and was projected as a late first-round, early second-round selection before he withdrew and decided to play college basketball at Villanova.
“He wants to make sure when he gets drafted, he’s going to play,” Willard said of Suigo in June. “The big thing is I think he needs to get Americanized a little bit, to American basketball. I think that’s why college will be really good for him.”
Even better for the Italian big man, Suigo will begin his college career with a game in Rome, where the Wildcats will play Notre Dame on Nov. 1.
From Italy to the Main Line
Big man Luigi Suigo has arrived at Villanova. His journey to the 2027 NBA draft is underway.
Suigo is expected to join the short list of Villanova players who are on campus for one season before being selected in the NBA draft. But his temporary stop at Villanova is a critical one.
Cavan Sullivan
Age: 16
Cavan Sullivan, the youngest professional on this list, has a chance to be the most internationally recognized real athlete to come from Philadelphia — apologies to Rocky. The attacking midfielder has a deal in place that will send him to English giant Manchester City once he turns 18, but for now, he’s tearing up the pitch for the Union. He netted his first MLS goal in May, and his role for the team has continued to grow.
“It’s a big year for me,” Sullivan said in January. “It’s exciting, but I’m not going to get ahead of myself. I know there’s still work to do and stuff to prove.”
Look out for Sullivan in stars and stripes, too. He’s still waiting on his first senior team call-up, but he’s received numerous call-ups to U.S. youth national teams and scored twice at the 2025 FIFA under-17 World Cup in Qatar.
A Philly soccer story
Why Cavan Sullivan, hyped as the world’s best 14-year-old soccer player, chose to turn pro with the Union
In a few years, Sullivan will play for English superpower Manchester City. But for now he has chosen to start with his hometown team. Here's the inside story of why he picked the Union.
Quinn Sullivan
Age: 22
While his younger brother has Europe’s attention, Quinn Sullivan has developed into an integral piece for his hometown club. Before an ACL tear ended his 2025 season, Sullivan scored three goals and logged eight assists in 31 appearances across all competitions as the Union claimed the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Sullivan also has experience with the U.S. men’s national team and made one start during the 2025 Gold Cup.
Sullivan returned from his ACL injury in July 2026, and now that he’s fully healthy, he’s back in the Union’s starting lineup. Quinn isn’t making a move to Europe yet, but the Bridesburg native is happy to represent his hometown club for now.
“I’d love to be the face of this team,” Sullivan said in January. “I mean, I grew up supporting this team. I love this team; I love this city. I feel like I embody what Philadelphia means.”
Holding down the homefront
Quinn Sullivan ‘would love to be the face’ of the Union. When he returns from a torn ACL, he just might be.
Though the 21-year-old from Bridesburg likely won't be back on the field until July, he's in good spirits. He appreciates all the support he's gotten from fans, the Union, and the national team.
Gage Wood
Age: 22
Gage Wood, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2025, made his first start at Citizens Bank Park in July — as part of the MLB All-Star Futures Game.
But the right-hander, who was promoted to double-A Reading earlier this season, is progressing quickly through the system. Wood’s elite fastball helped get him to No. 33 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, but there are questions about whether Wood is a starter or a reliever long-term.
“Obviously, I want to go back to the Bank as fast as I can,” Wood said. “I just keep working every day and try to get there as fast as possible.”
Patience paying off
Phillies prospect Gage Wood may have to take a longer road to the majors — and he’s OK with that
After the Phillies drafted the 22-year-old pitcher out of Arkansas, they plan to develop Wood as a starter. Fans caught a glimpse of the first-round pick in the Spring Breakout game on Saturday.
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That completes the first installment of The Inquirer’s 25 Under 25 athlete list. Naturally we couldn’t include every great athlete from the area, so be sure to check out our list of those who just missed the cut. We also have a list of the best under-25 athletes that are from the region but no longer play here. And, of course, we want to know who you think should’ve made the cut but didn’t, so email us at sports.daily@inquirer.com with anyone we might have missed.
Staff Contributors
Design and Development: Julia Duarte
Reporting: Gabriela Carroll, Owen Hewitt, Mia Messina
Editing: Matt Mullin
Illustration: Vivi John
List Curation: Inquirer Sports Editors
Digital Editing: Matt Mullin
Copy Editing: Maria McIlwain
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