From Desperation to Depth: Flyers Enter 2026 NHL Draft Ready to Reload
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere speaks during an news conference on May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Twelve months ago, the Flyers needed the draft to save them. This weekend, they’re walking in with answers. Nobody saw it coming this fast.
The night before the 2025 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers were looking to push forward a rebuild built on the strong finish of young winger Matvei Michkov. The main questions on the minds of Flyers fans were simple: what would the newly acquired Trevor Zegras give to the team, and who would they select with the sixth pick?
The big mystery of draft night was answered quickly. The Flyers selected one of the most talented players in the draft in Porter Martone. There were questions surrounding him, including his commitment to Michigan State, but he fell into the Flyers’ lap at six. When Nashville selected Brady Martin, Daniel Briere‘s choice got easier. When Charles Barkley announced Martone’s name, some wondered why the Flyers were selecting a right-handed shooter with the sixth pick, their first of three picks in the first round. One year later, those questions have answers, and they’ve shaped not only a new Flyers identity but a future that looks genuinely bright.
Zegras became one of the unquestioned leaders of a young Flyers team that took the NHL by surprise, with not just their gritty play but the never-say-die mentality he brought with him. His presence showed immediate results in overtime situations, and he established himself as one of the best in the league at shootouts. The other big question would have to wait for the ebbs and flows of the season to be answered. The Flyers took everyone on a wild ride that looked like a sixth year without playoff hockey was in the cards at the Olympic break. But they rode their team MVP, Daniel Vladar, to a historic finish that ended with a playoff berth. When Michigan State’s Frozen Four run ended, Martone joined the Flyers without playing a game in the minors. In his fourth game, he scored a game-winner against the Boston Bruins. That strong start carried him and the team to a first-round win against cross-state rival Pittsburgh. Even getting swept by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes didn’t sting too much. The future arrived fast in Philly.
Looking at the 2026 NHL Draft, the tide has turned. The Flyers no longer have three picks in the first round, but they don’t have the same need for them either. Martone, Alex Bump, and Denver Barkey are living up to the hype and are developing into a young nucleus that complements players like Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.
Many of the nagging questions that plagued the Flyers heading into 2026 have been addressed. The biggest problem was goaltending when Vladar wasn’t between the pipes, and that was solved with the acquisition of Joseph Woll. The remaining issue dominating headlines was the apparent regression of Michkov and how first-year head coach Rick Tocchet used him down the stretch. That’s a big question heading into next season, but it cannot be addressed with draft capital.
The other holdover from last year’s draft surprise still lingers: the surplus of right-handed wingers. That surplus led to a move the night before this draft, with the Flyers sending Garnet Hathaway and their sixth-round pick to the Florida Panthers for a fifth-round pick in this draft and a 2027 fourth-rounder. It clears the logjam at wing and gives the young core more room to prove themselves.
The Flyers have very few needs going into this draft, and that’s a credit to Briere and the development of the players already in the building. This franchise isn’t rebuilding anymore. It’s reloading. The front office is making adjustments on the fly, and for once, the draft isn’t the centerpiece of that plan. For Briere and Keith Jones, this weekend has to feel a little more relaxed than a year ago. The identity question got answered faster than anyone thought it would. One year ago, the Flyers needed the draft to hand them a future. This year, the future already showed up.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox:
