Author: Jackie Spiegel

Flyers general manager Danny Brière sat at the podium following a busy July 1 and said what everyone was thinking.

“Shows that we focused on term — short term — to try to fill those holes,” he said. “Guys were willing to bet on themselves, which is awesome. And for us, term was way more important than anything else. … We know that the salaries were very competitive, but where it helps us is, it keeps the flexibility moving forward in our favor.”

Flexibility is critical for the Flyers as they climb out of a rebuild. Several players in the organization should push for roster spots in the coming years, and short-term deals fill gaps now without creating a logjam.

But one player signed on the first day of free agency probably is forcing the Flyers to consider taking a detour. Christian Dvorak, whom many viewed as an overpaid stopgap and potential midseason trade candidate, signed a one-year deal with the Flyers at $5.4 million on July 1.

He is earning every penny right now.

“He was more in a defensive role in Montreal, more on the fourth line,” coach Rick Tocchet said after Dvorak got the Flyers on the board in Tuesday’s win over the San Jose Sharks.

“And I think he’s getting a chance. He saw the opportunity here with our situation, and I think that he’s grabbing it.”

Part of the reason Dvorak came to Philly was to work with Tocchet — again. The Flyers coach ran Arizona’s bench when Dvorak set a career high with 38 points in 2019-20. Just 28 games into this season, the 29-year-old center has 19 points and is on pace for 56.

And a big factor is the trust between the two. Dvorak is deployed in all situations. He has played on the power play — like on Tuesday when Matvei Michkov missed the start of the second period — and is a key penalty killer. If Tocchet needs a faceoff man, it makes perfect sense to send out the player who wins 55.8% of them. The bench boss also uses him to close out games, even when it’s three centers and two defensemen.

Dvorak also is centering the Flyers’ top line, between Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny. They haven’t played together for long but already are making noise.

According to MoneyPuck, among the Flyers lines that have played at least 35 minutes together, the trio ranks first in expected goals percentage (63.3%) and expected goals for per 60 minutes (4.33), but also tied for first in expected goals against (1.8).

And according to Natural Stat Trick, among lines that have played at least 12 minutes together, when they’re on the ice, the Flyers dominate. It has them ranked first in chances for percentage (57.5%), shots for percentage (73.68%), scoring chances for percentage (60.53%), and high-danger chances (72.2%).

A large part of that is because of Dvorak’s defensive acumen and his ability to not just be in the right spots but to let the creative duo of Konecny and Zegras do what they do offensively.

“Yeah, it’s been great. Two guys [with] high hockey, IQ, which is huge. You know they’re going to make the right play almost every time, and that helps a lot,” Dvorak told The Inquirer.

“And, yeah, getting to know TK the last handful of games, the chemistry is coming. Playing with Zegras for a while here, I think we read off each other pretty well, and that helps a lot. And I thought we’ve been pretty effective.”

The trio has been on the ice for two goals for the Flyers and just one against in more than 35 minutes at five-on-five.

“I played junior against him a lot. Dominated him, actually, in junior, quite a bit,” joked Konecny — or maybe not — who played against Dvorak in the Ontario Hockey League.

“But now it’s nice, yeah, be on the same line, and he’s got a ton of skill. He’s really, really smart, so he thinks the game the right way. And usually you just get into a good spot and going to know where you’re at.”

Tocchet likes pairs, and Dvorak and Zegras are attached at the hip on and off the ice. Friends long before either came to Philly, their connection has helped Dvorak feel comfortable in the room. It’s showing with Dvorak’s confidence, but he’s also elevating his linemates’ games as well.

“I’ve learned so much from him,” Zegras said after a spirited practice on Wednesday. “[Looking] back to earlier in my career, like maybe when things weren’t going my way, I’d be screaming and slamming sticks on the bench, and saying all crazy stuff that doesn’t really help in a positive way.

“He’s as cool as a cucumber, and his famous line or expression is: it’s a game of runs. So that’s what I tell myself. It’s a game of runs. And you go back out there, you get ready to go for the next shift. So I just think that from the aspect of being himself, he’s a leader in that regard. And I’ve definitely learned a lot from him.”

Maybe the Flyers should play long ball with Dvorak. At the time, his deal looked like an overpay. Today, it looks like they got him for cheap. And with the salary cap going up and the amount of available centers dwindling, the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent may just be someone the Flyers decide to keep around .

Breakaways

Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York, who are recovering from upper-body injuries, practiced on Wednesday in regular jerseys. … Defenseman Ty Murchison also remains with the club, and it sounds like he may get another game before possibly returning to Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League.

The Flyers continue to build and grow.

They moved to 16-9-3 Tuesday with a 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks. It is their best start since the 2019-20 season, when the Flyers last made the playoffs.

Here are two big takeaways from a win that can help propel them forward.

Ty Murchison looks like an NHLer

Although he may have been nervous leading up to the game, and was thinking “don’t fall” when he went out for his solo rookie lap, Ty Murchison fit right in during his NHL debut.

But first, he sat in the stands.

“Yeah, taking it in, trying to do a little bit of mental preparation,” he said. “Yeah, I usually do that before every game, but it’s definitely crazy looking around and being in a rink like this, and kind of looking forward to it, and trying to settle the nerves.”

A fifth-round pick in 2021, the defenseman did not look nervous on the ice. He skated the majority of his 14 minutes, 56 seconds of ice time, including a minute on the penalty kill, alongside veteran Noah Juulsen.

Known for his physicality and edge, Murchison was credited with three hits and one blocked shot while playing tough and making smart decisions along the boards and in front.

“He played well, he didn’t look out of place at all,” winger Travis Konecny said. “He did his job tonight.”

The California native was spotted being physical and playing on the right side of forward Adam Gaudette in front of the net in the third period, and throughout the game with Sharks tough guy Ryan Reaves. The veteran enforcer Reaves, who is the same height as Murchison at 6-foot-2, is listed as 13 pounds heavier and was playing in his 937th NHL game.

“Yeah, it was fun. He’s heavy,” Murchison said with a laugh. “So yeah, that was definitely something for sure. … I mean, that’s, that’s the type of hockey I want to play. So yeah, it was a fun game.”

He left another good impression on Flyers coach Rick Tocchet.

“He can skate really well, that’s what I like about him, and he’s competitive,” Tocchet said. “I thought he did a great job for us tonight. … In your first game, I think he backed in a couple of times, but that’s normal, and we’ll work with that.

“But he’s a good skater, and he’s got some stiffness to him; that’s what I like. When you have defense that can skate and have stiffness to them — I think he went in the corner one time, not scared, and took a hit from Reaves, and kind of went at it with him — that’s a good luxury to have.”

Murchison did it all in front of about 20 family members and friends — and teammate Carson Bjarnason. The Phantoms goalie and Flyers prospect drove down from Allentown and was wearing Murchison’s Phantoms Christmas warm-up jersey.

Dvorak’s balancing act

Like with goalie Dan Vladař, who earned his 11th win on Tuesday, a lot of people questioned the signing of Christian Dvorak on July 1. Well, it’s paying off.

“He’s great,” said his linemate Trevor Zegras. “He’s great in the room. He’s a 10-year guy, which we love telling him, just a pro’s pro. So good doing the little things in the D-zone and creating space in the O-zone. I love playing with him. He’s been a lot of fun to be around.”

With 19 points in 28 games, he is on pace for 56 points, which would shatter his career high of 38 set when he worked with Tocchet in Arizona. Dvorak scored his seventh goal of the season on a nifty breakaway move and added an assist while skating 19:01 on Tuesday, his highest total since Nov. 4.

“He was more in a defensive role in Montreal, more on the fourth line,” Tocchet said. “And I think he’s getting a chance. He saw the opportunity here with our situation, and I think that he’s grabbing it.”

“I think it’s just more about confidence,” Dvorak added. “And, obviously, I’m playing with some really good linemates. So that helps a lot, too. I think we read off each other very well, and they’re a big help for me.”

Skating between Travis Konecny — who earned his 500th NHL point on the goal by Dvorak before adding an empty-netter — and Zegras, Dvorak has become a utility player. Tocchet has trust in him to play against the opposition’s top line at five-on-five, which was Macklin Celebrini’s line on Tuesday, and across special teams.

And while many thought it would be Zegras in the middle, Dvorak is excelling as the line’s center. His faceoff percentage is now at 55.8% after winning 14 of 17 against the Sharks. Among players to take at least 300 draws this season, Dvorak ranks 15th in faceoff percentage.

When Dvorak’s line was on the ice, the Flyers had 16 shot attempts to the Sharks’ seven, outshot them, 11-3, and created five high-danger chances compared to one against. They scored one goal and allowed one, as Collin Graf gave the visitors a 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game.

“Unfortunately, sometimes when you’re playing with myself or ‘Z,’ we’re leaning offense sometimes, and he seems to be a guy that’s going to be in the right spots,” Konecny said.

“If there’s a mistake, we don’t want that, but he’s got the mindset of protecting and cleaning up a lot of errors that I’m making. He’s also got a lot of [offense] too, so I think he’s all around a really good player and I’ve enjoyed playing with him.”

Ty Murchison wasn’t sure whether he should sit or stand when the media wanted to talk to him in the Flyers’ locker room in Voorhees on Monday.

On Saturday, the defenseman was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League, and, normally, availability in Allentown is held outside the room.

He was more prepared for the swarm of reporters following the team’s optional morning skate Tuesday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Although it was hinted at a day earlier, Murchison learned officially that he would be making his NHL debut later that night.

“Extremely excited,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s been something I’ve been dreaming about my entire life. So, yeah, definitely an emotional time, but ready to go tonight.”

It’s been a journey for the California kid, a fifth-round pick by the Flyers in 2021 and someone who didn’t swap his roller hockey wheels for ice hockey steel until he was 11 years old.

“I would say roller hockey is where home is for me,” he said Monday. “The skating is definitely a bit different. It’s funny when I go back and play in the summer with all my ice hockey buddies, like I’m the only guy that can stop in my roller blades, because I pretty much grew up on them. But the rest of the guys, they usually struggle trying not to break any ankles out there.”

Murchison jokes that he didn’t know how to stop and was “blowing up kids” on the ice when he started playing. It’s not a bad thing because that’s how he evolved into a rugged defenseman.

With his size, 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, and physicality at development camp in July, and rookie camp and the main training camp in September, his play piqued the interest of the Flyers’ new coaching staff.

“I thought from Day 1 — and I don’t think we gave [him] an exhibition game — he was really impressing me in practice,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said on Monday.

“He was [ticking] guys off, he was blowing up guys on cycles and stuff like that. And he’s played really well. I talked to [Phantoms coach John Snowden], and he’s a guy who deserves to come up and get a shot.”

When the season started, not many would have pegged him to be the first guy to take a rookie lap this season. Just a few months ago, Murchison wrapped up his four-year career at Arizona State as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s defensive defenseman of the year after blocking 98 shots.

After signing a two-year deal, he registered a goal and an assist in four regular-season games last season for the Phantoms and did not play in the postseason.

But this year, in 21 games, he has a goal, four points, 30 penalty minutes, and is plus-9. Murchison said he feels the pro game fits his style of play better than college because he likes to play a fast-paced, physical game.

So there he was this week, getting called into Snowden’s office to learn he was getting called up.

“My heart was beating about 100 beats per minute,” he said. “It was crazy, definitely nerve-racking, but extremely grateful to be here.”

And then he started making calls. His former teammates at ASU got a call, but the first FaceTime of the day was to his parents, Allyson and Ken.

“It was early morning back in Arizona, so woke them up, but yeah, I was choked up trying to get the words out. But as soon as I told my mom, she was screaming for my dad,” Murchison said with a laugh.

“But yeah, extremely emotional. There’s been a lot of periods throughout the last 48 hours where I’ve been getting a bit choked up and just thinking about it. Because, I mean, I’ve been thinking about this every day of my life.”

Murchison added that his parents packed their bags after that initial call and were just waiting for the next call to say he would be making his NHL debut. They will be in attendance along with about 20 buddies and family members from places like California, Prince Edward Island (his parents are from Canada), and Arizona on Tuesday when he skates against the visiting San Jose Sharks (7 p.m., NBCSP). For the record, Murchison grew up an Anaheim Ducks fan in Corona, Calif.

He’ll be working with assistant coach Todd Reirden — he already knew him through Reirden’s son, Travis, who worked in analytics for Arizona State — and alongside veteran blueliner Noah Juulsen on the third pairing. Communication will be key for the new partner, as noted by Juulsen, and Murchison said he was “extremely talkative” during practice on Monday.

A big difference between this year and previous regimes is that the Flyers and Phantoms play a similar structure, especially in the defensive zone. It has helped several players, like center Jacob Gaucher and defenseman Emil Andrae, seamlessly enter the big club’s lineup when they have been called up.

Now it’s Murchison’s turn to show the bench boss what he can do. And while Tocchet called it “music to my ears” when told that Murchison likes to play a fast, hard game with an edge, the Flyers coach just wants to see him play his game.

The Phantoms coaches “felt that he was a guy who really consistently has brought his game [and is] competitive every night,” Tocchet said. “I’ve talked to [the media] about how we’ve got to squash plays, we’ve got to come up with some battle. And he’s one of those guys who, hopefully he can do it for us. I don’t know, but I think you’ve got to give him a shot.”

Breakaways

Forward Carl Grundström will be inserted into the lineup on the fourth line in place of Nic Deslauriers. Acquired in the deal that sent Ryan Ellis’ contract to the Sharks, Grundström played one season for San Jose, registering nine points in 56 games. He was recalled Dec. 2 from the Phantoms after Tyson Foerster was injured. Grundström made his Flyers debut against the Ottawa Senators on Nov. 8. … Goalie Dan Vladař (10-5-1, .906 save percentage) will start in net.

Two members of the Flyers’ prospect ranks are swapping orange and black for red and white.

Hockey Canada announced on Monday that forwards Porter Martone and Jett Luchanko will pack their bags for Minnesota to play in the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Flyers’ top pick in last June’s draft, when he was taken sixth overall, Martone brings “size, strength, power, shot, playmaking, puck skill” in a 6-foot-3, 210-pound body.

A freshman at Michigan State University, the right winger leads the Spartans in goals (11), points (20), power-play goals (three), game-winning goals (three), and penalty minutes (58) in 16 games.

Luchanko, who played for Canada at last year’s tournament, has two goals and five points in five games after being traded to Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League. He was acquired from Guelph, where he had 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 11 games, on Nov. 24.

After breaking camp for the second straight season with the Flyers, Luchanko skated in four NHL games and did not register a point before being sent back to Guelph on Oct. 27.

Also named to the roster is projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft, Gavin McKenna, and defensemen Jackson Smith, a Columbus Blue Jackets pick in 2025, who suits up for Penn State.

Sean Couturier said it best after taking on the Colorado Avalanche.

“I know we’re a young team, but I think we’ve got to start believing in ourselves,” Couturier said. “It’s a good proof today that we can play with anyone, and we’ve just got to bring that effort, that intensity, more consistently.”

The Flyers did hang with the NHL’s best team for much of the Sunday matinee at Xfinity Mobile Arena, although Couturier added that it “felt that [at] times maybe we gave them a little too much respect and we watched them a little bit.”

They had their chances but ultimately fell, 3-2. It is their second loss in the last three games, but the Flyers are 7-4-0 since losing two straight in mid-November. The Avalanche improved to 21-2-6.

“Some people use games as measuring sticks, and I think we don’t need to do that anymore,” Travis Konecny said. “We’ve shown we can compete with the best teams, so why not start believing that we should be right there with them?”

A rapid flow

Trailing 3-1, the Flyers started to build some momentum when Konecny cut it to a one-goal lead with his seventh goal of the season early in the second period.

Konecny put a hard shot on Mackenzie Blackwood and tried to knock the puck away deep but ended up falling near the net. As that happened, the Avalanche transitioned the other way.

Sam Ersson made a kick save on a shot from the right half wall by New Jersey native Ross Colton, and Emil Andrae picked up the puck.

The defenseman sent a stretch pass up to Konecny, who was late getting back because of being trapped deep up the ice. The pass was nicked by Brock Nelson in the neutral zone, but Konecny took it off the wall, skated in, and scored five-hole.

“Yeah, it’s great,” said Christian Dvorak, who was given a secondary assist on Konecny’s goal, about playing with the winger lately. “High skill, high compete player [who] wins a lot of battles. Makes a lot of great plays out there and a nice goal tonight.

“Yeah, we had plenty of chances in the third, especially to tie it up, just a little bit away from executing there.”

Coach Rick Tocchet also had praise for Andrae after the game. Andrae was up in the play, making smart moves, and helping to lead the Flyers at both ends of the ice.

“That’s what I’m looking for right there. He was very good tonight,” Tocchet said. “When he had the puck, and there was room to skate, he skated; he didn’t wait. Even on the blue line, there were times when he had it, he had a step on a guy, he took, what we call, the good ice. He wasn’t flat-footed; he wasn’t looking to defer. He was being aggressive. So it’s a good step for Emil.”

The Flyers started to carry the game more, and in the third period, they outshot the Avalanche 13-3. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers also had 26 chances to 14 against, 12 scoring chances to four for Colorado, and eight high-danger chances to one against. Their expected goals also climbed from 0.3 in the first period to 1.38 in the third.

“It was a strong finish again,” Konecny said. “I don’t know if it was like a flat first period for us. I know, for me specifically, I didn’t have anything good going on first. But yeah, we responded well.”

Trevor Zegras probably had the best chance when he was held up on a breakaway by Nathan MacKinnon and was awarded a penalty shot. Known for his prowess in the shootout, he was unable to bury this one.

It was his second penalty shot this season, as he also was unable to beat Jordan Binnington in overtime in the Flyers’ 6-5 shootout win against the St. Louis Blues in November. Zegras did score in the shootout.

The birthday boy

Skating in his 900th NHL game — all with the Flyers — and on his 33rd birthday, Couturier set the tone early.

On his first shift of the game, a tidy 35-second shift to boot, he made it 1-0 Flyers. With Couturier centering Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett, the three forwards got to work to keep the puck on the Flyers’ sticks.

Tippett carried the puck deep along the left boards before curling and feeding it to Noah Juulsen at the right point. The defenseman, who has three of the Flyers’ 10 hardest shots this season, according to NHL Edge, put the puck on net with Couturier tipping it in out front, even with Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski on him.

“It’s fitting for him to get that first one. It’s just great to see him play 900. He’s been through a lot in his career, and he’s always just put his head down and gone to work and led by example,” Konecny said.

“And he’s a guy that you can say he doesn’t care about that goal, he’ll care about if we won or lost the game, and that speaks to why he’s our captain. He’s been doing it for a long time. He just wants to win. So it’s a good guy to have on your side, and we love him.”

Ersson’s effort

Starting his second straight game for just the second time this season — because Tocchet said he felt he deserved it after beating the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday — Ersson had a tall task against the Avalanche. They entered the day leading the NHL with an average of four goals a game.

On the first goal, Egor Zamula couldn’t handle the puck behind the net and then didn’t get to it along the boards quickly enough. It allowed Colorado forward Jack Drury to easily play the puck deep to Martin Nečas, who sent a cross-ice pass up to Brent Burns at the right point for the goal.

“We play our best when we’re on our toes, and skating forward and be aggressive, and kind of get in their face and get their speed down,” Andrae said.

“Maybe we had a couple of long shifts, and they keep going, and they’re coming at us, and maybe we’re backing off a little bit too much and giving too much space, so you get on your heels. But overall, I think we played a pretty good game, but we didn’t capitalize on our chances.”

The second goal was a bit wonky as it was on a power play for Colorado — no surprise here, once again a questionable call by the referees — and happened after the puck hit the glass behind the net. The shot by Cale Makar, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, hit the glass, and MacKinnon had a swipe at it before Brock Nelson scored.

And the third goal came off a cross-ice pass by Victor Olofsson to Valeri Nichushkin atop the right faceoff circle. He whipped it passed Ersson to make it 3-1.

Zamula and his partner, Juulsen, were on the ice for that goal too.

“Yeah, I mean, listen, they’re scratching and clawing,” Tocchet said. “That’s what you’ve got to get from them. They’re trying.”

Ersson settled down and had some key saves. With the score tied, he stopped a hard, high shot by Burns and then a Josh Manson rebound. Early in the second period, he made a save on a shot by Devon Toews with Gabriel Landeskog in front before robbing the Colorado captain on the doorstep.

Later in the middle frame, Ersson did what he does best — stopping guys one-on-one. Facing his countryman, Olofsson, Ersson stoned him on a breakaway as he got behind Zamula.

“He was unbelievable, like he always is. He kept us in it. And it wouldn’t have been a one-goal game without him,” Dvorak said of Ersson, who made 25 saves.

Breakaways

Defenseman Cam York did not play and remains day to day with an upper-body injury. Blueliner Ty Murchison, who was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Saturday, participated in warmups but did not play. … Defenseman Nick Seeler played in his 400th NHL game. … Konecny has six points (two goals, four assists) during a four-game point streak. … Andrae has seven points in 17 games this season and is plus-7.

Up next

The Flyers host Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday (7 p.m., NBCSP).