What I'm hearing about the Flyers' approach to goalies and centers, AHL coaching and more

New York Times

3 days ago

One notable tidbit from Flyers general manager Daniel Briere's post-Trevor Zegras media conference call on Monday was the suggestion that the search for another center this summer is still going.
When asked how the club might fill the void left by fourth-line center Ryan Poehling, who was sent to Anaheim as part of the Zegras trade, Briere said: 'There's possibilities internally, but we're also going to look on the outside. We'll see on (July 1) or on the trade front, if there's anything that makes sense.'
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My understanding, from a team source, is that the Flyers' desire for another pivot is designed to give the coaching staff more options. As has been written already, the club hopes Zegras thrives a return to the middle of the ice, but there are no assurances that will happen. Coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged as much on Tuesday in an interview with The Athletic, saying that he has no idea if, for example, a Zegras-Matvei Michkov line is something that will work.
The Flyers aren't going to be in the market for Sam Bennett, who seems unlikely to hit free agency anyway, according to recent reports. But one player worth keeping an eye on is 29-year-old Pius Suter, who spent the last two seasons playing for Tocchet in Vancouver.
It's believed that the two had a good working relationship. The numbers certainly suggest that. Suter went from 14 goals and 29 points in 67 games in 2023-24 in Tocchet's first season in Vancouver, to 25 goals and 46 points in 81 games this past season.
Suter isn't fast. He's not very big, either, at 5-foot-11 and 179 pounds. But he is versatile, playing up and down the Canucks' lineup, and he's known as an extremely smart and responsible two-way player, too. His next contract is projected at four years at approximately $5 million AAV, which might be palatable for the Flyers, who still have $15 million of cap space — which doesn't include extensions for RFAs Cam York or Jakob Pelletier, but also doesn't count the injured Ryan Ellis' $6.25 million, either.
And, of course, the Flyers are still searching for another goalie to pair with Samuel Ersson. According to a team source, they're reluctant to sign any of the goalies on the free-agent market to any deals longer than two years, which could take them out of the running for a guy such as Jake Allen, who's probably the best pending UFA goalie at the moment and could be in demand.
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It's also worth mentioning that TSN's Darren Dreger reported on Wednesday that the Canucks' Thatcher Demko is likely to sign an extension to remain in Vancouver. That could open the door for the club to move 24-year-old goalie Arturs Silovs, who has had spot duty with the Canucks while also thriving for AHL Abbotsford, where he just helped that team capture the Calder Cup and was named MVP of the playoffs. Might Silovs, who is signed through next season at an $850,000 salary, be a guy that the Flyers make a call on?
One other goalie note: the Flyers still expect Aleksei Kolosov to report to training camp in September. Kolosov's agent, Dan Milstein, confirmed via text that they 'haven't had any other discussions otherwise.'
Perhaps Kolosov will be amenable to reporting to the Phantoms next season, assuming he doesn't make the Flyers out of camp?
Expect John Snowden, who served as an assistant coach on Ian Laperriere's staff with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the past two seasons, to take over the head coaching job, according to multiple sources. As for when the Flyers make that official, that's still uncertain, as they are still deciding on Snowden's staff.
Snowden, 43, was an assistant coach for the AHL's Toronto Marlies for two seasons from 2021-2023, after serving as the head coach for the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers in 2018-19 and 2019-20. He won a league championship with the Growlers in 2019.
As for Laperriere, who was named a Flyers hockey operations advisor after his removal from the Phantoms' bench, it's believed he would prefer to return to coaching, even if that meant departing the Flyers organization.
Before last season started, John Tortorella spoke about how the Flyers planned on getting input from every corner of the organization to try and fix the abysmal power play? It didn't work, of course, as the Flyers still finished 30th in the league. And, according to team sources, that process didn't really work in the way Tortorella had presented, in that not everyone felt their views were being heard or considered, and that players were judged based on known strengths, with less of an emphasis on teaching.
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Remember, Briere mentioned that he was looking for a 'teacher' throughout his search for a new head coach. Tocchet, as has been well documented, has overseen successful NHL power plays as a coach in the past, along with his frequent role on the power play as a power forward. Assistant coach Yogi Svejkovsky didn't regularly play on the power play in his brief NHL career, but he did at lower levels. They can both teach based on their own personal experiences. That's different than Thompson, who was known more as an enforcer throughout his mostly minor league career, and Tortorella, who never played at a high level, either.
There's still no word on whether prospect Maxim Shabanov will join the Flyers on July 1, according to team sources, despite more unverified reports out of Russia.
Regardless, don't expect Shabanov, if he does sign, to simply be handed an NHL roster spot. There is legitimate skepticism about whether the 5-foot-8, 157-pounder will be able to stick at the NHL level, even after his strong KHL season, in which he finished third in the league in scoring. Keep in mind, too, that Shabanov will turn 25 in October. Most of his prime development years are already behind him. Expectations should be tempered.
Still, the Flyers hope he signs. The are encouraged by his recent play, and look at it as a no-risk opportunity to take a swing on a player who still could have some potential.
One prospect I'll be intrigued to see at development camp next week is right-shot defenseman Spencer Gill. The Flyers were aggressive in moving up to select him with the No. 59 pick in the second round last year, and assistant general manager Brent Flahr spoke recently about how much bulk Gill added to his 6-4 frame. According to Flahr, Gill is up to about 215 pounds after he was drafted at 185 pounds.
Gill suffered an ankle injury in February that ultimately prevented him from playing in the Memorial Cup for Rimouski Oceanic. In 51 games with Rimouski before the injury, Gill posted six goals and 29 assists for 35 points. He rehabbed at the Flyers' training facility in Voorhees, N.J, and a source close to the player put Gill's health at '90 percent' for the upcoming camp.
(Photo of Arturs Silovs: Derek Cain / Getty Images)