Flyers mailbag: Bump’s future, lots of prospect talk, and PP lines.
Thanks to all who helped out. My 1000th piece on THW’s main site - enjoy!
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Every NHL team’s most underrated prospect entering 2025-26 - updated list:
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The Eagles’ assortment of clutch, game-breaking talent has them on the verge of a dynasty.
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Power-ranking the Flyers’ prospects - preseason top 10 edition:
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Getting my crystal ball out for this one…🔮
Predicting the NHL’s top 50 players in 5 years, with almost every team represented:
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The Flyers have been “murky middle” defined for the past 13 seasons.
But returning to that range, for one final time, might not be so bad.
Previewing this year’s draft class and the consequences of another tank campaign:
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Some of the Flyers’ top prospect storylines for this season:
- Bump’s fight for a roster spot
- Martone for Hobey Baker?
- Amico’s rebound from injury
- 2023 draftees joining Lehigh Valley
Read:
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Scatter plot showing a comparison between actual cap hit (y axis) and projected cap hit (x axis) through 2025-07-31. Total contracts: 167 R^2: 0.8502 Cap MAE: $563610 In general, trendline is consistent with the contract difference. Projections overall trended slightly higher than actual contract signed (players were paid a little lower than expectation). Outliers occur almost entirely in the <$5M range, of which Duchene, Tavares and Gourde are the most notable under-payments and Dvorak, Hague, and Orlov the most over-paid.
Distribution chart showing the difference in actual - projected cap hit. Spread is -$3M to $3M, with majority falling within +/- $1M.
The first month of NHL Free Agency wraps up today! Let's take a look at how our contract projection model on @evolving-hockey.com has done and what the market has been like so far. As in prior years, we're just going to evaluate players who signed a contract greater than league minimum.
A thread:
Top 5 chess matches Vic Fangio faces this season, which could be crucial for the Eagles to defend their Super Bowl title:
phlsportsnation.com/2025/07/25/e...
Matvei Michkov had an amazing rookie season.
If these 3 things go his way, and I expect they will, a legendary sophomore campaign awaits:
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The Trevor Zegras trade reminded me a lot of something Bill Zito would do.
To me, it’s something Brière should try to replicate as much as possible.
But focusing on Zegras, can he return to form? How does he benefit the Flyers?
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Eagles defensive breakout candidates
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If the Flyers do sign Maxim Shabanov:
He was 3rd in KHL scoring this year (67P/65GP). Kuzmenko didn’t touch that pace until his D+8 - Shabanov in his D+6
What to know: Super speedy, skilled
Some highlights from an April playoff game - 2 goals, 3 assists (#49 in white)
When will the Eagles start to feel the pain of their big-money contracts?
What do they do that time comes?
phlsportsnation.com/2025/05/31/w...
David Granberg prospect profile - 6’2”, 194-lbs. center/wing.
Two-year overager but had first taste of SHL. Good in bottom-six penalty-killing role.
Put up Pontus Holmberg numbers at this age. Could have similar upside.
Fun fact: he’s Mikael Renberg’s nephew.
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Nice Caleb Desnoyers clip form overtime of tonight’s game (London won)
When it comes time for the “true” star quarterbacks and teams to “expose” Jalen Hurts… they don’t. He rises to the occasion:
phlsportsnation.com/2025/05/16/j...
I guess my take on it is that they aren’t as opposed to NCAA guys as they’re perceived. It’s very possible (and probably more likely) they had Jett & Buium in the same tier and chose the center
Few NCAA guys have connections to Gauthier. And to that point, it might’ve had something to do with Torts
Thank you! Appreciate that!
Your guess is as good as mine on that… for what it’s worth, Powell was an NCAA guy as well. But a 6th-round overager and a 6th-overall pick are a bit different, haha
The Flyers need centers. Definitely skill. They could also use more compete.
Addressing those needs in my inaugural two-round mock draft, including five selections and one big trade:
thehockeywriters.com/philadelphia...
‘22: Eagles were one of the NFL’s best teams on third down and in the red zone.
‘23: Defense regressed so severely that they were on of the worst.
‘24: They returned to form.
For success in 2025, they’ll need that to continue:
phlsportsnation.com/2025/05/09/e...
Viggo Nordlund prospect profile: high skill, motor, IQ - small winger but could be worth the time.
Fun player to watch! Haven’t graded that extensively but I think he’d make my top 50, or at least be close.
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‘23: First-round loss to SEA.
‘24: Second-round loss to DAL.
‘25: First-round loss to DAL.
The Avalanche have arguably fallen out of West contention status, with the rise of VGK, EDM, WPG, and others.
What’s next?
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Why Pat Ferschweiler is the Flyers’ ideal head coaching hire (and why Rick Tocchet is definitely not):
thehockeywriters.com/philadelphia...
The Eagles are on top of the world. The Cowboys, not so much.
There’s a new little brother in the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry.
Does that open the door for the rising Commanders to become Philly’s No. 1 rival? Or is that impossible?
phlsportsnation.com/2025/05/02/p...
I was sold on them being a contender at a time but that faded toward March/April. I wouldn’t be entirely shocked if they came back here and beat the Jets though
🫡
Analytics are ruining the game!
The Flyers would never blow a 3-0 lead in a playoff game
The Eagles got a 5th-round pick for a more expensive, lesser-term, and zero-upside Kenny Pickett this offseason.
He’s a backup—nothing more, nothing less.
Taking Shedeur Sanders with that 5th… why not?
- Will be cheap
- 4-year term
- Reasonable upside
