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NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Philadelphia Flyers.

Most of the previous season saw the Philadelphia Flyers in a qualifying position for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, a 4-9-3 finish left them trailing by four points for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

With the majority of their previous roster coming back, along with one major new addition, the Flyers are optimistic about making it to the postseason for the first time since 2020.

“I do believe our team’s right there,” forward Travis Konecny said. “We’re going to work just as hard as we did last year. We’re going to skate and continue to work on some of the young guys getting a little bit better and some of the older guys adding stuff to their game as well. I’m really excited to see where this team can go.”

The player generating the most excitement is forward Matvei Michkov. The 19-year-old, selected with the No. 7 pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, signed a three-year, entry-level contract July 1, just days after having the final two seasons of his three-year contract in the Kontinental Hockey League terminated.

Michkov had 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 47 games for Sochi, the second-most points by a teenager in the KHL history (Kirill Kaprizov, 42 in 2016-17). He is expected to play a top-six role and on the first power play with Philadelphia.

Daniel Briere, the general manager of Flyers, stated that he and his team are striving to maintain expectations at a manageable level.

“Briere stated, “We aren’t looking at him as the team’s savior. That’s not the expectation we’re placing on his young shoulders. At 19, he’s here to gain knowledge and improve his game. We hope he has unlimited potential, but we’re definitely not anticipating him to be the rescuer of this team.”

However, Michkov doesn’t appear to be bothered by the high expectations.

“Winning is always the main goal,” Michkov communicated through a translator on July 24. “I’m here to aid the team in achieving victory. I’m here to play in my own style and ultimately, to win.”

Philadelphia has taken measures to provide a support system for Michkov, which includes employing an English-language tutor.

Briere also thinks that coach John Tortorella will offer a different type of support.

Briere believes that ‘Torts’ will be beneficial for Matvei. He said that Matvei will learn how to become a professional, compete effectively, and play and defend fiercely from him. However, he also expects Matvei to express his creativity, have freedom, and attempt to make some plays. Briere is confident that their collaboration will be fantastic.

Michkov’s greatest influence will be on the offensive side. Last season, Philadelphia ranked 27th in the NHL in terms of scoring (2.82 goals per game) and was the weakest team on the power play (12.2 percent).

But one player won’t fix their scoring issues. Further maturation from a young group of forwards that includes Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee and Noah Cates will be key.

The Flyers also need a more consistent season from No. 1 center Sean Couturier. The 31-year-old, returning after missing most of the prior two seasons because of back problems, started the season well but ran low on energy in the second half, finishing with one goal in his final 37 games.

Briere has confidence that Couturier can return to his form before his injury. This form is best illustrated by his back-to-back 30-goal seasons from 2017-2019 and winning the Selke Trophy in 2020 as the NHL’s best defensive forward.

“Briere remarked, “We anticipate Sean to perform at the level he did during the first half of last season. He was injured and almost every part of his body hurt, excluding his back, fortunately. But that’s not an excuse.”

He’s set to be a powerful influence. Moving forward, he will be a crucial player for us, leading this young group.

Another offensive spark could come from defenseman Jamie Drysdale. He had had five points (two goals, three assists) in 24 games after being acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 8 but played through a sports hernia sustained in October. He had surgery in April, has been skating since late July and said he’s focused on showing what he can do when healthy.

“Our defense corps has needed a player like him who can control the game for a long time,” said Farabee. “We are extremely excited to have him on board. Regardless of whether it’s 5-on-5, power play, or any other situation, he’ll be in the game. This is truly special and he is an exceptional player.”

Briere is confident that the Flyers will once again be playing meaningful games late into the regular season, and potentially beyond. This confidence stems from the addition of Michkov, the ongoing development of their young forward group, and the expectation for healthy seasons from Couturier and Drysdale.

“Briere stated, “We demonstrated last year that our team is competitive. We plan to work hard this year and hope to use the experience we gained last season to help us. Our aim is to position ourselves to play significant games down the stretch, hopefully with improved results.”