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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.

The Philadelphia Flyers were predominantly in a position to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs during the majority of last season. However, a disappointing 4-9-3 finish left them four points short of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

With the majority of their roster returning, along with one significant new addition, the Flyers are hopeful they can make 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 the Flyers, stated that he and his team are striving to maintain expectations at a manageable level.

“Briere stated, “We don’t regard him as a savior. We’re definitely not burdening him with such expectations. He’s just 19, joining us to learn and grow as a player. We are hopeful that he has immense potential, but we’re not anticipating him to be the team’s savior.”

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

“Winning is always the primary goal,” Michkov conveyed through a translator on July 24. “I am here to assist the team in achieving victory. I am here to play my way and to win.”

Philadelphia has taken steps to provide a support system for Michkov, which includes the hiring of an English-language tutor.

Briere also believes that another type of support will be provided by coach John Tortorella.

“Briere believes that ‘Torts’ will be beneficial for Matvei,” he said. “He’s going to instruct him on becoming a professional. He’s going to show him how to compete fiercely, play and defend hard, but also encourage him to be imaginative, enjoy freedom, and attempt to make some plays. He’s optimistic about the excellent partnership they’re going to form.”

Michkov’s greatest influence will be seen in offense. Last season, Philadelphia ranked 27th in scoring in the NHL with an average of 2.82 goals per game and had the lowest power play score at 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 believes that Couturier can return to his form prior to his injury, which was characterized by back-to-back 30-goal seasons from 2017 to 2019 and winning the Selke Trophy for the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2020.

“Briere said, “We anticipate Sean to perform like he did in the first half of last season. There’s no excuse, but he was injured…Almost every part of his body was in pain last year, except for his back, which is fortunate.”

He’s set to be a potent force. Going forward, he’s going to be a crucial player for us in leading this youthful 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.

“Having a player who can control the play like he does is something our defense team has required for quite some time,” Farabee expressed. “We’re extremely excited to have him on board, he’ll be participating irrespective of whether it’s 5-on-5 or power play. His presence is truly exceptional and he’s a phenomenal player.”

Briere is confident that the Flyers will once again play meaningful games till the end of the regular season and potentially beyond, thanks to the acquisition of Michkov, the ongoing development of their young forwards, and the expected healthy seasons from Couturier and Drysdale.

Briere stated, “Last year, we demonstrated that our team is competitive. I believe we will strive hard this year to maintain that momentum. Hopefully, the lessons learned from the previous season will guide us into the new season. Our aim is to position ourselves to play significant games towards the end of the season, hopefully with improved outcome.”