Flyers Quick Updates: Lines, Atkinson, and More

Bill Meltzer’s Flyers blog on Hockey Hot Stove is brought to you by Phans of Philly, by Lights On Electric, by New Balance of Mount Laurel, and by Cover All Exteriors.

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Flyers practice lines before opening night

I am not in Sunrise, Florida, for Thursday’s regular season opener between the Flyers and Florida Panthers. However, according to the traveling beat writers and the B-roll video footage the Flyers provide, they team ran the following lines during Wednesday’s practice at Amerant Bank Arena.

Christian Dvorak – Sean Couturier – Matvei Michkov
Owen Tippett – Trevor Zegras – Travis Konecny
Tyson Foerster – Noah Cates – Bobby Brink
Rotation – Rodrigo Abols – Garnet Hathaway

Nick Seeler – Travis Sanheim
Adam Ginning – Jamie Drysdale
Rotation

Samuel Ersson
Dan Vladar

Practice Day notes

  • Jett Luchanko and Nicolas Deslauriers rotated shifts on fourth-line left wing.
  • Nikita Grebenkin was the extra forward during practice. He stayed out for some one-on-one work with head coach Rick Tocchet.
  • Tocchet indicated that if Grebenkin doesn’t play on Thursday, he’ll play in Raleigh on Saturday.
  • Egor Zamula, Noah Juulsen and Dennis Gilbert rotated reps on the pair.
  • Gilbert got banged up during practice.He briefly left the ice. However, he returned to finish the session.
  • Some coaches (Mike Yeo and Alain Vigneault, for example) routinely announce the starting goaltender one day ahead of a game. Other coaches wait until game day for a public announcement. The Flyers will announce tomorrow whether Samuel Ersson or Dan Vladar gets the opener. The other may get Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Thereafter, it remains to be seen if Ersson or Vladar starts in the home opener against Florida on Monday.

Bernie Parent tributes

The Flyers announced plans for a commemorative schedule in memory of Hall of Fame goaltender Bernie Parent.

  • October 13: The Flyers will unveil memorial uniform patches and ice markings behind the two nets.
  • November 21: The team will hold a public celebration of life at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
  • November 22: Before and during the home game against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers will stage on-ice and video tributes to Parent.

Cam Atkinson retirement: What it means for the Flyers

This question has come up several times today. How does Cam Atkinson’s retirement affect the Flyers’ salary cap in 2025-26? Does the final year of the buyout come off the cap?

The answer is: No, there is not effect. Atkinson’s buyout counts on the Philadelphia cap for the duration of this season. He comes off the books on July 1, 2026 (first day of the NHL’s 2026-27 fiscal calendar).

Flyers Daily: special guest Garnet Hathaway

Garnet Hathaway is one of most insightful interview subjects in the NHL. “Hath” joined Flyers Daily host Jason Myrtetus this week for an in-depth conversation. There are no platitudes with Hathaway. He is always willing to dig beneath the surface. In his conversation with Jason. Hathaway’s talks about what drives him as the hockey player but also what motivates and inspires him on a human level. Watch the 29-plus minute episode below.

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