As we’ve reached August, let’s continue taking a look at where the Philadelphia Flyers line-up stands.
General manager Danny Briere was active in addressing the team’s major areas of need early last month.
Prior to free agency, the Flyers signaled a change in their approach and structure with the hiring of Rick Tocchet as their head coach.
If you are looking for a deep dive into Tocchet’s coaching philosophies on defense and breakouts, you should check out colleague Bill Meltzer’s “What You Need To Know” series.
In the first installment of the Forwards Series for Flyers Thoughts, we analyzed new additions Trevor Zegras and Christian Dvorak. We looked also at current Flyers Owen Tippett and Noah Cates‘ potential spots.
In Part Two, we looked at the likely top line of Matvei Mickhov, Sean Couturier, and Travis Konecny, along with the currently-injured Tyson Foerster.
Potential lineup contributors Alex Bump, Jett Luchanko, and Devin Kaplan were the focus of Part Three.
Now, we wrap up the series by examining depth forwards in Karsen Dorwart, Bobby Brink, Garnet Hathaway, and Nic Deslauriers.
Dorwart: Man of Mystery
Dorwart is kind of a mystery man when it comes to projecting his possible impact.
The 6 foot 1, 195 lb has a reputation for playing hard on the puck with a responsible two way game. He had strong sophomore and junior seasons at Michigan State, in which he averaged nearly a point per game.
Dorwart finished his junior season in East Lansing netting 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points (second on the team). He was seen as a key part to Spartan’s No. 1 national ranking this season. In doing so, he helped them take back to back Big Ten regular season and tournament titles.
The Sherwood, Oregon native signed with the Flyers in late March and debuted on April 5 in Montreal. He played five games, though without scoring a point.
While he has experience playing center, he is currently projected as an NHL left wing. The offensive part of the game is what Dorwart needs to develop as he enters his first full pro season. A strong camp could put him in line for more NHL ice time this season.
But it is more likely to expect he will be traveling back and forth between Philadelphia and Allentown as he could garner more opportunities with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
On The Brink
Bobby Brink has proven himself to be a strong support player as an NHLer, finishing last season with a career high in goals (12), points (41) and games played (79).
His willingness to dive into the forecheck while playing with Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster last season was one of the better developments of a lost season. He helped create a well balanced unit that could match up with opposing team’s top lines.
However, as much as he was trusted by former head coach John Tortorella, he faces another audition to prove himself with Tocchet. The 5 foot 8, 169 lb. winger remains an undersized forward who has to work hard at improving deficiencies, such as his skating, to maintain his role.
The Flyers have notably tacked towards size in recent drafts. When their right wing group include a pair of sub 6-footers in Michkov and Konecny, the question becomes how many can you have and be competitive?
There will undoubtably be pressure on Brink this season as he enters the final year of his current contract. Continued upticks in goal scoring and offensive numbers could go a long way in helping secure his NHL future.
Hathaway and Deslauriers: Rounding Out The Lineup
The Flyers have been particularly happy with Garnet Hathaway during his first two seasons, as he has provided more than just additional muscle. He has proven himself a useful forechecking force and has played higher in the lineup when called upon.
Hathaway finished the 2024-25 season with the second highest point total of his career with 10 goals and 21 points in 67 games played. In short, he’s justified the Flyers decision in giving him a two year, $2.4 million extension last offseason.
Add to the mix, Hathaway’s well-documented willingness to act as an agitator in drawing penalties. As such, no matter who the coach is, expect that he will continue to get his shoulder pads tapped to jump into the fray.
Deslauriers remains one of the more respected enforcers in the NHL. He will answer the proverbial bell when called upon. But like many who possess his skill set, his opportunities to draw into the lineup will be fairly specific circumstances. He is in the final year of a four year contract he signed in 2022.
Next week, we will begin to break down the Flyers defense and goaltending.
