Jett Luchanko scored his first professional goal on Friday night (October 16, 2026).

Playing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers affiliate), the 20-year-old center tallied the goal plus two assists in a 6-3 road win over the Springfield Thunderbirds. It was also his first career three-point game.

The goal came at 9:01 of the third period. Cole Knuble worked the puck out of the corner and found Luchanko in the right face-off circle; he snapped a quick shot past goaltender Georgii Romanov to make it 5-2 and help blunt Springfield’s comeback.

Through five AHL games this season, Luchanko has 1 goal and 5 assists. Other Phantoms goal scorers in the game included Alex Bump (two goals), Cole Knuble, Hunter McDonald, and Jacob Gaucher.

A solid milestone for the 2024 first-round pick (13th overall) as he continues developing in the AHL after limited NHL looks.

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Among the early bright spots for a struggling Flyers team (0-6-3 through nine games as of October 15–16, 2026), these four are contributing positively relative to the group’s overall offensive and defensive woes.

Here’s a quick look at their 2026-27 starts:

• Matvei Michkov (RW): 9 GP, 3 goals, 0 assists, 3 points, –7. He’s the team’s goal leader and has scored in multiple games (including the most recent 2-1 loss at Detroit). High shooting percentage so far, with consistent middle-six/power-play minutes.
• Denver Barkey (C):6 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, –1. Returned from a lower-body injury early in the season and has chipped in helpers while averaging around 14 minutes a night (including some power-play time). Solid depth/middle-six presence.
• Oliver Bonk (D): 3 GP, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point (roughly –2 to –3). Recently recalled and immediately slotted on the top pair with Sanheim. After a tough debut (–3 vs. Carolina), he bounced back strongly vs. Seattle with an assist on a strong individual rush; coach Rick Tocchet praised his composure and ability to move past mistakes. Averaging ~18+ minutes.
• Travis Sanheim (D):9 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points, –8/–9. Logging massive minutes (often 25+ per game, among the NHL’s highest) as the top defenseman. He’s producing points and providing leadership/structure on the blue line despite the team’s poor goal differential.

The Flyers have scored just 1.2 goals per game and have been outshot heavily, so individual production and reliable minutes from these guys (especially the young prospects Barkey and Bonk alongside Michkov and Sanheim) stand out.

Bonk’s pairing with Sanheim and Barkey’s steady play have drawn positive notes amid the franchise-record-tying early losing streak. Next up is a home game vs. Ottawa on October 17.

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Flyers’ Defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen (upper-body injury, currently on IR) and Cam York (upper-body) will both miss tonight’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet confirmed neither is traveling to Detroit. Ristolainen is listed as day-to-day and “getting better,” with a possible return as early as Saturday against Ottawa. York has also been day-to-day.

The Flyers are already dealing with other absences (including Travis Konecny), so younger defensemen like Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek are expected to continue filling bigger roles on the blue line.

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After practice on Wednesday (October 14, 2026), Tocchet was asked about “scooter skating,” a term forward Trevor Zegras had used. He explained that good teams have the fourth man (usually a defenseman) delay and “scooter” (slow their skating to time the entry properly) when the play is delayed. Referring to the previous night’s game, he said there were multiple instances where the Flyers’ defense got too aggressive:

“If you watched us last night, there were four instances where our defense are too… I can’t use the word. They’re too… if you heard the word, I can’t say it,” Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet says.

Tocchet continued, “After a pause he went for it: “I can say it, they’re too horny, right? They get up in the play, and they get too… so you have to just slow your skating down. The delay comes and then you scoot your skating, so you time it right, and then you get your shot. We were getting in too close.”

In short, he meant the defensemen were too eager/rushing the play instead of timing their involvement for better scoring chances. The team worked on it in practice. The quote (and the inevitable jokes) spread quickly among Flyers fans.

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The Flyers announced today (October 14, 2026) that Bob “The Hound” Kelly and Simon Gagné will be inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame.

They will become the 29th and 30th members and the first inductees since the 2023-24 season (Mark Recchi). The ceremony will take place in a special pregame event before the Hall of Fame Game presented by Ticketmaster on Saturday, February 27, 2027, when the Flyers host the San Jose Sharks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Quick career highlights

• Bob Kelly (Broad Street Bullies era): Played 10 seasons (1970–80) with the Flyers. He recorded 296 points (128 goals, 168 assists) and 1,285 penalty minutes in 741 games. A key member of the back-to-back Stanley Cup teams in 1974 and 1975, he scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the 1975 Final. He ranks seventh in franchise penalty minutes and is tied for eighth in games played. He has also long been involved with the organization and community.
• Simon Gagné: Played parts of 11 seasons over two stints (1999–2010 and 2012–13). He tallied 535 points (264 goals, 271 assists) in 691 games. His 264 goals rank 10th in franchise history; he also ranks high in game-winning goals. A two-time All-Star and two-time Bobby Clarke Trophy (team MVP) winner, he scored the series-clinching goal in Game 7 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals against Boston during the famous comeback from a 3-0 deficit.

Both players received strong praise from Flyers leadership and expressed gratitude in statements released with the announcement. Great news for Flyers fans connecting two different eras of the franchise.

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Oliver Bonk is playing well right now, especially in his latest NHL outing, as he has been thrusted to a top-pairing role for the past two games with Travis Sanheim.

The 21-year-old Flyers defenseman (2023 first-round pick, 22nd overall) was recalled from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms on October 11 amid injuries on the blue line. He had two assists in two Phantoms games to start the 2026-27 season after a solid (if abbreviated) AHL rookie year in 2025-26 (6 goals, 19 points in 46 games).

• Season debut vs. Carolina (Oct. 11/12): Mixed bag in a tough matchup. He finished -3 with 4 PIM (two penalties) in about 16:28 of ice time. There were some defensive miscues and a turnover tied to a goal against, but he showed confident puck-moving, pace in transition, compete level in physical battles, and positive flashes that left room for optimism. Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet still trusted him with solid minutes.
• Vs. Seattle (Oct. 13): Strong rebound. He played roughly 20 minutes (top-pair usage with Travis Sanheim), was widely described as one of the Flyers’ best defensemen shift-to-shift, and recorded an assist on Christian Dvorak’s third-period goal that cut the deficit to 2-1. The play stood out: Bonk went end-to-end from behind his own net, held off pressure through the zones, and made a no-look/backhand centering pass. He also activated offensively, won battles, defended the rush well, and moved the puck efficiently. The Flyers rallied from 2-0 but lost 3-2 in a shootout (still winless at 0-5-3).

Bonk has made smart reads, which has lead to efficient transitions, his compete is there, and he has provided sneaky offense. He’s still young and will have ups and downs, but the early returns—especially the bounce-back performance—are encouraging as he pushes for more NHL time.

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Isaiah, Chef, and Dan are back, joined by special guest Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia (nbcsportsphiladelphia.com • @JHallNBCS on X).

The panel delves into the recent Flyers game action, placing it within the broader context of the team’s disastrous, record-setting 0-5-2 start to the 2026-27 NHL season. As the Flyers remain trapped in a cycle of futility, coach Rick Tocchet appears short on answers, leading a growing number of fans to call for his ouster. Meanwhile, ownership is left to wonder whether the “New Era of Orange” management team has any solutions three and a half years into its tenure. We analyze the numbers behind the team’s struggles, discuss the Oliver Bonk call-up and the Flyers’ growing injury list, and pose the crucial question: Can this season still be salvaged?

In our final segment, Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff joins us to provide his insider perspective on Tocchet’s job security, potential deals in the works, and the league-wide view of how the Flyers have run so far off the tracks after a 98-point playoff season.

It’s a jam-packed show!!!

Rick Tocchet is currently the Head Coach of the Flyers (as of mid-October 2026). He is not facing an imminent firing despite a historically bad start, though speculation about potential replacements has increased.

Background

Tocchet coached the Vancouver Canucks from January 2023 until April 2025 (108-65-27 record). He won the Jack Adams Award in 2023-24 after leading them to the Pacific Division title and a second-round playoff appearance. After a turbulent 2024-25 season in which the Canucks missed the playoffs, he declined to return (citing family priorities and wanting to explore other opportunities; the team had offered a new deal after declining his contract option).

• The Canucks promoted assistant Adam Foote as his replacement in May 2025. Foote went 25-49-8 in 2025-26 (last in the NHL) and was fired in May 2026.
• Manny Malhotra (former Canucks player and successful Abbotsford AHL coach, including a Calder Cup win) was hired as the new Canucks head coach in June 2026 and remains in the role.

Tocchet signed a five-year contract with the Flyers (reportedly ~$5.25 million per year) and took over the same day Foote was promoted. In 2025-26, he guided Philadelphia to a 43-27-12 record and their first playoff series win since 2020 (second-round exit).

Current Situation with the Flyers

The Flyers opened with a franchise-worst 0-5-2 start (outscored badly, limited offense, defensive issues). Fans chanted “Fire Tocchet” during a recent loss. Tocchet has been critical of the team’s compete level and structure.

Tocchet’s job is not in immediate danger, factors include his long-term contract, the strong prior season, player support (e.g., Trevor Zegras), and General Manager Danny Briere’s preference for patience over a quick coaching change so early.

Speculated Coaching Replacements

If the Flyers move on)Media lists of potential successors (mostly from early-to-mid October 2026 coverage) focus on a mix of experienced NHL coaches, assistants, and rising names. Commonly mentioned candidates include:

In short, Tocchet’s actual Canucks successor was Adam Foote (later replaced by Manny Malhotra). With the Flyers, he remains in place for now despite the poor start, with the candidates above representing the main names circulating if a change eventually occurs.

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The Flyers look completely disconnected and are playing terrible hockey right now. They’re off to a franchise-worst 0-5-2 start (2 points) in the 2026-27 season after seven games, sitting last in the Metropolitan Division.

Unfortunately, they have been outscored 28-8, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals for and goals against. Last night (Oct. 11) they got thumped 4-1 at home by the Hurricanes, extending the skid, while being booed off the ice. Along with the booing were some “Fire Tocchet” chants.

The results so far:

• Lost 0-7 to Pittsburgh
• Overtime losses to New Jersey and Carolina
• Regulation losses to Tampa Bay, Ottawa, Boston (5-1), and Carolina again

Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet and the players have talked about poor execution, lack of speed through the middle, losing one-on-one battles, and not generating enough offense or sustained pressure. Possession numbers have been ugly (among the league’s worst in shot attempts and expected goals), and they’ve looked listless and unconnected for stretches—exactly the “not connected” vibe you’re describing. Injuries haven’t helped either.

“I think we go off the rails at certain points of the game. I don’t know if it’s experience, pressure, I don’t know,” Flyers’ Head Coach Rick Tocchet said postgame last night. “It’s a 10-foot play that you have to make. And if we do miss that pass, everybody’s got to dig in for that mistake. You can’t multiply mistakes. We’re making duplicate mistakes. It’s evident for me. It’s tough to correct other than working every day and make these guys understand to stay focused. That if you make a mistake, hang in there. Don’t go off the rails. We go off the rails at certain parts of the game.”

It’s still very early, and a couple of previous Flyers teams that started this poorly rebounded into the playoffs, but the compete level and cohesion issues need fixing fast. Tocchet sounded short on solutions for the 0-5-2 start (franchise-record seven-game winless streak to open a season). Some fans chanted “Fire Tocchet” late in the game. Players, including Trevor Zegras, said they remain fully behind him.

Even still, the Flyers are so disconnected on the ice, that it’s making it look like there might be a fracture inside the locker room. It’s all very interesting, as to why this team lacks compete. At times, they show flashes of competing against top tier teams like Carolina last night, and then it all just falls apart. Hopefully, they can figure things out, before it’s too late.

Next up is home against Seattle on Tuesday.

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The Flyers are in rough shape right now, and they are historically bad, a franchise worst, 0-5-2. In the old NHL it would be insurmountable to make up this ground. But, in today’s new NHL with only sitting four points out of a playoff spot, it is possible they right this ship and make playoffs.

Yes, the Flyers are sitting last in the Metropolitan Division. They just lost 4-1 at home to the Carolina Hurricanes on October 11, which set a franchise record for the worst start (previous mark was six winless games, shared by the 1999-00 and 2008-09 teams).

Recent results include:

• 0-7 vs. Pittsburgh
• 2-3 OT at New Jersey
• 2-3 OT vs. Carolina
• 1-4 at Tampa Bay
• 1-2 at Ottawa
• 1-5 at Boston
• 1-4 vs. Carolina

Offense has been almost nonexistent (around 1.1–1.2 goals per game, last in the league), defensive metrics are poor (heavily outshot and out-chanced at 5-on-5), and the goal differential is roughly -20. There are also injuries (including Travis Konecny on IR).

“Fully behind Tocc,” Trevor Zegras said post game. “He does so many things for us behind the scenes. We are disappointed with how these games are going. Like I said, we have the guys in the room turn this thing around.”

Zegras continues, “We have the guys in the room to turn it around, it’s definitely a tough stretch.”

They host the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday. Last season they were a solid playoff team, so this is a brutal early-season skid — but it’s still very early.

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Flyers’ Captain Sean Couturier echoed the same comments as Zegras, “There is no quit. We need to consistently win battles, and play the right way. We have a lot of talent, but we have to work and grind.”