On September 10, 2025, Keith Jones, alongside Flyers governor Dan Hilferty, held a press conference at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, NJ, ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season’s rookie camp. The key points from the presser included:
- Emphasis on Patience and Rebuild: Jones and Hilferty reiterated the Flyers’ commitment to a patient, long-term rebuild focused on drafting and developing young players, managing cap space, and fostering a competitive edge. They stressed progress over immediate playoff expectations, with Hilferty noting that a successful season would be defined by improvement in younger players rather than solely a postseason berth, “I’m really excited to get things started this year. It feels a little bit different from the first two years,” Keith Jones said yesterday. “I like the way the plan is coming together.”
- Optimism for Improvement: Both expressed confidence that the Flyers would be a better team in the 2025-26 season, highlighting the growth of players like Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Cam York, Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, Bobby Brink, and Matvei Michkov. They emphasized the need for these players to take steps forward to elevate the team’s performance.
- Reviving Flyers’ Mentality: Jones and Hilferty spoke about restoring the bold, fearless mentality associated with the Flyers’ past, referencing decisive moves like trading Cutter Gauthier and firing coach John Tortorella late in the previous season. They conveyed a sense of organizational stability and direction entering year three of the rebuild.
- No Specific Playoff Mandate: While playoffs would be a bonus, the focus remains on steady growth and development, with Jones stating at the trade deadline they wouldn’t trade players for future assets unless an exceptional opportunity arose.
“That would be disappointing,” Keith Jones said of possibly taking a step back this season. “We definitely want to continue to take steps forward. I believe that we will, and I think we are going to do everything we can to make sure that that happens.”
Jones then stated, “In the previous two years, we would be quick to make changes in order to get better for the future. Now it’s about staying on course, which is advancing, not about moving back.”
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