Rodrigo Ābols (the Latvian forward for the Philadelphia Flyers) absolutely made his mark—”imprint” style—in yesterday’s preseason game against the New York Islanders on September 21, 2025.
He scored the game’s first goal in the opening period, assisted by a slick pass from Jack Nesbitt after an interception. It was a sharp snipe that put the Flyers up 1-0 early, and Ābols looked sharp overall, showing good speed and physicality while battling for a bottom-six roster spot.
Abols could be a sneaky NHL regular if he sticks around North America. At 29, he’s got that veteran grit from his SHL and AHL stints, and this performance is a solid reminder why the Flyers re-signed him to a one-year extension this offseason. If he keeps this up in camp, expect him to push hard for regular minutes.
“Goal was nice. A small reward for how much work I put in the Summer,” Abols said after the game.
NHL Debut (2025): Ābols made his NHL debut with the Flyers on January 21, 2025, against the Detroit Red Wings, logging 10:39 of ice time, registering two shots, a hit, and a blocked shot.
First NHL Goal (2025): Scored his first NHL goal against the Utah Hockey Club in a 3-2 overtime loss, followed by another goal against the Ottawa Senators.
NHL Stats (2024-25 Season): In 22 games with the Flyers, he recorded 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists).
AHL Performance: With the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) in 2024-25, Ābols tallied 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 47 games, ranking fourth on the team, plus 2 goals in 7 playoff games. In 2019-20, he had 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists) in 36 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.
SHL Success: Over six seasons in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Örebro HK and Rögle BK, he amassed 163 points (85 goals, 78 assists) in 266 games. In 2023-24 with Rögle, he scored 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) in 50 games, tying for first in power-play goals (5) and ranking second in team goals.
International Achievements: Represented Latvia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, scoring 5 goals and 2 assists to help win Latvia’s first-ever bronze medal. He also competed in the 2015 IIHF World Championship and the 2013 World Junior Championship.
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