Fantasy Sleepers, Breakouts and Busts From Every NHL Team: Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia enters this fantasy draft season fresh off its first playoff appearance since 2019-20, and the Flyers are hoping a roster largely intact from that run can push them even further. 

Philadelphia finished 43-27-12 last season, good for third in the Metropolitan Division, and caught fire down the stretch, going 18-7-1 after the Olympic break. That momentum carried into the postseason, where the Flyers knocked off Pittsburgh in six games before being swept by Carolina in the second round.

The offseason brought plenty of headlines even if the roster didn't change much. Philadelphia made a record setting offer sheet attempt at Leo Carlsson, only to see it matched by Anaheim. The lone significant move came via trade with Toronto, bringing in steady goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit. 

Trevor Zegras signed a four year extension after a career season at center, and top prospect Porter Martone is set for an expanded role up front. Rather than overhaul the roster, Philadelphia is betting internal growth is enough to get back into the playoff picture.

Konecny's chemistry with Martone was undeniable in limited action, with the pairing alongside Christian Dvorak combining for five goals scored and just one allowed. 

Over a full season, that trio could develop into one of the Flyers' best forward lines in recent memory. Konecny has posted 68 or more points in three straight seasons, and with Martone potentially the most talented offensive running mate he's had in his career, another finish inside the top 75 looks close to a lock and he's being drafted outside the top 130 on average.

The 24-year-old former sixth overall pick has yet to fully live up to his draft pedigree, but the arrival of a dynamic young talent like Martone could change that. 

Drysdale is coming off a career-best 32 point season in 78 games, and he's expected to retain a similar role this year while quarterbacking the top power play unit alongside two other players looking to break out in their own right in Martone and Matvei Michkov. 

A 40-plus point season is a realistic outcome, and with Drysdale rostered in just 8 percent of leagues, he profiles as a strong value pick as a depth defense option.

After spending most of this preview building the case for Martone, it may seem strange to call him a bust. The concern isn't his talent, it's his price tag. 

Martone posted 10 points in nine regular season games last year followed by five points over 10 playoff games, and based on that small sample, many drafters are penciling him in for a guaranteed 70-plus point season. 

That kind of production is far from guaranteed for a rookie. Martone is currently being drafted ahead of established stars like Connor Bedard, Lucas Raymond and Kirill Marchenko, and while he could absolutely turn into a star, anything short of a truly elite season at that draft price would make him a disappointment relative to cost.

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