Flyers President Keith Jones and CEO Dan Hilferty speak to the media on the state of the franchise the day before rookie camp is set to kick off the 2025-26 season. (Credit: Anthony SanFilippo)
There was a time when the Flyers used to be bold - even audacious - in everything they said or did.
That went away with the passing of Ed Snider.
But, since the dawning of the "New Era of Orange," hints of it have started to come back. Here and there the new leadership of CEO and Chairman Dan Hilferty, President Keith Jones and general manager Danny Briere have either individually or cohesively made statements to let you know that the organization is no longer the circus it was before they took over, as former Flyer Dale Weise was so keen on reminding everyone recently.
None were overly gallant or daring, but they have never tempered their tone. Not when they traded Cutter Gauthier. Not when they declared what they were doing as a rebuild when the word was forbidden prior to their arrival. Not when they fired John Tortorella with nine games to go in the season rather than just let him finish it out.
But the faint scent of that one-time bantam Flyers bravado, the daring chutzpah, was present.
Wednesday was just the latest example as the team continues to grow back toward its past glory years.
Jones and Hilferty met with the media the day before rookie camp was set to commence on the ice below at the Flyers Training Center.
They each opened with a statement before taking questions, and the feeling was that they are happy with where they are as they enter year three of the rebuild. But Jones took it a step further.
"At the trade deadline," he said. "We're not going to be giving away our players to gain future assets unless there was something crazy that happened."
It was a fearless projection.
Flyers Governor Dan Hilferty and President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones meet with the media from @FlyersTCenter. https://t.co/fupnjGT8I8
"It feels a little bit different from the first two years," Jones said. "We're starting to progress. Our players continue to move forward and we're doing everything we can to ensure that continues to happen. I feel really good about where Danny has the team now and for the future and I like the way the plan is coming together."
The Flyers project to be one of those teams that are on the fringes of contending for a playoff spot in 2025-26. They should be in the mix, and whether they make it or just miss will likely be determined by a series of factors - some within their control and some outside of it.
"I feel really good that we're going to have a successful year," Hilferty said. "How I define a successful year, consistent with last year, is not necessarily the playoffs - although that would be great as a fan and for the fan within me - but just to see improvement throughout the year and our younger players and that competitive edge continue to grow."
And while it may sound like Hilferty and Jones are in contrast with one another, they are not. Jones didn't predict a playoff berth. He just said they team would not be looking to sell at the deadline.
Might that mean they are contenders and are adding? Sure. Could it also mean that they don't do much of anything at that time and just keep on with the plan? Yes. Very much so.
And the Flyers started adding this summer. Trading for Trevor Zegras was a worthwhile gamble, because if they can unlock his potential, he can grow into a star. Making a less-heralded free agency addition like Christian Dvorak will make the team deeper down the middle. Signing Cam York to a longer-term extension and leaning on younger players to grow into bigger responsibilities and even some leadership roles, will only help them improve.
"We owed that to our players that are here," Jones said. "They've done everything that we've asked them. We've moved out a lot of their friends. We've taken away players at times when other teams are building for a playoff run. We've continued to accumulate assets to try to help us in the future and a lot of our top players have been patient with that. I do think that played into it.
"We're just in a better position to move forward. A lot of things go into that, but I think our execution (of the plan) so far has been solid and I'm really looking forward to seeing the next steps come into play."
The more you listen to them, the more it sounds like this is the middle ground in the whole process of completing the transition from a rebuilding team into a competitive one - and not just one for one season, but a team that can be competitive year-in and year-out.
And Hilferty added there is no pressure to divert from the long-term plan of getting to the point of "sustained success," adding that Comcast corporate, all the way up to Brian Roberts, is on board with the patiient approach that has been under way for the past two-plus years.
"As a fan you want every year to compete, to get into the playoffs, to get the fans excited and to sell tickets," Hilferty said. "You want people in the arena. ... The relationship with Comcast and Brian Roberts - we agree. Keith agrees. Danny agrees - we're going to take our time and do this the right way. There's no pressure from me in my role or from an ownership perspective beyond me, to say we need to do something drastic or dramatic because we need to have a better shot at the playoffs. ...
"We want to build a culture of sustainable excellence. Not just take a shot next year and then it falls off after. Yes, there's fan time pressure, but there's no pressure from the perspective of it's got to be this year or next year. When we do it, you'll see it."
.@NHLFlyers president Keith Jones on Matvei Michkov. “Stars do sell in Philadelphia.” pic.twitter.com/lniG0B0xvX
Once the press conference was over - or about to be over - Hilferty stopped everyone and put his reporter's hat on for a moment. In front of everyone he asked Jones a question to see if it would be different from what he had said earlier.
"What for you would add up to a successful season," Hilferty asked.
"Continued growth, for sure," Jones answered. "Our players continuing to advance and our team being better.
"I feel very confident that we will be."
And even if they aren't a playoff team this season, it's a very retro feel in Flyers land
