3 Internal Candidates To Fill Middle-6 Role On Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers may have not done enough this offseason to upgrade, but at the same time, the team could be leaving a spot open for a preseason battle for one of their younger players. As of right now, Joel Farabee is listed as injured, but if he takes his spot in the lineup back, there is still one hole to fill on the wing in the middle-6.

Both Anthony Richard and Rodrigo Abols should not be everyday players and likely won't be, but they are both seen as fill-ins for the Flyers roster right now. They combined for just 37 games and 11 points last season. If anything, they should be on the fourth line, not the middle-6.

The Flyers are a rebuilding team, which means there are talented young players that are pushing for spots. Jett Luchanko impressed and actually played four games with the Flyers before being sent back to junior. He ended the season playing some games in the AHL. He is only 19 years old, but I wouldn't be surprised if he once again impressed the Flyers and he stuck around. A third line role may be better for him to start as there is a little less pressure.

Beyond that, the most NHL-ready prospect in the Flyers' system is Samu Tuomaala. The 22-year-old put up two strong AHL seasons and finished with 11 goals and 32 points in 46 games in 2024-25. He has yet to play an NHL game, but it's coming, especially if the Flyers need players to step up. I would put his chances of making the opening night roster over other options the team has like Nikita Grebenkin, Jacob Gaucher, Devin Kaplan, Lane Pederson, and Karsen Dorwart.

Tuomaala is the next player that will come in and start to contribute like players such as Bobby Brink, Noah Cates, Farabee, Emil Andrae, Yegor Zamula, and Samuel Ersson have in recent years.

The darkhorse I think could have a chance at filling a middle-6 role for the Flyers is Denver Barkley. He may not be NHL-ready yet as he just finished up in junior, but it was another great season. The now 20-year-old had 25 goals and 82 points in 50 games in the OHL and while I think he will experience some games in the AHL, he may be in the NHL by the end of the season.