<p>The beginning of the 2024-25 campaign was not a bright one for the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/philadelphia-flyers/line-combinations">Philadelphia Flyers</a>. Between struggling goaltenders, constant line juggling and a slew of injuries on the back end, the Flyers picked up where they left off from down the stretch last season – and not in a good way.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But a 12-game stretch of 8-2-2 hockey later, the Flyers have completely turned their season around and find themselves sitting in the second Wildcard position in the Eastern Conference with 27 points.</p>



<p>One of the major reasons for the turnaround is the goaltending, as is so often the easy answer. Even despite the absence of Samuel Ersson – who is slated to return this week per the Athletic’s Kevin Kurz – the play of Ivan Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov has steadied. Both goaltenders (specifically the former) struggled early in the season but have righted the ship; confidence of both likely has a lot to do with it, as adapting to the North American ice and style of play isn’t always a smooth process.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="174"></div>



<p>Beyond the goaltending, the defense has been a driving force to the Flyers’ turnaround, specifically the top four. Leading the way is Travis Sanheim – who, by the sounds of it, has potentially made Team Canada for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off – whose five goals and 15 points have him third on the team in offensive output.</p>



<p>A first round pick in 2014, the 28-year-old is logging more than 25 minutes per game, the highest average time on ice in his career. His play has been on an upward trajectory since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, when the trade of Ivan Provorov to the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/columbus-blue-jackets/line-combinations">Columbus Blue Jackets</a> opened the door for Sanheim to assume the role as the team’s no.1 defenseman; he has not looked back since. As one person said to me, if Sanheim was more of a point-producing, power play quarterback, we’d hear his name mentioned a lot more among the premier defenders in the entire NHL. Even without this quality, Sanheim’s play this season has solidified himself as legitimate top guy on the Flyers’ blueline – something the team has long lacked.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="187"></div>



<p><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/how-once-maligned-rasmus-ristolainen-morphed-into-a-valuable-trade-chip-for-flyers/">Rasmus Ristolainen’s play has also been taken to another level</a>, as the once maligned whipping boy of the analytics community is now playing the best hockey of his career.</p>



<p>Ristolainen, 29, has excelled under head coach John Tortorella and associate coach Brad Shaw and has quietly had his game trend upwards the last 24 months. Entering this season, Ristolainen was still viewed as an overpaid, defensive defenseman best suited for the third pair. Averaging 20:40 TOI per game and playing a crucial role in all situations for the Flyers, the feeling is that Ristolainen is more than living up to his $5.1 million AAV. As one person said to me, that is a dollar value he’d certainly get as an unrestricted free agent at this time.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The 2013 first-round pick had generated trade interest going back to last season before an injury prematurely ended his season. <a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/pettersson-ristolainen-provorov-headline-first-trade-targets-board-of-2024-25/">The trade interest has picked up this year</a>, with several teams kicking tires on Ristolainen’s availability. Ristolainen can be had but, as I’ve previously reported, the Flyers are not in any rush to trade him and have their asking price starting at a first-round selection. But the more Ristolainen plays strongly and the Flyers continue their winning ways, the harder of a bargain I imagine GM Daniel Briere will drive for the Finnish rearguard.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="220"></div>



<p>Above all else, the biggest jolt to the blueline has come from the arrival of rookie Emil Andrae, who has stepped into the Flyers’ top four and has had an impact that has even caught management by surprise.</p>



<p>Andrae, 22, has arrived in Philadelphia playing at a level that nobody expected. He has slotted in nicely beside Ristolainen – another reason why trading the former will be tough at this time, as he is an ideal partner for an undersized, rookie blueliner – and has pushed Nick Seeler down to the third pairing. Andrae’s 19:22 of TOI has helped lessen the load for Sanheim and Cam York on the top pair, has given Ristolainen a quality second pair partner and has better slotted Seeler, Jamie Drysdale (when healthy) and Egor Zamula. Andrae has also been a welcomed addition to the power play, which has, though still not elite, significantly improved from years past.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<p>President of hockey operations Keith Jones made no secret when he was hired that he wanted to build from the blueline out; that philosophy has fueled the Flyers to this point. Even beyond this season, the Flyers’ are well set up for the future; 2023 first round selection Oliver Bonk has had a great season in the OHL, while the team remains high on 2022 sixth round pick Hunter McDonald. Even with striking out in the David Jiricek sweepstakes – which would’ve required the Flyers giving up a top-three prospect to obtain him – the Flyers’ blueline is in good shape both in the present and future.&nbsp;With six selections in the top two rounds in the 2025 NHL Draft, it wouldn’t shock me if they use at least two picks on defensemen and fortified the pipeline even more.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="138"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ersson’s return means a three-goalie rotation</h2>



<p>Ersson appears to be on the mend from injury and his impending return means a crowded crease. Fedotov and Kolosov have both played very well in Ersson’s absence, giving Flyers management a tough, but good, problem on their hands. As one person said to me on Monday, one of Fedotov or Kolosov playing poorly would’ve made things simpler on whom to send down to the AHL.</p>



<p>Prior to the Ersson injury, I was told that waiving Fedotov was a real possibility. Between his age (28), his horrible play and his two year contract with a $3.275 million AAV, the Flyers felt comfortable that he would clear. While I’m not sure if Fedotov’s recent stretch of solid play would make him a risk to be claimed on waivers, I don’t get the sense that the Flyers are prepared to take that risk – at least not right away.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="147"></div>



<p>The story on Kolosov has been well documented to this point; he will be in the NHL or angling to bolt back to the KHL. Does he like the NHL paycheck that much? Who knows the exact reason(s), but either way it doesn’t seem like the AHL is an option for the 22 year old even though he is waiver exempt. I don’t think trading Kolosov is completely off the table, but the prior asking price of a second round pick may be increased given his recent stretch of play. I don’t think moving Kolosov is something the Flyers are in any rush to do, but I think they’d certainly listen if a serious offer was presented to them.</p>



<p>Ersson is still viewed as the team’s starter and I imagine will get every opportunity to reclaim that title upon his return later this week. A three goalie rotation is never ideal, but it may be the only option for the Flyers in the immediate future. How long it lasts is anyone’s guess, but with all three goalies playing well (Ersson was prior to the injury), something will eventually have to give.&nbsp;</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="191"></div>



<p>_____</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nation Gear Black Friday Sale</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.dailyfaceoff.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2099%2F07%2FDFO-Article.png&amp;w=1920&amp;q=75" alt=""></figure>



<p></p>



<p>Black Friday is HERE, Nation Citizens! 🏒 Score 15% off all your favorites, including the brand-new “My City” Collection and fresh drops you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re gifting a die-hard fan or upgrading your own game-day fit, Nation Gear has you covered. Spend over $200, and enjoy free shipping, too! 🛍️ But hurry—this one-week-only deal is live now! Shop exclusively at nationgear.ca and make this holiday season unforgettable!</p>



<p>_____</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recently by Anthony Di Marco</h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/who-stays-and-who-goes-if-the-ottawa-senators-make-a-major-roster-shakeup/">Who stays and who goes if the Ottawa Senators make a major roster shakeup?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/how-and-when-will-the-flyers-find-help-at-center">How –&nbsp;and when – will the Flyers find help at center?</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/jamie-langenbrunners-savvy-hockey-mind-makes-him-ideally-suited-to-player-development-with-bruins">Jamie Langenbrunner’s savvy hockey mind makes him ideally suited to player development with Bruins</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/despite-struggles-the-flyers-arent-giving-up-on-morgan-frost">Despite struggles, the Flyers aren’t giving up on Morgan Frost</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/rick-nash-sponging-up-front-office-experience-with-blue-jackets-not-in-any-rush-to-be-a-gm-yet">Rick Nash sponging up front office experience with Blue Jackets, ‘not in any rush’ to be a GM yet</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/why-matvei-michkovs-benchings-might-have-been-the-best-thing-for-him">Why Matvei Michkov’s benching(s) might have been the best thing for him</a></li>
</ul>


Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae