With William Eklund nursing an upper-body injury, Smith will draw into the lawn for his first game of the season. The 26-year-old Smith has 22 points (9G / 13A) in 155 career games and is in his first season with the Sharks organization.

The Flyers will likely return to Ersson in their crease on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Flyers have earned three of a possible four points (1-0-1) when Ersson has been in net this season, providing adequate results for the team despite a less-than-stellar 2.86 GAA and .895 SV%.

The Flyers are 1-1-1 to start the season, with their only regulation loss coming when Fedotov was in the crease. That said, the Flyers will return to Fedotov for the second time this season and hope he can redeem himself after a poor first performance when he allowed five goals on 31 shots (.839 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. The 28-year-old Fedotov only has four games of NHL experience (0-2-1), with an ugly 5.01 GAA and .821 SV%. The Flyers enter action on Thursday as +120 road underdogs against the Seattle Kraken.

The Flyers will turn to Ersson for his second start of the season when they visit the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Ersson was excellent in the Flyers season opener, his only start of the season thus far, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. Ersson started a career-high 49 games last season (23-19-7) and could rival those totals this season. The Flyers enter action on Tuesday as +176 road underdogs against an Oilers club that has only scored three times in their first three games (0-3-0).

Luchanko was the Flyers' 13th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in their season opener but has been a healthy scratch in their two games since. The 18-year-old played 14:36 in his debut, recording a -1 plus/minus and one shot on goal.

The 24-year-old will have to fend off newcomer Ivan Fedotov for playing time this season, but Ersson appears to have the slight edge heading into game one of 82. Ersson had some bright moments in 2023-24 but struggled as a whole, posting an .890 SV% and a 2.82 GAA across 51 appearances. He draws a brutal first assignment against the Canucks, who scored five goals on 24 shots in their overtime loss to the Flames on Wednesday. The Flyers enter action as +160 underdogs in Vancouver.

The 24-year-old will have to fend off newcomer Ivan Fedotov for playing time this season, but Ersson appears to have the slight edge heading into game one of 82. Ersson had some bright moments in 2023-24 but struggled as a whole, posting an .890 SV% and a 2.82 GAA across 51 appearances. He draws a brutal first assignment against the Canucks, who scored five goals on 24 shots in their overtime loss to the Flames on Wednesday. The Flyers enter action as +160 underdogs in Vancouver.

With Nick Seeler being placed on IR with a lower-body injury, Emil Andrae has been recalled from Lehigh Valley (AHL) ahead of Philadelphia's season opener. The 22-year-old defenseman appeared in four games with the Flyers in 2023-24 but spent the majority of the year with Lehigh Valley (AHL) and had five goals and 32 points in 61 games played.

Prior to Philadelphia's season opener on Friday, they placed Nick Seeler on the injured reserve retroactive to October 1st with a lower-body injury. The 31-year-old defensemen appeared in 71 games with the Flyers in 2023-24, and had a goal, 13 points, 78 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus.

Seeler is battling a lower-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The 31-year-old Seeler has spent the last three seasons with the Flyers, tallying 30 points (6G / 24A), 433 blocks, and 333 hits in 191 combined games. The Flyers could look to recall Emil Andrae from Lehigh Valley (AHL) ahead of Friday's game.

Seeler is battling a lower-body injury and his status for the Flyers' season opener on Friday against the Vancouver Canucks is uncertain. The 31-year-old Seeler has spent the last three seasons with the Flyers, tallying 30 points (6G / 24A), 433 blocks, and 333 hits in 191 combined games.

Gill was Philadelphia's 2024 2nd-round pick (59th overall) and signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $975,000 AAV with the Flyers on Friday. The 18-year-old towering defenseman is expected to return to Rimouski (QMJHL) for the 2024-25 season where he put up 12 goals, 46 points and 62 PIMs during his Sophomore campaign in 65 games in 2023-24.

Philadelphia added to Lehigh Valley's (AHL) goaltending depth on Wednesday after they signed Eetu Makiniemi to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000. The 25-year-old goaltender has spent the previous two seasons with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL) and had an 8-8-0 record, .900 SV% and 3.14 GAA in 18 games in 2023-24. He made his NHL debut and only career appearance in 2022-23 with San Jose and appeared in two games.

Calgary solidified some of their offensive depth on Thursday after they re-signed former 1st-round pick (2019 - 26th overall) Jakob Pelletier to a one-year, two-way contract worth $800,000. The 23-year-old left-winger appeared in 13 games in 2023-24 and had a goal, three points, and nine SOG while averaging just 9:16 TOI/GP in a bottom-six role.

Johansen did not play a game after being traded to Philadelphia at last year's trade deadline and it is believed his contract is being terminated by Philadelphia for hip injury-related reasons. The 32-year-old was set to have a cap hit of $4 million for the 2024-25 season and will have up to 60 days to appeal the Flyers decision if he desires. In 63 games with Colorado in 2023-24 the 32-year-old had 13 goals, 23 points, 34 PIMs and 78 SOG.

Signing one of the biggest contracts in Philadelphia history, Travis Konecny is locked up as a Flyer until he is 38 years old after signing a eight-year, $70 million contract extension ($8,750,000 AAV) starting in 2025-26. The 27-year-old is entering his ninth NHL season and set career highs in goals (33), points (68), and SOG (244) in 76 games played in 2023-24.