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Kevin Kurz

@kevinkurznhl.bsky.social

6.4K followers 220 following 530 posts

Hockey writer at The Athletic based in Philadelphia 🔔 Witness to two reverse sweeps 🧹 Previous stops: Bay Area 2011-21 💻 NYC 2021-23 🗽

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Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 7h

Noah Cates scored the OT GWG last night, but his line was again the Flyers' best in their win over the Wild even before overtime.

What makes that line so effective? Panthers coach Paul Maurice offered the best explanation I've heard earlier this week:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Noah Cates and his line continue to set the pace for Flyers

Sometimes there are lines in hockey that just work, and it’s an exercise in futility to pinpoint why.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 1d

So we don't get the Jett Luchanko vs. Zeev Buium game tonight.

Here's my piece anyway ICYMI on what Luchanko has to do -- and how challenging that might be -- to stick on the Flyers this season:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Flyers’ Jett Luchanko not yet doing enough to stick for the season

The Flyers will need to decide soon if they will keep the 19-year-old rookie on the roster.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 2d

Flyers’ Jett Luchanko not yet doing enough to stick for the season

🔗

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Flyers’ Jett Luchanko not yet doing enough to stick for the season

The Flyers will need to decide soon if they will keep the 19-year-old rookie on the roster.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 3d

🔔Sanheim in top form again. Can he maintain it?
🔔Juulsen knows he had a rough camp, but “I think I’ve built from there.”
🔔Ginning still in the lineup, ahead of Andrae. "We’re putting him in the fire," said Tocchet.

And more on the Flyers' D:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Travis Sanheim shouldering heavy workload while Flyers sort out defensive depth

Rick Tocchet is helping Sanheim stay off the ice from time to time, especially after he has a string of games with inflated minutes.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 3d

Cam York off of IR and Emil Andrae officially reassigned, so York is back in tonight against the Jets.

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 3d

When he arrived at the training facility on Tuesday, Travis Sanheim was presented with a non-negotiable, one-or-the-other choice by Rick Tocchet.

Take the day off. Or Wednesday. His decision, but he had to pick one.

🔗

www.nytimes.com/athletic/672...

Travis Sanheim shouldering heavy workload while Flyers sort out defensive depth

Rick Tocchet is helping Sanheim stay off the ice from time to time, especially after he has a string of games with inflated minutes.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 4d

Flyers’ Matvei Michkov struggling for ice time — What’s going on?

(And a little bit on Nikita Grebenkin, too)

🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...

Flyers’ Matvei Michkov struggling for ice time. What’s going on?

Miscues and numerous Flyers penalties are among the reasons Michkov’s ice time has been limited.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 5d

There's a "good chance" Cam York is in tomorrow, he says

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 5d

It's three games into the season. Bumps and bruises have yet to accumulate.

But Sean Couturier says he's feeling better than he has since even before his back surgeries. And in the home opener, he looked it, too.

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Sean Couturier, feeling ‘better than pre-surgery,’ leads Flyers to first win

The Philadelphia captain scored twice and had two assists as the Flyers dispatched the back-to-back champions.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 8d

Christian Dvorak is unsurprisingly being leaned on by his former coach in Arizona, Rick Tocchet.

But will the marriage Dvorak and the Flyers last more than just a few months?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

Christian Dvorak playing key role for Flyers early. But will he remain for the season?

Dvorak can provide secondary offense, play center or wing, play both special teams and is a responsible 200-foot player that coaches trust.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 10d

For the Flyers to be better this season, a whole lot of things are going to have to go right.

They'll also have to avoid what looks to be a pretty significant list of things that could go wrong.

My column before tonight's opener:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...

For the young Flyers, defining — and achieving — success this season could be challenging

First-year coach Rick Tocchet said he doesn't have a timeframe on when things will come together.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 11d

“It’s nice when you can come to a new place and be yourself. They don’t try to put us in boxes.”

Rick Tocchet wants Trevor Zegras to simply be himself. Will it lead to a career resurgence for a player that was once one of the young faces of the league?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Can Trevor Zegras help Flyers become relevant again?

If Zegras thrives, he could give a huge boost to a franchise that is pining for relevancy within the local sports scene.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 11d

Can Trevor Zegras help Flyers become relevant again?

My piece on the Flyers' big offseason acquisition on the eve of the season opener ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Can Trevor Zegras help Flyers become relevant again?

If Zegras thrives, he could give a huge boost to a franchise that is pining for relevancy within the local sports scene.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 11d

Bump turns 22 next month. Flyers management basically said they expected him to make the roster. He didn't. I stand by my point that he was disappointing, and that Luchanko should be back in juniors.

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 12d

Jett can't play in the AHL, Bob.

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 12d

🔔 Zegras gets his chance at 1C
🔔 Luchanko and Grebenkin make the team, but will they play Thursday?
🔔 Defensive depth a major concern

And more analysis of the opening night Flyers' roster ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Flyers depth chart 3.0: Zegras the top center; Luchanko makes the cut; Bump, Andrae fall short

Philadelphia has settled its key questions ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Panthers.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 14d

The Flyers may be a better team this season. Trevor Zegras, Dan Vladar and Christian Dvorak all looked decent in camp, to varying degrees.

But the inability of younger prospects to push for depth roles was disappointing.

🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Why Flyers training camp was underwhelming in one important way

The young prospects expected to compete for several open spots in the lineup didn't make an impact. What does it indicate about the future?

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 14d

Flyers training camp is over.

And in one important aspect, it was decidedly underwhelming.

My column ⤵️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Why Flyers training camp was underwhelming in one important aspect

Flyers training camp was underwhelming in regard to the lack of impact from young prospects. What does it indicate about the future?

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 17d

It's not a reach to suggest that the Flyers rebuild depends on Riley Armstrong.

My in-depth feature on Armstrong's background, how he landed in Philly and formed a bond with Danny Briere, and how he's trying to turn the Flyers prospects into pros:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Why the Flyers’ Riley Armstrong is crucial to their rebuild: ‘It’s a huge job’

The Flyers have restocked their pool of prospects. It's up to Armstrong and his staff to help them develop.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 19d

Flyers officially assigned the following players to the Phantoms today:

F – Denver Barkey
F – Alex Bump
F – Alexis Gendron
F – Devin Kaplan
D – Emil Andrae
D – Helge Grans
D – Hunter McDonald
D – Ty Murchison
G – Carson Bjarnason
G – Aleksei Kolosov

Anthony Richard placed on waivers.

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 20d

Tyson Foerster on making his preseason debut after recovering from his elbow infection/surgery:

“For me, it’s just full go. I’m sure the trainers are going to be watching me, but for me it’s full go.”

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 20d

Jack Nesbitt is headed back to Windsor. He left a good impression.

The other top prospects still in camp? They're having some struggles, particularly in Saturday night's preseason loss to Boston.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

One Flyers prospect makes an impression, but others struggling to have an impact

Jack Nesbitt, selected by the Flyers with the 12th pick in the 2025 draft, had a successful first month skating as a legit NHL prospect.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 21d

One top Flyers prospect, now headed back to his junior club, left a great impression.

But a pair of other highly rated prospects are struggling to make an impact this preseason.

More 🔗

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

One Flyers prospect makes an impression, but others struggling to have an impact

Jack Nesbitt, selected by the Flyers with the 12th pick in the 2025 draft, had a successful first month skating as a legit NHL prospect.

www.nytimes.com

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 22d

Jack Nesbitt, Spencer Gill reassigned back to their junior teams today, per Flyers

Kevin Kurz @kevinkurznhl.bsky.social · 23d

“I think we all know the future of this team is probably going through him."

On Matvei Michkov's camp so far, including his budding relationship with Rick Tocchet and how Tocchet might utilize him when the season begins:

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www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

Matvei Michkov, Rick Tocchet build their relationship through ‘hockey language’

Plus, the Flyers explore new tactics on the power play, which ranked among the league's worst last season.

www.nytimes.com