Dec 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) plays the puck against Philadelphia Flyers centers Denver Barkey (52) and Sean Couturier (14) during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Flyers have been wondering for the last nine games how they were going to navigate an extended period of time without Tyson Foerster.
That question needed a more urgent answer this week as it was learned Foerster would, in fact, be out for the rest of the regular season after surgery on his upper arm/shoulder area that is expected to sideline him for five months.
They had tried a few things - moving different players around the lineup. Nikita Grebenkin was given a look at extended minutes in the top nine.
Carl Grundstrom filled in nicely for a couple games, but then he quickly reverted back to a fourth line role.
But on Saturday the answer might have arrived in the shape of a 5-8, 155-pound winger.
Denver Barkey became the 13th Flyer in franchise history to register at least two points in his NHL debut. But it wasn't just those primary assists in a 5-4 Flyers shootout loss to the New York Rangers that impressed.
From his first shift, he looked like he belonged. He's a confident kid. He trusts in himself and believes in his game.
He fell to the bottom of the third round of the 2023 NHL draft, where the Flyers selected him 95th overall, because of his stature. But what scouts liked about him was his elite hockey I.Q. and his competitiveness.
Those were on full display from the jump on Saturday. He nearly scored a goal on his second NHL shift. Every time he was on the ice, he showed a willingness to get to hard areas in the middle of the ice in front of a goalie. He's fearless for his size. He's determined.
denver barkey, in his nhl debut, was the best player on the ice for BOTH teams pic.twitter.com/q5zUbucc64
He's also a winner. He played for London of the OHL which is the Canadian Junior Hockey version of the L.A. Dodgers. They have all the best everything and year-in, year-out are among the favorites to win the Memorial Cup.
He was a leader on that team. He scored a pair of goals in the Memorial Cup-clincher last season.
And he's impressed so far with the Phantoms, registering 16 points in 26 games.
Coach Rick Tocchet was impressed. So much so that after the game, he told reporters that he wants to keep Barkey in the lineup even if Christian Dvorak returns from his lower body injury as soon as Monday.
"The way he played tonight, the way he competes, yeah... yeah... I'm going to fight for him," Tocchet said. He's a young kid ... you want ot make sure he has enough reps where he's going to be, but I saw enough tonight - it's a short sample size - that he's a good little player."
Tocchet is right - it is only one game. But there was so much to like about it. How he assimilated. How he looked like he belonged - that it would be foolish not to allow him more than this cup of coffee.
Just give him the whole box of Keurig pods and see what happens.
If Denver Barkey ever sees the AHL again, the game's gone.#LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/hamh9MWZ7o
If Barkey sticks, it's likely coming at the expense of ice time for someone else on the roster.
That someone is going to be one of Grundstrom, Grebenkin, Nick Deslauriers, or Garnet Hathaway - who was a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Saturday.
Grebenkin had a few good shifts on Saturday after he replaced Grundstrom on the line with Trevor Zegras and Travis Konencny.
Grundstrom, who had played well before Saturday, had a down game and was jettisoned to the fourth line.
It'll be interesting to see what Tocchet does on Monday - especially if Dvorak returns.
One would assume that Dvorak would step back between Zegras and Konecny and Barkey would stay with Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett, which worked well.
Matvei Michkov, despite the cameras showing him on the bench expressing some frustration to Tocchet, had a solid game playing with Noah Cates and Bobby Brink, so that line would likely stay together.
So, it's simply the construction of the fourth line, which has been an issue for some time, that will be most interesting.
While the Flyers hope Barkey fills one of their needs, one has to wonder if backup goalie is becoming a need, yet again.
With Dan Vladar missing Saturday's game with an upper body injury, Sam Ersson had to make his second straight start - and again, he had goals scored on him on shots that goalies need to save - even if it's bailing out a mistake by a teammate.
Most notably was the tying goal by Mika Zibanejad. Even though it came on the power play. That shot is right at Ersson and can't get through him, yet it does.
Mika Zibanejad - New York Rangers (12)
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/kdKbgZDOiJ
His save percentage this season is down to .867. It's the worst of his career and ranks 48th out of 50 goalies in the NHL with at least 13 games played this season.
He wasn't great in Thursday's loss in Buffalo either. He's been too inconsistent. He's had a few good games, but they are too sporadic and these leaky goals are starting to cost the Flyers points in the standings.
They weren't perfect on Saturday, but that's a game the Flyers should have had two points and come away, instead, with just one.
It's not good enough for a team trying to make it to the postseason. There are upgrades needed to be made to this team to get over that hump. Finding a center - middle six at the very least - is paramount. Improving the once again moribund power play is also a need.
But backup goalie has to be better than what Ersson has provided. Plain and simple. He's not getting the job done, even in a reduced role.
