The Flyers’ quest for a No. 1 center is ongoing, unless they manage to pull off a blockbuster deal in the offseason — difficult, but possible, considering Briere’s apparent openness to a hockey trade. If players such as Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras or Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk are dangled, the Flyers would probably have some interest. Briere’s most difficult challenge over the next couple of years will be finding a true No. 1 center.

Sean Couturier finished the season with a well-publicized thud, and his changing agents this month was notable considering what seemed to be a lack of communication with coach John Tortorella. Still, Couturier isn’t going anywhere. The Flyers will simply have to hope that the captain doesn’t wear down next season and can co-exist with his coach.

Morgan Frost and Scott Laughton were inconsistent, and remain potential candidates to get dealt, either for younger assets or in a hockey trade. Ryan Poehling turned out to be a nice add, and his two-year contract extension kicks in next season, but he’s best suited in a third- or fourth-line role.

If Frost or Laughton gets moved, and the Flyers don’t acquire another center through the trade market, perhaps there would be an opportunity to add a mid-range pivot. What they almost certainly won’t do is pursue an in-demand, expensive potential free agent center such as Elias Lindholm or Chandler Stephenson. That just doesn’t jibe with their timeline.

In terms of the prospects, Elliot Desnoyers had a disappointing season with the Phantoms. He’ll have to prove next season that he deserves to be a regular in the AHL lineup, let alone get a chance to play for the Flyers.

Left out here is Tanner Laczynski, the Phantoms’ second-leading scorer, who is likely to move on in the offseason as a free agent per a team source.

Let’s start with a name not yet on this list. Unconfirmed reports out of Russia have suggested that Matvei Michkov, the No. 7 pick in the 2023 draft, could arrive to the Flyers this summer rather than in 2026, when his KHL contract is set to expire. The Flyers are uncertain whether that will happen, according to a team source.

But even if Michkov does come over, there’s the question as to whether he would be able to jump into a top six role right away. While the Flyers are hopeful that Michkov will eventually become a high-end, dangerous offensive threat with his lethal NHL-level shot, there are no guarantees that would happen right away.

But if it does, the Flyers could desperately use that kind of player, particularly since their skill level on that side of the ice drops off fairly significantly after Travis Konecny — their most dangerous scoring threat last season with 33 goals and 68 points in 76 games. Konecny, named an alternate captain in February, is viewed as an on- and off-ice leader who can relate to both the veterans and young players still adapting to the league. Prepare for a big-money extension, which, as reported earlier, the Flyers would like to get done before the start of next season.

An early arrival from Michkov — if he’s able to contribute right away — could move Garnet Hathaway, also a right wing, to a more suitable depth role on the third or fourth line. Hathaway getting thrust into the top six on a regular basis over the second half this season was mostly due to their lack of production from that position.

Bobby Brink could develop into more of a scoring threat, but the diminutive 22-year-old’s game still needs some work, and he’ll have to get stronger. Cam Atkinson, who finished without a goal in his final 23 games, could get the final year of his deal bought out this offseason.

If Michkov remains in the KHL, the Flyers could look to upgrade at this position, particularly if it’s for a player who could give a boost to the dreadful power play, coming off of its second straight season of finishing last in the NHL.

The Flyers could be set here in their top six for the next decade. Owen Tippett’s eight-year contract extension kicks in next season, as he continues to take steps forward in his career, while Foerster has established himself as a 200-foot player who can also create offense as one of the Flyers’ best players on both sides of the puck in the second half.

That’s also why a guy such as Joel Farabee could be expendable, after he fizzled down the stretch while playing a reduced role. He’s as good a candidate to get moved in a trade this offseason as anyone on the team.

Noah Cates, who could still potentially play some center, will have something to prove headed into next season. Injuries hampered his first half, and he admitted to an “identity crisis” as he struggled to remain consistent defensively while trying to take his offensive game to the next level. It could be a make-or-break season for him, at least in terms of whether he’s going to be a part of the Flyers’ future.

Oscar Eklind is an under-the-radar signing that could pay dividends as a physical depth player for the future, if he can develop with the Phantoms next season.

Travis Sanheim took a huge leap forward this season and was arguably the team MVP at the midway point, before he apparently played through some significant (although unspecified by the team) injuries during the final few weeks, when he routinely skipped practices and morning skates.

Jamie Drysdale is expected to fully recover from surgery on an unspecified area of his lower body. Still, he’s going to have to shed the label of being injury-prone, as he’s battled through some physical issues throughout his young career. The Flyers probably hope he’s their future power-play quarterback on the No. 1 unit — a role he was looking more and more comfortable in before his shoulder injury on Feb. 25.

Rasmus Ristolainen’s name will probably be mentioned throughout the offseason as a potential candidate to get traded, particularly if the Flyers re-sign Erik Johnson, something they are considering if the defensemen decides to extend his career. But if he doesn’t, Ristolainen still has value to the Flyers, who remain a generally small team and who could have used this size and his meanness on the blue line. He’s also going to be more difficult for them to move, as he was limited to just 31 games this season — the last of which came on Feb. 10.

In terms of depth guys, Ronnie Attard and Louis Belpedio both got in some NHL games over the course of the season and looked comfortable enough that the Flyers should be confident they can fill in from time to time if needed. Attard, especially, could be in line for a bigger role, as he’s on a one-way contract next season. If the Flyers do end up moving Ristolainen, or if Johnson doesn’t return, he’d probably be penciled onto the opening-night roster.

Cam York looks like an emerging cornerstone based on his strong second half, in which he was the Flyers’ best defenseman, and if he gets off to a good start next season, the Flyers will probably want to lock him up for the long term. Nick Seeler is going to be around for a while, as his four-year contract extension kicks in, and he is viewed as a hard-nosed worker bee who can set an example for the younger players on and off the ice.

From there, it could get interesting. Egor Zamula will be the early favorite to start in the opening-night lineup, but he could feel some pressure from underneath from guys such as Adam Ginning, who is expected to sign an extension as a pending restricted free agent, or Emil Andrae, who made the Flyers out of camp last season before he was quickly reassigned. The 6-foot-4 Hunter McDonald will be someone to keep an eye on after the Flyers signed him to an entry-level deal on April 15, following his two seasons at Northeastern.

Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov will be the tandem headed into next season. Ersson will start as the No. 1, but Fedotov remains an intriguing figure as a 6-foot-7 inch goalie who, at 27 years old, already has plenty of experience competing in the KHL.

The Flyers have high hopes for Alexei Kolosov after bringing him to North America late this season, but there’s no need to rush the 22-year-old at this point. He’ll be paired with Cal Petersen, who has one season left on his contract, on the Phantoms. If Kolosov shows well and the Flyers need a goaltender at some point for spot duty, perhaps he will get in some NHL games.

As for Carter Hart, technically a pending restricted free agent, Briere said on breakup day that he hadn’t gotten any direction from the league as to what comes next regarding the goalie. Still, judging from their actions and the additions of Fedotov and Kolosov to the organization, it seems fairly evident that the Flyers are prepared to move on without him.