Flyers Injury Update: Vladar Status Encouraging, Barkey Exits Practice

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Flyers Injury Update: Vladar Status Encouraging, Barkey Exits Practice

Flyers Injury Update: Vladar Status Encouraging, Barkey Exits Practice — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

William James · Philly Hockey Now

Thu, Sep 24, 2026 ·

3 min read

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We've got injury updates for two Philadelphia Flyers key contributors.

As the 2026-27 regular season grows nearer and nearer, the team has two players who currently remain out due to injury concerns.

The biggest update comes on star goalie Dan Vladar , who exited Tuesday's preseason matchup against the Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury . Vladar got the start in goal for Tuesday's game against his former club. He was supposed to play the first 40 minutes of the game before Aleksei Kolosov took over in goal for the final period.

In the latter half of the first period, Vladar was forced to exit the game after taking some contact in front of the goal by a Bruins skater. Kolosov took his spot in goal and remained in net for the rest of the game.

While there has not been a diagnosis of the injury, as head coach Rick Tocchet put it on Wednesday at practice, the Flyers "dodged a bullet" regarding the severity of Vladar's injury. He is considered to be day-to-day.

His status for Wednesday's season opener remains up in the air, but it is good news for the Flyers and their No. 1 goaltender.

Denver Barkey Exits Flyers Practice Early

As for the other injured player, forward Denver Barkey , it seems like there is not as good news. Barkey exited Monday's preseason opener against the Washington Capitals after taking the opening draw in the 2nd period and did not return to the game due to a lower-body injury.

The young Flyers forward took the ice for the first time since the injury on Wednesday at practice, joining the non-Flyers group on the Phantoms sheet in a non-contact jersey, before switching rinks and getting some solo skating in before the Flyers' practice.

He then joined the non-game group on the ice in that same yellow fashion on Thursday. Barkey was not included on Thursday's roster, but was said to be day-to-day and a potential option for Saturday's preseason finale.

However, that was moments before he was on the ice, taking part in drills with the non-game group. There, Barkey seemed to have tweaked something and left the ice early.

After a drill, Denver Barkey went to the bench. Looks to be in pain pic.twitter.com/qkDZkb3eM9

— Travis Ballinghoff (@travieballin26) September 24, 2026

While the severity of the injury remains unknown, it will likely take him out as an option for Saturday, as they will look to get Barkey back to 100% before the regular season begins.

Now, all eyes will be on Cole Knuble, a player who plays a similar game, as he fights for the final roster spot. If Barkey remains sidelined for the season opener, it could leave the door open for a player like Knuble to make his NHL debut.

The Flyers take the ice on Thursday against the Boston Bruins in their first home game of the preseason. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena.