Although the organization is in the midst of a so-called rebuild, the Philadelphia Flyers still have many of the same players as in previous seasons.

For some of these players, however, their careers with the Flyers are almost over if they cannot show that they can make a valuable contribution to the future rebuilding process.

There are a handful of players on the NHL roster who have had a bad season, others have suffered unfortunate injuries, and the rest have yet to prove themselves as full-time NHL players.

Let’s start with an injured player who has had an interesting NHL career so far.

No. 5: D Rasmus Ristolainen

Before his season-ending triceps injury, Rasmus Ristolainen had steadily improved and developed into a true force in his second year under head coach John Tortorella and assistant coach Brad Shaw.

Although the beefy Finn has lost the offensive prowess he showed early in his career with the Buffalo Sabres, Ristolainen developed into a reliable, defense-first bottom-four defenseman with the Flyers, albeit an overpaid one.

Ristolainen became a highly sought-after transfer candidate at the time of his injury, thanks in large part to a string of strong performances and the growing physical component of his game. However, Ristolainen turns 30 on October 27, and with top talent Oliver Bonk developing at a remarkable rate, Ristolainen’s days as a member of the Flyers are numbered.

That’s the nature of the business, especially with a Flyers team trying to get younger and better and with a bright future ahead of them. With three seasons left on his contract and a salary cap hit of $5.1 million, Ristolainen enters the 2024-25 season with the goal of showing he’s healthy and worth the money, regardless of his role.

No. 4: F Noah Cates

Like his teammate Ristolainen, forward Noah Cates endured an unproductive, injury-plagued 2023-24 season, which was further hampered by a broken foot he suffered in late November.

Although Cates finished the season as one of the Flyers’ better forwards, he is entering the final year of a two-year, $5.25 million contract and still has a lot to prove.

The 25-year-old scored 13 goals, 25 assists and 38 points in all 82 games during the 2022-23 season, which is a career-high, but last season, that total dropped to just six goals, 12 assists and 18 points in just 59 games.

Towards the end of the year, Cates found a niche role on the checking line with teammates Ryan Poehling and Garnet Hathaway, and while we know he’s capable of more, Cates will need a strong rebound season to show he has a long-term future with the Flyers.

The Stillwater, Minnesota native has served as a versatile forward, but his performance and contract obligations at the end of the season will ultimately determine his fate.

No. 3: F Morgan Frost

Former first-round pick Morgan Frost is running out of time to prove he is a reliable middle-six center at the NHL level.

Frost’s 2023–24 season got off to a poor start, with Tortorella removing him from the lineup on multiple occasions, including a high-profile substitution on January 4.

The 25-year-old ultimately turned a lost season into a positive one, finishing with 13 goals, 28 assists and 41 points after scoring 19 goals, 27 assists and 46 points in a full-time position the year before.

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However, just because the end result looks good doesn’t mean the process was error-free.

Frost ended the season on the bench in Game 82 against the Washington Capitals, even as the Flyers were desperately chasing goals to stay in the race for a place in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Combine that with Frost’s turnover in overtime against the New York Islanders that spoiled Ivan Fedotov’s NHL debut, and the fact that he finished the season with one goal and zero assists in his final nine games, and the future doesn’t look so bright.

Frost is a restricted free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season with one year remaining on his contract with a salary cap of $2.1 million and is in danger of becoming a trade item if he does not make a real breakthrough in Philadelphia.

No. 2: D Adam Ginning

Although 24-year-old defenseman Adam Ginning just signed a two-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Flyers on June 17, his future in the organization is uncertain as he continues to face an uphill battle for playing time in the NHL.

Defenseman Egor Zamula, who also signed a two-year contract extension, has the best chance of making the roster. Veteran defensemen Travis Sanheim and Nick Seeler have both signed long-term deals with the Flyers, and rising star Cam York is set to sign a long, lucrative new contract of his own.

Aside from them, Ginning also faces competition from fellow Swede Emil Andrae, who made the Flyers’ NHL roster last year, and former college defenseman Hunter McDonald, who is considered a favorite by Flyers management.

While it’s possible that all of these young defensemen will have successful careers in the NHL, there’s no guarantee they’ll all do so in Philadelphia. At 24, Ginning is running out of time to show his development and prove he’s ready for a full-time role in the NHL, even after a nine-game stint with the Flyers last season.

No. 1: D Ronnie Attard

In many ways, right-back Ronnie Attard is in a similar position to Ginning.

At 25, Attard is an older prospect who will turn 26 before the end of the 2023-24 season. Unlike Ginning, however, Attard is no longer exempt from waivers and can be claimed by other NHL teams if the Flyers send him to the AHL.

Required reading: Briere: Ronnie Attard has “earned” his role and place in the Flyers squad

The White Lake Township, Michigan, native has yet to play more than 20 games in a season for the Flyers, but has shined in limited minutes. Right now, Attard is the victim of a numbers game, as he sits well behind Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, Ristolainen and Erik Johnson in the right defense rankings.

Because of his age and waivers status, it’s likely now or never for Attard in a Flyers uniform. Beating out Ristolainen or Johnson is a tough task for any young player, but as Flyers general manager Danny Briere said, “If you deserve it, we’ll make room for you.”

If Attard fails to earn that title now, it would be best for him to look elsewhere for a cheaper opportunity to make the NHL roster.