Philadelphia Flyers winger Travis Konecny during exit interviews. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
There's a kind of honesty that Travis Konecny brings to the table that cuts through the usual end-of-season cliches. He doesn't spin. He doesn't make excuses. When the Philadelphia Flyers' MVP sat down for his break-up day interview this year, after yet another campaign where he served as the offensive heartbeat of the team, he didn't talk about what went right. Not right away.
Instead, he turned the focus inward.
"I would say there are a lot of ups and downs that I would like to fix," he said candidly. "You know, my consistency is something I talk about every year and try to improve. There were times this year where I was a bit inconsistent. We definitely like to look to back on that stuff and try to improve for next year."
It's classic Konecny—self-aware, accountable, and unwilling to coast on reputation. This season, his reputation grew even larger, statistically and symbolically. He led the Flyers in points yet again (76), finished with 24 goals, and was named team MVP. He also earned the honor of representing Team Canada at the 4-Nations Face-Off, a high point in any player's career.
But when he came back from that tournament, something was off.
The dynamic winger, known for his speed, creativity, and fearless drive to the net, hit a scoring lull. Goals became harder to come by. The energy was still there, but the finish eluded him. And in typical Konecny fashion, he didn't look for excuses—even when there would've been a few easy ones to lean on.
"No, I wasn't dealing with anything," he said when asked about a possible injury. "I think the push that I was making to try to get on that Four Nations team at the start of the year...by the end of that, I was just drained and it took a lot out of me."
He added: "Once the play started to go down, it just snowballs and you start getting in your own head. That's just something on the mental side of things I've got to take care of. If we were in a better spot, a playoff push, it wouldn't have been acceptable to do that."
It's a refreshing level of honesty, especially in a league where players often default to vague answers and a "team-first" mentality that sometimes obscures personal insight. Konecny's not afraid to own the fact that the mental side of the game got the better of him—at least for a stretch.
He even referenced how other 4-Nations participants handled the same pressure: "You look around the league and some of the other players that went to that tournament, they find ways to get through it and come out the other side. That is something I need to work on."
Still, the big picture on Konecny is overwhelmingly positive. His play throughout the season reflected the kind of engine that powers a team. He remained a physical presence, drew penalties, killed them, and delivered offense at even strength. In the locker room, he helped carry the team through injuries and grueling trades. He was, in every sense, a leader.
And he wants more.
As the Flyers continue to inch their way through a rebuild that's shown real signs of progress, Konecny is starting to see a shift on the horizon—not just in wins and losses, but in how the team approaches its future.
“Yeah, I think everyone likes being on offense, right?” he said, cracking a smile when asked about moving into a phase of the rebuild where they can start buying instead of selling. “Adding when you’re in the mix around the deadline. You’re not losing buddies; you’re loading up and making new friends. That’s something we all look forward to.”
It’s subtle, but telling. After years where the Flyers were sellers, where every deadline felt like another subtraction from the core, the hunger to build — to be part of a team that adds — is palpable. Konecny’s not shy about saying it out loud.
“I don’t think we’re that far from playoffs,” he insisted. “I think next year, depending on what happens this summer, is a very realistic opportunity at being in the playoffs.”
He’s not predicting banners just yet — there’s realism in his optimism. But he sees a foundation that’s stabilizing. A group of young players, many of whom made big strides this year. A team identity that’s taking shape around hard work, tenacity, and an unrelenting pace. A fanbase that’s ready to start believing again.
“It’s a hard question because once you get in, you never know what happens, right?" he admitted. "You know, anything can happen. I would say being a consistent contender… two years. We still got a young team and still have guys developing, but I think all the pieces we have right now, we are capable of getting in, for sure.”
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale (9) celebrates scoring against the Anaheim Ducks with center Morgan Frost (48), winger Travis Konecny (11), winger Owen Tippett (74), and center Scott Laughton (21) at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 11, 2025. (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)
Konecny has always played like someone who carries the weight of the crest on his chest. But this year, it feels like he’s starting to dream a little bigger — not just about what he can do, but what the team can become. He’s tasted international competition. He’s worn the MVP crown. And now, more than ever, he wants to win here.
In Philadelphia.
And if you’ve watched him play — if you’ve seen him slam the glass after a goal, jaw with opponents, or burst out of a dead sprint for a shorthanded breakaway — you know how much it would mean to him.
There’s no hiding in Travis Konecny. He’ll tell you when he’s tired, when he’s in his own head, when he wants more. And maybe that’s why, even in a season of peaks and valleys, you never once questioned how much he cared. Or how badly he still wants to be the difference.
That’s the heartbeat of a team still on the rise. And it’s why Konecny, flaws and all, is the kind of player you want at the center of it.
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