The 2026 NHL offseason was different for the Flyers. Once again, they failed to land a top-tier free agent. I think the last time they got a big-name free agent was when they re-acquired James van Riemsdyk in 2018. However, it's not for a lack of trying. They shocked the NHL world when they offered Leo Carlsson a huge deal only to have Anaheim match it. Still, they did re-sign Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.
Despite this, the Flyers still have $14.88 million in cap space. With the salary cap continuing to rise, they are expected to have double that amount next season ($28 million). As the team continues to re-sign their in-house players, they are proving to their younger players that they will be rewarded for good play.
Looking ahead, the future looks bright. There are only two major players who need a new contract, as Daniel Briere has done a great job of securing their talents for years to come. Rasmus Ristolainen's contract is up at the end of the year and will either be extended or traded, depending on how things work out between both sides. The other player is Matvei Michkov, and all signs are pointing to him getting a bigger payday.
After that, there are a few others to look at. Veterans Carl Grundstrom and Simon Benoit will both be free agents. There is a possibility that Grundstrom returns, depending on how often he is employed this year. Benoit will most likely be gone. Then, you have the inevitable group of prospects in the AHL that the team will have to make decisions on.
So, the Flyers, internally, are pretty set. That means the team will have the opportunity to bring in someone else to put this team over the edge. But who? Who could be available? Before we dig into this preview, we have to remember that most of the top-tier free agents were off the market before free agency hit this year, as their teams had already extended them. There is a good possibility that a lot of these guys won't be available. But you never know...
The Forwards
The top prize here would be Jason Robertson, fresh off signing a $12 million deal with the Stars. The Penguins were hot for him, but man, wouldn't it be nice to add a three-time 40+ goal scorer on the left side with Porter Martone or Michkov on the right side? That could be a new Legion of Doom line right there.
The next best player to get would be Nikita Kucherov. His age heading into next season (he'd be 34) is his only downside. He has a great goal-scoring touch and has won two Stanley Cups. As a Russian, he might be able to develop a relationship with Michkov and turn him into a major scoring threat.
The Dallas Stars could have an issue, as star center Tyler Seguin would be a free agent too. He's also aging, but he can win faceoffs. Might be hard for them to choose between him and Robertson. Can they afford them both?
Other prize forwards include Mark Stone, Chris Kreider, Nino Niederreiter, and Teuvo Teravainen. The problem with most of the available free agents is that they are on the wrong side of 30. The Flyers could also try for Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Evgeni Malkin, but they're going to be way beyond 30 then, and would the Flyers faithful really want to root for them?
The Defenders
Depending on what happens with Rasmus Ristolainen and whether David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk pan out, this may not be a source of concern for Philly. With that said, there are a few guys who could fit.
First and foremost is Cale Makar. I'd be willing to bet my house and car that the Avs won't let him get to the free agency market in the first place. However, if there is any chance the Flyers could snag him, I'd pull up with a contract and say fill in your price and years. He's a game changer. With all the prospects the Flyers have, they can figure it out. A defender like him is rare, and we can't let him slip by. If he is available, you sign him at all costs.
Looking at reality, if Makar is off the market, who's next? Quinn Hughes wouldn't be a bad addition. It might be fun to see him play against his brother. Jalen Chatfield has been a solid defender for the Canes. He would bring in valuable leadership to the team. Other solid veterans could include Justin Faulk, Dmitri Orlov, Erik Karlsson, and Alex Pietrangelo. So again, outside of Makar and Hughes, you are looking at guys whose best years are far behind them.
What about RFAs?
Since the Flyers goaltenders are pretty solid, we are going to look at the RFA market. After all, the Flyers took a big swing this past year with Carlsson and almost landed him. Could Briere strike again? If so, who would be a good candidate?
Defender Braden Schneider would be a fun prize to steal away from the Rangers or to limit their ability to sign anyone else good. If you are looking for a center, Shane Wright might be your man. The Flyers have been connected with him for a while. It is possible that Philly trades for him and then signs him. We'll see. Although if you are looking for centers, Connor Geekie could also be a prize.
Buffalo's Jack Quinn could be an intriguing pick, but with the logjam at right wing, it's probably unlikely. Same thing with a reunion with former fan favorite Bobby Brink, although he'd make sense as a depth forward. And if the Flyers want size, as they seem to be trending, you could make an offer to NY Ranger forward Matt Rempe. He isn't very good, but he'd be fun to watch fight people.
However, because of the Flyers' aggressiveness with Carlsson, you can expect two outcomes for this upcoming season. First, teams will move to re-sign their top RFAs to ensure they aren't going anywhere. Secondly, anyone who might still be unsigned could be a target now as Briere has made it "semi-acceptable". And that's one reason why it might be important to sign Michkov before next season is over.
Briere proved that he isn't afraid to take a swing regardless. Even if the biggest names never hit the market, the Flyers have shown they're ready to pounce if an opportunity to improve the roster presents itself.
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