The Philadelphia Flyers are on the verge of locking in goaltender Dan Vladar to a five-year extension, carrying a $5.5-million cap hit, according to insider Pierre LeBrun from TSN. While Vladar is currently under contract through the next season at a $3.35-million cap hit, the official signing is expected to happen on July 1.
Vladar, at 28, has made quite an impression in his first season with the Flyers. Over a career-high 52 games, he posted a .906 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average. When the playoffs rolled around, Vladar stepped up his game even further, starting all 10 of Philadelphia's postseason matchups and delivering a solid .922 save percentage along with a 2.18 GAA.
Originally signed as an unrestricted free agent last July, Vladar's journey in the NHL has seen him suit up for 157 games across six seasons with the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and now the Flyers. His career stats include a .898 save percentage and a 2.80 GAA, numbers that hint at his steady presence between the pipes.
Not just a club player, Vladar also made his mark on the international stage, playing for Czechia at the Olympics in February. He was between the posts for a 6-3 victory against France, where he recorded nine saves.
In a recent roster move, the Flyers bolstered their goaltending depth by acquiring Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit from the Toronto Maple Leafs. This trade saw them parting with goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round pick earlier in June. With Vladar's potential extension on the horizon, Philadelphia is clearly setting up a fortified last line of defense for the seasons to come.
In Other News...
Flyers Suddenly Face A Claude Giroux Decision That Feels Bigger Than Nostalgia
Claude Girouxs next move is starting to matter again in Philadelphia, not because the Flyers have forgotten what he meant to the franchise, but because his career has reached the kind of offseason that forces old questions back into the room. Since being traded in 2022, Giroux has played for Florida and Ottawa, and the possibility that he could be available down the line has naturally revived the thought of a reunion with the only NHL team many fans still associate him with.
For the Flyers, the appeal goes beyond sentiment. A return would be judged against roster fit, role and timing, not just nostalgia, and that makes the conversation more complicated than a simple homecoming pitch. Giroux has remained productive into his late 30s, and if free agency opens the door, Philadelphia would at least have to decide whether this is the right moment to revisit a familiar face or let the past stay where it is. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Suddenly Have A Bobby Brink Question Nobody Saw Coming
Bobby Brinks move to Minnesota has already turned into one of those NHL stories that could boomerang quickly, and the Flyers are suddenly in a position where patience might matter as much as the original trade. Philadelphia dealt Brink for David Jiricek, but Brink is now nearing free agency, and the Flyers still have the kind of cap flexibility that keeps them in the conversation if the Wild cannot lock him up first.
From the Flyers side, the fit is more interesting than it looked at the time of the trade. They are also chasing other roster upgrades, which means the summer could still reshape the depth chart in ways that leave room for familiar names to come back into the picture. Brinks value, meanwhile, is tied to what he might command elsewhere and whether Minnesota can get its own business done before the market opens. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers May Have Another Blue Jackets Difference Maker In Sight
The Flyers have been linked to another look at Columbus as they try to add a difference-maker on the back end, with Zach Werenski a name that keeps surfacing in trade conversations. For a Philadelphia roster still searching for more impact and more finish from the blue line, the appeal is obvious: a defenseman who can help tilt the ice and give the power play a needed jolt is exactly the sort of swing this front office has been weighing.
There is also a broader sense that the Flyers are not limiting their attention to one avenue as they explore ways to sharpen the lineup. Columbus has the kind of talent that can change the conversation around a rebuilding or retooling club, and Philadelphias interest reflects how urgent the need remains after a power play that sputtered badly in the playoffs. Whether those talks lead anywhere is still unclear, but the Flyers are clearly looking for more than just depth pieces as they map out the next step. [Read more 🡒]