The Flyers have been everywhere this week, and most of the attention has gone to the big-ticket stuff. Danny Briere’s work since the start of NHL free agency has already dominated the conversation, especially after Philadelphia sent that massive offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson. The deal would pay Carlsson an average of $18 million per season over five years, and now it’s in the hands of Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, who has to choose between matching it or taking four first-round picks and letting Carlsson head to the City of Brotherly Love.
But while that saga has grabbed the spotlight, Philadelphia’s roster has also changed in quieter ways. The Flyers tried and failed to bring back Claude Giroux, signed Tyson Foerster to an eight-year extension, re-signed goaltender Dan Vladar, and added a few depth pieces.
At the same time, seven players have moved on through free agency. A few of those departures are easy to miss.
Noah Juulsen is one of them. The former first-round pick never fully matched the early expectations that came with his name, but he gave the Flyers useful minutes last season as a reliable rotation defenseman.
He appeared in 52 games, posted 10 points, and also dressed for five playoff games. Now he’s headed to the Colorado Avalanche on a two-year contract, joining former World Juniors teammate Nic Roy.
Colorado still has a crowded blue line, so Juulsen is stepping into another depth role.
Lane Pederson also found a new home, signing with the Los Angeles Kings. The 28-year-old spent most of last season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he produced 48 points in 63 AHL games and scored 23 goals.
He only got into five games with the Flyers, but he’s no stranger to the NHL, having played 76 games across four franchises. This year, he’s expected to pass 400 AHL games played, and his new two-year deal pays $875,000 at the NHL level.
Adam Ginning is the third name that may have slipped by a lot of Flyers fans. Philadelphia had tracked him for years after taking him 50th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, but eight years later he still hasn’t locked down a full-time NHL job.
The Flyers drafted him for his size, and Ron Hextall said as much at the time, but the offense and overall skill never really caught up. He remained a stay-at-home defenseman, the kind who has to suppress chances at a very high level to stick in the league.
Ginning has now signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, and his release came bundled with 10 other players as Vegas continued its busy offseason.
In Other News...
Danny Briere Faces A Franchise Shaping Matvei Michkov Decision
The Flyers are still sorting out what their roster is supposed to look like, and the uncertainty around Leo Carlsson is part of why so many other decisions remain in flux. In the middle of that, Matvei Michkov stands out as the one major restricted free agent looming next season, which makes him more than just another young piece to track. For Danny Briere, the question is not only how Michkov develops, but when the organization should commit to him and how much flexibility it wants to preserve while the cap picture stays tight.
One possibility being discussed is a midseason extension, a way to get a better read on Michkov before the usual contract window opens. If he takes a step forward, the Flyers could look at a standard bridge-style deal; if he stalls, the price and the structure could look very different. Either way, the club is trying to protect its young talent without boxing itself in, and Michkovs next stretch could end up shaping more than just his own future. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Still Have One Obvious Swing After Missing On Carlsson
The Flyers pursuit of a young center took a hit when Anaheim matched their offer sheet for Leo Carlsson, but the front offices broader search for a swing at the position does not appear to be over. Columbus center Adam Fantilli sits in the kind of gray area that keeps offer-sheet talk alive, and he is the sort of player Philadelphia has been willing to examine as it looks for a long-term answer down the middle.
Fantillis profile is still very much in formation, which is part of the appeal and part of the uncertainty. He is 21, has not reached the playoffs, has already played for three NHL head coaches and is still chasing his first 60-point season even after scoring 31 goals in 2024-25. The Flyers also have some familiar organizational ties to Columbus that could help with the homework, but the real question is whether this is the kind of target worth another aggressive move if the price lands in the range being discussed. [Read more 🡒]