No Carlsson, no problem - at least not in terms of the Philadelphia Flyers’ appetite to swing big.
Their attempt to pry Anaheim Ducks star Leo Carlsson away with an offer sheet was matched, leaving the Flyers with plenty of cap space and a fresh question a little more than a week into NHL free agency: what’s the next move?
The answer may already be sitting in plain sight. If Philadelphia is still willing to use the offer-sheet route, Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli looks like the clearest alternative.
Fantilli, the No. 3 overall pick in 2023, is still unsigned and remains an offer-sheet eligible restricted free agent. That alone makes him a name to watch. But the situation in Columbus adds another layer, with the Blue Jackets dealing with their own roster uncertainty around Zach Werenski and even chatter that Kirill Marchenko could be used as a trade chip.
The 21-year-old has had a rocky start to his NHL career, even if the raw talent is obvious. He has come close to the Stanley Cup playoffs with Columbus, but hasn’t gotten there yet, and he’s already played for three head coaches in three seasons.
That kind of churn matters, and it helps explain why his production has been steady without quite exploding. Fantilli still hasn’t put together a 60-point NHL season, though he did score 31 goals in 2024-25.
Because that breakout hasn’t fully arrived, he would almost certainly come cheaper than the $18 million Carlsson received. A deal in the $15 million or $16 million range could be in play, and if Philadelphia decides to go down that road again, it will do so knowing it has done the homework to feel comfortable making the move.
The Flyers also have more than one reason to believe they’d be in position to judge Fantilli well. Chris Shero, the grandson of former Flyers coach Fred Shero, works for Columbus as an amateur scout.
Kyle Shero has been scouting for Philadelphia since the 2022-23 season. And Cameron Briere, the youngest of Danny Briere’s three sons, is with the Blue Jackets as an assistant video coach after spending four seasons in the same role with the ECHL Maine Mariners.
In other words, if the Flyers wanted extra eyes on Fantilli, they wouldn’t have to look far.
And the fit makes sense on the ice, too. Philadelphia has already shown it’s willing to spend, surrender draft picks, and ignore the usual NHL caution when a No. 1 center is available.
Fantilli fits that search. He’s the kind of aggressive, powerful forward who could thrive alongside players like Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov, and the Flyers aren’t dealing with cap trouble or players pushing for exits.
If Fantilli is even a little open to a change of scenery, Philadelphia should have no trouble making its pitch. The Flyers need a center who can carry the puck, finish plays, and bring speed through the middle, and the Canadian pivot checks all those boxes.
His playmaking still needs to grow, but the Flyers have enough support around him to handle that part of the job. If they’re still in the offer-sheet business, the next target is obvious.
In Other News...
Flyers Fans May Have Missed How Much Of The Roster Changed
Free agency has given the Flyers a very different look in a hurry, even before the dust fully settles. Philadelphia has already locked in Tyson Foerster with an extension and brought back Dan Vladar, while a wave of departures has thinned out the roster and sent several familiar names elsewhere around the league.
Noah Juulsen, Lane Pederson and Adam Ginning are among the players who have moved on, a reminder that this has been more than a routine summer tune-up. The Flyers also made one of the bolder moves of the offseason by putting an offer sheet in front of Anaheim center Leo Carlsson, leaving the next step in the hands of Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek and keeping Philadelphias roster picture very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]