The Los Angeles Kings added a familiar kind of depth on the opening day of NHL free agency, signing forward Lane Pederson to a two-year contract.
The deal carries an NHL average annual value of $875,000. In the first year, Pederson is on a two-way contract with a minor-league salary of $650,000. The second year shifts to a one-way deal.
Pederson arrives after spending last season on a one-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. That agreement carried an NHL cap hit of $775,000, a minor-league salary of $500,000, and a guaranteed salary of $525,000.
He got into five NHL games with Philadelphia in January, but didn’t record a point and averaged less than nine minutes of ice time per game. Most of his work again came in the American Hockey League, where the 28-year-old turned in a strong season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
In 63 games, he tied his career high with 23 goals and added 25 assists for 48 points, finishing as the Phantoms’ scoring leader. It marked the third time in his AHL career that he reached the 40-point plateau, though it fell short of the 52 points he posted in 2023-24 with the Bakersfield Condors.
Pederson has spent four NHL seasons bouncing through Arizona, San Jose, Vancouver, and Columbus. The Saskatoon native has played 76 regular-season NHL games, with four goals and seven assists for 11 points. In the AHL, he has put up 134 goals and 144 assists for 278 points in 374 regular-season games, along with five points in 11 Calder Cup Playoff appearances.
In Other News...
Briere Just Said Something Flyers Fans Really Did Not Want To Hear
Danny Briere spent the early part of the Flyers offseason talking up the organizations young core and the work that has gone into keeping it intact. The GM pointed to recent contract extensions and a summer built more around development than drama, with the club avoiding any major trades or splash signings while continuing to lean into the group it believes can grow together.
What made the comments land differently in Philadelphia was the way Briere framed the teams immediate outlook, even as he left the door open on some familiar free-agent possibilities. With the Flyers trying to build on last seasons progress, his remarks have fueled a fresh round of debate about whether this is a team on the rise or one that may have to take a short detour before the payoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers May Be Protecting Their Identity With A Move Fans Wont Expect
The Flyers return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in six years has already reshaped the conversation around the roster, and the front office has not been shy about making moves that fit the moment. Philadelphia has been active around the edges, dealing Garnet Hathaway and adding Noel Acciari as a depth piece, while also working to keep the group balanced enough to handle the pressure that comes with a real postseason push.
What makes the picture more interesting is how much of this run has been tied to the teams chemistry as much as its talent. Dan Vladar and Porter Martone have both been part of that recent surge, and the way they fit into the room could matter just as much as any transaction when the games tighten up. For a club that has spent years trying to find its footing again, the next step may come down to preserving the identity that got it here in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers New Czech Goalie Addition Comes With One Surprising Twist
The Flyers added another young goalie to the pipeline when they took Martin Psohlavec out of Czechia in the second round of the NHL Draft, then brought him into development camp for a first look alongside the organizations other prospects. Psohlavec arrives with a strong track record in the Czech Under-20 League, and he already has a familiar face to lean on in Philadelphia in Dan Vladar, whom he views as a role model.
What makes the fit more interesting is how quickly the Flyers have built a small Czech connection in goal, with Psohlavec joining Vladar and fourth-round pick Marek Sklenicka in the system. Psohlavec said he is excited about that bond and expects to spend more time with Vladar soon, which gives the young netminder a built-in support system as he starts figuring out what his next step looks like. [Read more 🡒]