Daniel Vladar Open To Signing Extension With Flyers
Following a standout season between the pipes, the Philadelphia Flyers may have found some much-needed clarity in net. According to Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff, goaltender Dan Vladar expressed a strong desire to sign a long-term extension with Philadelphia during his recent end-of-season media availability.
Vladar, 28, signed a two-year, $6.7 million contract with the Flyers last July 1 and becomes eligible for an extension on that same date this summer. Di Marco notes that while the initial signing raised eyebrows, given Vladar had never played more than 30 games in an NHL season, the former Boston Bruins draft pick silenced critics by becoming the Flyers’ regular-season MVP and posting a .906 save percentage through the playoffs.
Per Di Marco’s team sources, Philadelphia is comfortable extending Vladar if the financials “make sense.” A prime market comparison is Filip Gustavsson’s five-year, $6.8 million AAV contract with Minnesota. While Gustavsson has more career experience, the internal team sentiment believes Philadelphia is open to a matching five-year term, but prefers an AAV slightly south of $6 million, potentially around $5.75 million, and would project well as the salary cap continues to rise. If Vladar hunts for a higher AAV closer to $7 million, Di Marco suggests a shorter, Thatcher Demko-style three-year deal could be a logical middle ground.
Locking up Vladar long-term gives the Flyers an ideal, well-respected veteran partner to eventually transition the crease to top prospects Carson Bjarnason or Yegor Zavragin.
While Vladar’s future looks secure, Di Marco reports that the rest of the Philadelphia crease remains in flux. Backup Samuel Ersson, 26, is coming off a difficult, up-and-down campaign where he posted a career-worst .870 save percentage, leaving management undecided on what direction to take with the Swedish netminder.
If the Flyers pivot away from Ersson, Di Marco notes that Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll as a compelling name to watch. The 27-year-old is caught in a tight three-man crease in Toronto alongside Anthony Stolarz and Dennis Hildeby. Because all three require waivers, the Leafs are expected to trade one this summer. Woll owns a career .906 save percentage and has two years remaining on an affordable contract with a $3.66 million AAV, making him an attractive target for a Philadelphia team seeking stability.
Flyers Sign Aleksei Kolosov To One-Year Contract Extension
The Philadelphia Flyers have signed goaltender Aleksei Kolosov to a one-year contract extension, the team announced today. The deal carries an $850K AAV, though it is unclear at this time whether the extension is of a one-way or two-way structure.
Kolosov’s three-year entry level contract, a deal he signed in July 2023, was set to expire next month. He was slated to become an RFA with arbitration rights, assuming he had received a qualifying offer from the club.
Now, Philadelphia has avoided the (admittedly unlikely) prospect of Kolosov heading to arbitration, while Kolosov has secured his place in the Flyers organization for another season.
A 2021 third-round pick, Kolosov’s time with the Flyers organization has been somewhat uneven. His first of three years on his entry-level deal was spent on loan in the KHL, where he got to play for his hometown team, Dinamo Minsk.
Kolosov’s final two campaigns in the KHL were spent as the No. 1 goalie in Minsk. In 2023-24, he went 22-21-3 with a .907 save percentage in 47 games played. Seeing as Kolosov was already an experienced KHL starter, there was some hope that he would be able to hit the ground running in North America.
That did not happen. He began the 2024-25 season in a “standoff” with Flyers management. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski wrote at the time that Kolosov failed to report to Flyers rookie camp and had “asked the Flyers to loan him back to Dinamo Minsk of Russia’s KHL.” There were conflicting reports in prior months that Kolosov’s adjustment to North America had proven challenging. Inside AHL Hockey’s Tony Androckitis cited an AHL source saying that Kolosov “felt isolated” living in a hotel by himself and without the ability to speak much English.
Amid the reported standoff, GM Danny Briere said of Kolosov that it was “time for him to step up and respect the contract” he signed. A little over a week later, the Flyers and Kolosov’s camp found a solution. Kolosov stayed in North America for 2024-25, and did the same for 2025-26. In October of 2024 Kolosov’s agent, Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey, told Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer that “all previous concerns” related to his client had “been thoroughly addressed and are now resolved.”
Although that proved to be the end of the off-ice controversy surrounding Kolosov, his on-ice play did not immediately pay dividends for the Flyers. He got into 17 NHL games for the team but struggled to the tune of an .867 save percentage. In 12 AHL games, Kolosov went 5-6-1 with an .884 save percentage.
This past season, Kolosov settled in as Philadelphia’s organizational No. 3 goalie. While his NHL struggles persisted, (.830 save percentage across four games of action) Kolosov showed improvement in the AHL, posting an .895 save percentage in 38 games played. Though he has struggled in North America, his improvement this past season has kept him on the board as one of the Flyers’ better prospects. He recently ranked No. 15 in the team’s system by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler.
The goal for Kolosov on this one-year extension will, undoubtedly, be to push for more NHL time. The Flyers have Dan Vladar entrenched as their No. 1 goalie, but their backup spot could open if the team chooses not to qualify or extend Samuel Ersson. Ersson’s 2025-26 season was a struggle, though he did improve over the Olympic break. The Flyers will most likely sign a goalie to be the front-runner for the backup job, but with this extension, Kolosov should get the chance to at least push whoever the Flyers sign for that NHL spot behind Vladar.
Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Flyers’ Nikita Grebenkin Could Miss Start Of 2026-27 Season
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere issued updates on the team’s long list of injuries after their run to the second-round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Briere announced 10 injuries. They include:
F Alex Bump (MCL sprain)
F Noah Cates (fractured foot)
F Christian Dvorak (fractured rib, separated shoulder)
F Nikita Grebenkin (upper-body injury)
F Garnet Hathaway (fractured fibula)
F Travis Konecny (fractured rib, fractured nose)
F Owen Tippett (internal bleeding, core muscle injury)
F Trevor Zegras (elbow ligament sprain)
D Emil Andrae (fractured wrist)
D Cameron York (fractured rib)
Among the injuries, Briere specified that Andrae will need surgery, while Cates will not need surgery, to address their fractures. It was not clear if Dvorak, Hathaway, Konecny, or York will also undergo the knife. Briere added that every player is expected to make a full recovery before the start of the 2026-27 season, except for Grebenkin, who could miss time in the 2026-27 season per NHL.com’s Bill Meltzer.
Grebenkin hasn’t played since March 21, missing the last 23 games of Philadelphia’s season. Briere did not specify Grebenkin’s injury, though he did say that the team initially thought the winger would only miss a short term. Instead, Philadelphia is looking at different options to help Grebenkin work back to full health.
The young winger broke into a full-time roster role, on the back of high-energy and gritty hockey, this season. He totaled up 14 points and 86 hits in 55 games as an NHL rookie. His hits-per-game average ranked fifth on the team among Flyers with at least 20 games played. That physical presence, paired with Grebenkin’s energetic skating, was overwhelming paired next to center Hathaway – though Philadelphia also rolled him out as the forechecker next to scorers Konecny and Dvorak.
Grebenkin’s absence would leave a hole in Philadelphia’s bottom-six to start next season. It would also limit the 23 year old’s chance to build on a quick break into an NHL lineup. But Philadelphia’s laundry list of injuries could affect the entire lineup. Konecny led the team in both goals (27) and points (68) through 77 games this season. Zegras ranked right behind him with 26 goals and 67 points, while Dvorak and Tippett were part of a three-way tie for third with 51 points.
On defense, York stepped up as a core part of Philadelphia’s top-four this season. He finished the year with 26 points and a plus-five, while averaging more than 22 minutes a night. Andrae served on the other side of the lineup – netting 13 points in 61 games from a bottom-pair role. York’s presence brought some cohesion to the Flyers’ blue-line behind Travis Sanheim as the team’s top defender, while Andrae was a frequently-tapped depth defender. Both players should return to those roles next season, though Andrae will face the added challenge of recovering from surgery.
The Flyers will enter the summer with the bruises of a long season. This was the Flyers’ first playoff run since 2020, when they lost in the second-round to the New York Islanders. Philadelphia has only made five postseason appearances over the last 13 years – but seem well-set to kick that cold spell after instilling promising, young prospects into every level of the lineup. Bump and rookie Porter Martone will offer big upside next season, while the likes of Grebenkin will look to dig their fit deeper into grinder roles.
Flyers Issue Injury Updates
The Philadelphia Flyers issued a slate of injury updates today, clarifying what ten of their skaters were battling through or otherwise managing while the season drew to a close. In the NHL, it is customary for players and teams to disclose injuries but not with complete specificity. The media might learn a player is out with a lower-body injury, rather than, specifically a sprained ankle, for example. When a season ends, more specific detail is often provided on injuries, and that’s exactly what the Flyers have done today.
Some of the Flyers’ disclosures are already things that have been made public – namely the ones suffered by Owen Tippett, Christian Dvorak, and Cam York. But some are new developments. Defenseman Emil Andrae was previously considered a healthy scratch when he exited the team’s playoff lineup, but the Flyers revealed today that the blueliner suffered a fractured wrist that will require surgery. The injury that knocked Noah Cates out of the second-round series was a fractured foot, but that won’t require surgery according to the team. Additionally, other Flyers were revealed to be playing through injury, including Travis Konecny (fractured rib; nasal fracture,) Garnet Hathaway (fractured fibula,) Trevor Zegras (elbow ligament sprain,) and Alex Bump (MCL sprain.)
Flyers Notes: Michkov, Martone, Abols
Philadelphia Flyers star winger Matvei Michkov had a trying sophomore season, starting from when he reportedly arrived at training camp out of shape, (per Kevin Kurz of The Athletic) to when he got healthy scratched during the playoffs. The 21-year-old has been viewed as a potential future franchise player since the Flyers selected him No. 7 overall at the 2023 draft, but the 2025-26 campaign raised questions about his overall trajectory. Michkov wasn’t able to build on a successful rookie campaign under former head coach John Tortorella, one that saw him score 26 goals and 63 points. His fit with new head coach Rick Tocchet was questioned at times, with some critics taking aim at Tocchet’s usage of the winger. Michkov averaged just 14:50 time on ice per game, ranking No. 9 among Flyers forwards with double-digit games played.
In his end-of-season media availability today, Michkov said he wants to hit the ground running next season and replicate the form he showed after the Olympic break. In 26 games following that break, he scored seven goals and 22 points while the Flyers went 18-7-1 and secured a playoff spot. The key to doing that will be a productive summer, avoiding having to work his way into peak shape during the season. Michkov said, per team reporter Bill Meltzer, that he will meet with GM Danny Briere later this week to discuss his offseason plan in greater detail.
Other notes from Philadelphia:
- The other star young forward in Philadelphia, Porter Martone, will join Team Canada at the IIHF Men’s World Championships in Switzerland, Hockey Canada announced today. This will be Martone’s second consecutive campaign playing for Canada at Worlds, as the 2025 No. 6 overall pick got into two games for the country’s senior team last season. This season, Martone has been a star scorer in college hockey for Michigan State, a captain for Team Canada at the World Juniors, and a stellar rookie winger for a Flyers team that made a run to the playoffs and upset their arch-rivals in the first round. It’s been quite the campaign for the 19-year-old winger, and he’ll now look to conclude it with a world championship.
- Flyers fourth-line center Rodrigo Abols shared some more detail today on the lower-body injury that ended his season. Per Jordan Hall of NBC Sports, Abols said he had to have surgery as a result of the injury, as there was quite a bit of damage, including a broken fibula. He also added that his recovery is now ahead of schedule. Abols, 30, was a nice find for the Flyers’ scouting staff, signing as a 28-year-old unrestricted free agent from the SHL. He was a full-time NHL-er this season, though his injury limited him to playing in just 47 games.
Flyers’ Owen Tippett Suffered From Internal Bleeding
The Philadelphia Flyers were without winger Owen Tippett throughout their Round Two series against the Carolina Hurricanes for what was originally described as a sports hernia. This morning, according to a team announcement, the Flyers revealed that Tippett was suffering from internal bleeding as a result of the hernia.
In the announcement, Tippett was quoted as saying, “I was unable to return for the Second Round series vs. Carolina due to an internal bleeding issue that I sustained during the First Round series vs. Pittsburgh. Following a series of medical evaluations, treatments, and rehabilitation under the care of the Flyers medical team, I am making progress and feeling better each day. Despite being cleared to travel and skate with the team at certain practices, things did not progress at a pace that I hoped for or would allow me to safely continue playing.”
Given that Tippett played in all six games against the Penguins in Round One, and the Flyers were eliminated by the Hurricanes only 10 days later, it’s remarkable that Tippett even got close to returning. Recovery from a sports hernia typically takes six to twelve weeks and may require surgery to repair damaged muscles, tendons, or ligaments. The Flyers update suggests that Tippett might have been available if the series against Carolina had gone longer, or during the Eastern Conference Final had Philadelphia advanced that far.
Fortunately, it does not sound like Tippett will have any issues beginning the 2026-27 on time. The 27-year-old winger is coming off the second-highest scoring season of his career, registering 28 goals and 51 points with a -6 rating, averaging 16:51 of ice time per game.
Snapshots: Flyers Injuries, Oilers, Celebrini
With their season coming to an abrupt end yesterday, injuries affecting the Philadelphia Flyers have begun to be revealed. Bill Meltzer of Flyers.NHL.com shared that Owen Tippett is dealing with a sports hernia, Cam York was playing through a fractured rib, and Christian Dvorak was battling a separated shoulder.
By yesterday’s Game 4, the Flyers were running with a patchwork lineup, including Carl Grundström and rookie Oliver Bonk, both of whom spent time in the AHL this year.
Tippett was unable to skate in any of the four second round games against the Hurricanes, with an ailment which was not revealed at the time. If he had limped into a game, a full tear would have been possible, which would greatly affect his health moving into next season. The 27-year-old tied his career high in goals this year (28) and played in all but one regular season contest, the best of his career to this point. He should be all set for next fall.
Meanwhile, both York and Dvorak played through their injuries. York skated in 24 minutes or more in each of the last three games against Carolina. The 25-year-old appeared hampered at times, but his overtime series winning goal over Pittsburgh was an unforgettable moment.
Finally, Dvorak came away with four assists, impressively not missing a single game despite his injury. It was a season to remember for the 30-year-old, setting a career high with 51 points in 80 games, and earning a five-year extension with the team.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Edmonton Oilers face an off-season of changes after a disappointing first round exit, but as written by The Fourth Period, that may not include Connor Ingram, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy, who are expected to explore being re-signed. Dickinson, 30, effectively replaced Adam Henrique as a third line center. Mostly a shutdown penalty killer, he did find the back of the net twice in the playoffs, capable of providing a scoring spark at times. He’d require a serious pay cut from his current $4.25MM to stay with the Oilers. Another former Blackhawk, the 33-year-old Murphy played top four minutes in Edmonton, starting 58% of his shifts in the defensive zone as a stay-at-home sidekick for Darnell Nurse, the duo anchoring the penalty kill. Finally, as far as depth goaltenders go, Ingram brought above average results at a .899 save percentage and 2.60 goals-against-average, but Edmonton must find a solution with Tristan Jarry in order to avoid leaning on the persevering 29-year-old Ingram so heavily again.
- Sharks 19-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini has been named captain of Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championships. It’s a passing of the torch of sorts, as he’ll lead alongside veteran assistants Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares despite being the youngest skater on the team. Celebrini is no stranger to the international circuit, leading Canada in the World Juniors, and already a top line star at the highest stage, last February in Milan where he came away with a silver medal. A face of the future of Canada Hockey, the Vancouver native wasted no time, recording three points earlier today in a resounding 6-1 exhibition defeat of France.
Flyers’ Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk Make Stanley Cup Playoffs Debut
The Philadelphia Flyers have made a surprising move in an attempt to avoid a second round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. Rookies Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk made their Stanley Cup Playoff debut when the Flyers took the ice, playing over healthy scratches Matvei Michkov and Emil Andrae. Luchanko and Bonk now make 13 Flyers to play the first Stanley Cup Playoff game of their career in this postseason per NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman.
Philadelphia scratched Michkov in Game 5 of their first round win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has continued to underwhelm in four games back in the lineup since, still sat at just one point in the first eight playoff games of his NHL career. Luchanko will try to be the difference-maker in just his ninth NHL game. He began the season captaining the OHL’s Guelph Storm, then served as the two-way backbone to the all-out-offense of the Brantford Bulldogs after a mid-season trade. Luchanko ended the year with a combined 43 points in 38 games, a slight step down from the points-per-game pace he managed last year (56 points in 46 games) but still more than his 2023-24 season (74 points in 68 games). He has proved to be a tireless worker who can make a difference in the dirty areas of the ice – a knack that could make him a jammer in the Hurricanes’ breakouts.
Bonk played through his first season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this year. He had quiet results on both sides of the puck, finishing the year with 19 points and a minus-14 in 46 AHL games. It was an underwhelming introduction after a productive, two-way showing in three OHL seasons. Bonk curbed expectations when he scored one goal and one assist in the Flyers’ season finale and his NHL debut. He seemed to move with a bit more confidence on NHL ice and could stand as an X-factor puck-mover if he finds the same spark on playoff ice.
Whether they win or lose, the Flyers will face tough questions on the other side of the postseason. Michkov, the 2023 seventh-overall pick, has been benched twice in his first playoff run despite reaching 20 goals and 51 points in 81 games during the regular season. His 114 points in 161 games is the highest points-per-game from a U22 Flyers skater in the last 10 years. He has clear upside, though Philadelphia will have to find a way to bring it out – a task that could become even tougher if Luchanko can flex his might in the postseason.
Tippett Out Again Saturday, Abols Resumes Skating
- If the Flyers want to stave off elimination today against Carolina, they will have to do so without the services of one of their top wingers again. Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays (Twitter link) that Owen Tippett has already been ruled out of the lineup. The 27-year-old has yet to play in this series due to an undisclosed injury. Tippett finished the regular season tied for third in team scoring with 51 points although he had a quiet first round against Pittsburgh with only a goal and an assist in six outings. Still, his absence has been felt over the first three games and will last at least one more contest.
- Flyers winger Rodrigo Abols has resumed skating as he works his way back from a fractured ankle sustained back in mid-January, notes NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman (Twitter link). The 30-year-old had locked down a regular role in Philadelphia’s lineup over the first half of the season, chipping in with 10 points and 49 hits in 42 games before being sidelined. At this point, he’s still likely a long way from returning but the fact that he’s back on the ice is a good sign in his recovery process.
Injury Notes: Cates, Dvorak, Tippett, Nikishin
The Philadelphia Flyers’ postseason hurdles just reached a new height. Down 2-0 as the series shifts back to Wells Fargo Center, head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed the worst-case scenario for his forward group: Noah Cates is out for the remainder of the series.
Cates, who hit career highs this season with 47 points and has been the team’s most reliable two-way presence, suffered a lower-body injury after taking a shot off the foot in Game 2. While he finished that game, he was seen in a walking boot on Wednesday, and the team has officially ruled him out for the duration of the second round.
Additional injury notes:
- The Anaheim Ducks receive a boost as Troy Terry is expected to return to the lineup for their series against Vegas. However, the blue line takes a hit as veteran Radko Gudas remains out with a lower-body injury. After battling recurring injuries throughout the season, Terry made his return in Game 1 against Vegas.
- Carolina Hurricanes high-profile rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin has been cleared to play. After missing the start of the series due to a concussion sustained in the first round, he is an option for Game 3 and will likely slot in alongside Shayne Gostisbehere.
- The Flyers also noted forward Christian Dvorak is currently day-to-day and took a maintenance day on Wednesday, though he is expected to play in Game 3. Also, Owen Tippett, who has missed the first two games of the series, remains a game-time decision for Thursday. While he has returned to practice, his availability hinges on a final evaluation before puck drop.