The Philadelphia Flyers have placed forward Ryan Johansen on an unconditional waiver to terminate his contract due to a material violation.
Johansen had a salary cap hit of $4 million with the Flyers next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports that there are “early indications” that Johansen will appeal the termination through the NHL Players’ Association. He has 60 days to file a grievance, and Johnston points out that several players who have gone through this process in the past have reached settlements.
The 32-year-old forward has not played for the Flyers since being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche before the trade deadline last season as part of their return for Sean Walker. He was released by the Flyers shortly after the trade but did not play in either the NHL or AHL due to a hip injury. He played 10:58 minutes in a game with the Avalanche on March 4, two days before his trade to the Flyers.
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said at the start of the offseason that Johansen’s status for this season was uncertain due to the injury.
“He’s going through some rehab right now,” Briere told NHL.com in June. “He got a shot and he says he has a hip injury. Honestly, I’m not really sure at this point what the outcome will be. We’re not sure if he’s going to need surgery or if he’s going to be ready for training camp. We don’t really know at this point.”
Johansen scored 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games with the Avalanche last season before moving to Philadelphia.
He is entering the final part of an eight-year, $64 million contract, although the Nashville Predators retained half of that last year when Johansen went to Colorado. The $4 million salary cap hit will also be off the Predators’ books as a result of Tuesday’s trade.
Johansen was selected fourth overall in the 2010 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets and scored 202 goals and 578 points in 905 career games.
