Prime suspects for Briere's offseason roster reshaping

by Bob Herpen

Phanatic Hockey Editor

If you’ve read me in the before times, or when I resurrected The Phanatic last year, you know I despise long-standing hockey cliches.

One of the big ones floated each and every summer by legacy media hacks is the idea that any general manager – in this case Flyers GM Danny Briere – needs to make a “big splash” in free agency to move things forward.

Just a reminder: this rush to make a “big splash” was a major factor in not one but TWO work stoppages in the last 2 decades. 

It’s already established Briere is – at least publicly – sticking to his guns that this rebuild will follow a path more like a steam locomotive than a roller coaster. Problem is, the world rotates as those inert choose to stay still. And besides, president of hockey operations Keith Jones stated this past winter, that a major flaw in the current roster construction is the lack of a top center.

With extra financial breathing room expected after another salary-cap expansion, plus the lingering million-plus from Cam Atkinson’s deal comes off the books, along with the expected departures of one or more UFAs such as Luke Glendening, Carl Grundstrom, Rodrigo Abols and Noah Juulsen, Briere can’t remain inert. 

There are solutions both cost effective and bold that are on the table, if Briere cares at all to receive more than just the usual mid platitudes from his boss, Dan Hilferty, either in private or in public.

As we approach the July 1 deadline, according to PuckPedia, the Flyers carry $66.5 million of total cap space. Approximately $42.8 million is allotted to forwards, $20.1 million to defensemen and Dan Vladar’s $3.35M on his existing pact.

Among the top six, monster cap hits are taken up by Travis Konecny ($8.75M through 2030-31), Sean Couturier ($7.75M through 2029-30), Owen Tippett ($6.2M through 2030-31) and Chris Dvorak ($5.1M through 2030-31). They’re also on the hook for $4M to Noah Cates for 3 more years.

Forwards

Dylan Larkin - The world has been notified that the soon-to-be-30-year-old wants out of Detroit. If ever there was a lock as a 1C, the Michigan product would be an optimal fit, despite being in the middle of a contract at $8.7M AAV per year. 

After racking up 643 points over 808 games in 11 seasons, Larkin has to have that hunger. He’s never tasted postseason success, with only 5 games of experience 10 years ago. That’s a delicious paradox: the players he’s expected to lead as a veteran can actually teach him what it’s like to turn it up in the spring.

If Wings GM Steve Yzerman wants to be taken seriously in any negotiation with any team which either Larkin or Detroit is interested, he cannot simply fixate on a trading partner’s best prospect – whether it be Porter Martone for the Flyers or anyone else – as a starting point.

Larkin is a player you don’t want to merely hear “the Flyers were ‘in’ on.” Whether or not Larkin is looking in Philly’s direction – and the dirt from 9 days ago says he’s not if he decides to wield his full no-trade clause – a pitch delivered in a face-to-face (virtually or in person) meeting with the player and agent is the absolute bare minimum.

My guess, the price would be two bodies – TK or Owen Tippett, or both – could be gone in any deal. And in the Connect Four that is the roster at the moment, that would open permanent spots for Martone or Alex Bump, maybe both if that’s the price. Also on the table would likely be one or more of the Flyers’ pending draft picks in the first 2 rounds (2 firsts in ‘27, single first & second in ‘28) which any club would salivate over.

His arrival would start to click the roster in place: Larkin at 1C, Dvorak at 2C and perhaps giving Denver Barkey an extended look at 3C around Cates & Foerster. It would be a complete disappointment and black mark on Briere's track record if we don't hear that Larkin's camp at least hears the Flyers' pitch.

Leo Carlsson - The 21-year-old Anaheim Ducks center presents a fresher, cheaper ($950K) option, although Briere might want more experience to fill a 1C role. He’ll fit perfectly for a club insistent on steady growth, with increasing career highs in goals, assists and points over all 3 of his NHL campaigns. 

Plus, as an RFA, Carlsson might be able to be locked into a longer-term deal with significantly reduced AAV compared to big-name UFAs. It would allow for adequate replacement of bottom-six forwards with some veteran grit without simply raiding Allentown for guys on 2-way deals. Carlson-Dvorak-Barkey sounds pretty good up the middle, no?

Brendan Gallagher - After the Habs loss in late May to the Hurricanes in the Eastern finals, Gallagher made it known he played his last game in Montreal, publicly unhappy with his apparent devaluation by head coach Martin St. Louis. Since arriving in la belle Provence 14 years and 911 games ago, he made it to three conference finals and one Cup Final while making enemies across the league. 

If “culture change” and “Flyers-type player” crossed in a Venn diagram, Gallagher’s answer is a total overlay.  Although the last year of his contract ran at $6.5M AAV, he’s an ideal candidate for a 2-year “sunset deal” to provide some sandpaper.  

Since the Flyers chronically shift players positionally and among their 4 lines based on need, Gallagher could be shuttled up and down the lineup at will. Top line? Give Dvorak & Zegras some room to operate. Second line? Chaos and Mayhem nightly with TK. Third pairing? Elbow grease to open up lanes for Michkov. 

Bottom line? If Gally can offer 10 goals, 20 points, 100 PIMs over 65-70 games, it’ll surely help push the lads along. As a player who stirs the pot and relishes the scrum, he may not be a darling of head coach Rick “Might as well drop the gloves and fight” Tocchet. Gallagher’s only engaged in 14 career bouts.

Defensemen

John Carlson - At 36 years old, with more than 1,200 games under his belt, there’s no one else who could bring the tools and experience to the backline. However, it would almost certainly mean losing whatever defensive instincts possessed by Rasmus Ristolainien and cost more thanks to his previous 8-year, $8 million AAV contract. Carlson would likely have to agree to a steep discount on another “sunset” pact but the Flyers really need a vet with less tread and maybe not another right-handed shooter. 

Darren Raddysh - Darling of the older beats because his career-best 22 goals for the Lightning last year was bolstered by 10 power-play scores. Can you really trust a 30-year-old with only 3  full years of NHL experience with 1 “contract-year” season of notice? Do you really think those numbers hold up in the Philly PP black hole? Raddysh’s last deal before UFA was $975K for 2 years so it might be tempting. 

Brent Burns - One of those f*** it, we ball choices. Hear me out. Although 41 years old and carrying more than 1,700 games in his wake, the grizzled one has put together five fully healthy seasons for the Sharks, Canes and Avalanche where he’s chipped in 63 total goals.

You want personality, it’s written all over his face and that Bobby Clarke-smile. A guy who can keep things loose in the room for the kids. A virtual steal at $1M. I’m envisioning Burnzie and Gritty pairing up for beard-oil promos, mountain-man lookalike contests, Halloween masks for the kids, Santa Burns outfits, etc. 

Goaltenders

Sam Ersson is a restricted free agent and arbitration eligible at $1.45M over his expired 2-year deal. If something isn’t worked out between the two camps, the below cost-effective options may provide some stability when Vladar needs to sit.

Matt Murray - Two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Penguins, so we know he has a pedigree, but he’s clearly on his last legs. Still, a $1M price tag is a nice drop from whatever the Flyers’ qualifying offer would be to Ersson or what he could net if he wins at arbitration. Young players need veteran winners so we can’t deny what he learned – with Tocchet as an assistant no less - during his time with the Evil Empire. 

Eric Comrie - If Vladar is in line for more starts and more work given the pending extension, the 30-year-old who spent the previous 2 seasons in Winnipeg could be a catch. Learning under the wing of a 3-time Vezina Trophy, 2-time Jennings Trophy &one-time Hart Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck has to have some net positive effect. Comrie’s coming off a 2-year deal at $825K AAV and with his career save percentage hovering just below 90 percent for his career, this perhaps more than anything says “Flyers backup.”

Backtrack to the Phanatic's previous Offseason Weeklies:

Talking the big picture items Briere needs to show that he's a legitimate GM for a legacy franchise committed to building long-term success.

Evaluating Rick Tocchet's first year as Flyers head coach.

We know he's close to receiving a contract extension, but we don't know if Dan Vladar can really handle being a true No. 1 goaltender.

How will the two biggest cogs in the young offensive machinery, Alex Bump and Porter Martone, approach earning NHL jobs with their different in-season and off-season paths?