Briere reignites rivalry with Ducks, signs Carlsson to offer sheet

Just before the Friday afternoon news dump, and just prior to the long Fourth of July weekend where any news would be memory-holed, Flyers GM Danny Briere announced that the club had inked restricted free agent forward Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks to an offer sheet worth a reported $90 million over 5 seasons carrying an $18 million average annual value.

Carlsson, 21, finished his third NHL season -- all with Anaheim -- by striking for career highs in goals (29), assists (38) and points (67) over 70 games for the SoCal franchise.

The Ducks now have one week to decide whether or not to match the deal or let Carlsson walk. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek had publicly stated that he intends to match any offer tendered to any free agent. If he does, the emerging club retains one of its cornerstone prospects but sets in motion a high-end target for other future young free agents which may unravel the young core despite an increased cap.

Should Verbeek blink and decide against it, the Flyers would surrender their next 4 first-round picks as compensation. As of now, that would be one selection in the 2027 draft, then two more in the 2028 draft and another in 2029. 

For the Flyers, that would certainly lock in Carlsson as a legitimate first-line center. However, it would also call into question which veteran players would likely be moved in a trade, while also leaving up in the air the question of Trevor Zegras' pending contract status. Zegras, who was shuttled back and forth between center and wing during his first year in Philadelphia, just finished up a 3-year contract worth $5.75M AAV. 

Five Phillies named to National League All Star roster

On July 14, for the first time since 1996, Philadelphia will host the annual Midsummer Classic. Unlike 30 years ago, the host franchise will have more than a token representative.

Major League Baseball on Saturday revealed that five members of the second place club in the National League East will rep the home squad: outfielder Brandon Marsh, first baseman Bryce Harper, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, along with pitchers Cristopher Sanchez, and Jhoan Duran.

Marsh, with his first career selection, will actually start for the Senior Circuit. Harper was named as a "Legend" pick by MLB commish Rob Manfred, while Schwarber will be a reserve. The 28-year-old is enjoying a career first half, hitting .315 with 15 homers -- one off his career best of 16 set in 2024 -- 15 doubles and 46 RBI over 83 games.

Harper is batting .274 with 16 doubles, 20 homers and 57 RBI in 88 games, while Schwarber continues to set a club record for the most round-trippers before the All-Star break, having slugged a major-league high of 30 in 84 contests. 

Sanchez rocketed up the rotation by going 10-3 with a 2.00 ERA over a major-league best 18 starts, while also compiling an MLB-high 117 innings pitched. The 29-year-old native of the Dominican made headlines earlier in the season by failing to allow a run for the entire month of May en route to 50-plus scoreless innings.

Duran has racked up a league-high 21 saves and 30 games finished alongside a 1.52 ERA despite a 1-3 record.

In 1996, in the midst of a season where they'd finish last in the NL East, the host Phillies lone All Star representative was reliever and current sports-talk radio host Ricky Bottalico.

Fourth-line roulette continues as NCAA champion Acciari signs for 2 years

With the subtractions of Nic Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway, the Philadelphia Flyers had some minor holes to fill on the bottom forward line.

They managed to snag a veteran grinder to suit their needs early in free agency on Wednesday, announcing the signing Noel Acciari to a 2-year deal at $2.8 million average annual value. 

According to PuckPedia, the deal breaks down to $2.2M salary plus $1M bonus this season, then $1.7M salary and $700K bonus for next year. 

Acciari spent the previous three seasons with the rival Pittsburgh Penguins, totaling 13 goals and 25 points over 67 games in 2025-26, while winning 52% of all faceoffs. He finished the 6-game opening round series defeat to the Flyers by winning 61% of his faceoffs.

An undrafted free agent who was born and raised outside Providence, Rhode Island, he broke in with the Boston Bruins during the 2015-16 season after a 3-year stint with the Providence Friars. Included in that collegiate career was an NCAA title in 2015 and recognition as Hockey East Best Defensive Forward.

Over 585 regular-season appearances and 71 playoff contests, the 34-year-old right-handed shooter has compiled 87 goals and 154 points along with a 51.4% faceoff acumen for Boston, Florida, St. Louis, Toronto and Pittsburgh. He appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Bruins in 2019, a 7-game loss to the Blues.

In another move to snag a fourth-liner from the depths of Hockey East, the Flyers also announced the signing of Northeastern product and former Columbus Blue Jacket spare part, Zack Aston-Reese. ZAR, an undrafted 31-year-old born on Staten Island, is a double-barreled veteran of 416 regular-season and 29 playoff appearances across parts of 9 seasons for the Penguins, Ducks, Leafs, Red Wings and Columbus.

Aston-Reese, who shares the same agent (Dan Milstein) as goaltender Dan Vladar, was brought into the fold on a 2 year deal, which -- according to Milstein himself -- will pay the wandering winger $850,000 1 way for the upcoming season, then a $700k/$900k split in 2027-28.

And a third Milstein-based signing was consummated later in the afternoon, with minor-leaguer Danila Klimovich warranting a 1-year contract. No official terms were released, but several sources indicate it is a 2-way deal worth $850K.

Klimovich, a 23-year-old Belarusian, was originally selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft. He spent the last 5 seasons with Abbotsford in the American Hockey League. 

Rounding out the signings headed for Allentown are forward Jack Studnicka and defenseman Cam Dineen. 

Studnicka split last season between Florida in the NHL and Charlotte in the AHL The 27-year-old former 2nd-round selection of the Boston Bruins in 2017 is a veteran of 126 games at the top level. Dineen, 28, is a native of Toms River, New Jersey, having played just 38 games with the Coyotes and Oilers after Arizona selected him in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft.

Flyers extend Vladar for 5 years, Foerster for 8 years

What had been rumored since late last week became official today, as the Philadelphia Flyers announced a contract extension for goaltender Dan Vladar on Wednesday, just after the 12 p.m. free agent deadline.

During the draft last weekend, the one and only report about the new pact came from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, which cited the deal as for 5 years at $5.5 million average annual value. 

The official pact, which is set to kick in one year from now and expire in 2031, was revealed to be the same term and amount. 

"From the moment Dan arrived in Philadelphia, he exceeded our expectations. He earned this contract extension by the way he competed every time he stepped in net," said Flyers GM Danny Briere. "Beyond his play on the ice, he was an exceptional addition to our locker room, becoming a big leader and positive force for our group. He's a valuable teammate who really gained the trust and respect of his teammates and coaching staff right from the get-go."

While no details were made publicly available by the club, multiple reports citing "Flyers team sources" reported it contains a full no-movement clause over the first 2 years of the deal with a limited no-trade clause over the final 3 seasons. 

For Vladar, who was set to become a restricted free agent next summer, that's both a huge relief and a large chunk of pressure laid on his shoulders. 

The soon-to-be-29-year-old native of Czechia finished his first full NHL season by going 29-14-7 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .906 save percentage across 52 appearances. Vladar shook off an injury sustained in the opening round to finish the postseason at 4-6 with a 2.18 GAA, .922 save pct and a pair of shutouts.

During a 6-game first-round triumph over the rival Pittsburgh Penguins, Vladar became the 6th goalie in franchise history to record at least 2 shutouts vs. a single opponent, joining Bernie Parent, Pelle Lindbergh, Ron Hextall, Roman Cechmanek and Michael Leighton.

Vladar was entering the final season of a 2-year deal worth $3.35M AAV. While the number and term suggest Vladar would be the Flyers' true No. 1 going forward, the acquisition of Joe Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs for RFA Sam Ersson 2 weeks prior, and GM Danny Briere's suggestion that he work "in tandem" with Vladar suggest a 1A/1B situation. 

What that might signal, is that the club is offering more term to see if Vladar can gradually grow into the role. Other, cheaper veteran backup options were on the table, such as James Reimer, Jonathan Quick and Matt Murray. 

Heading into his 7th NHL season, Vladar has logged only 157 regular-season games for the Bruins, Flames and Philadelphia.

In a shocking move given the expected rise in salary-cap space for the upcoming season, the Orange and Black also reportedly completed a contract extension for forward Tyson Foerster. Elliotte Friedman was first on this just before the noon frenzy, reporting his new deal would be for 8 years with an approximate AAV of $7M per year. 

As reported by the team, the AAV is $7.1M over the length of the 8-year pact, which kicks in next year and is scheduled to expire into UFA status in 2035.

Foerster is still owed 1 more year on his current contract at $3.75M for this season, then becomes an RFA next July 1. The 24-year-old Ontario native missed 4 months with an undisclosed arm injury which required surgery, but rebounded to record 13 goals and 17 points in 29 regular-season games. He totaled just a single goal across 10 playoff appearances.

"He has established himself as an important piece of the foundation we're building here," Briere said. "We have a great deal of confidence in him and believe he'll play a significant role as we continue building toward a successful team for years to come."

Foerster, who the Flyers took with the 23rd pick 2020 draft, has yet to show sustained brilliance which typically accompanies a first-round selection. He's totaled just 100 points in 195 games across parts of four NHL seasons. 

Nevertheless, the lengthy deal signifies that GM Danny Briere has no intention of revisiting certain young players' status via bridge deals in the next few years, while also stamping, in indelible ink, that Foerster is now expected to achieve his potential and grow into a top player in Philadelphia during his prime years. 

"We believe he's going to be a big-time goal scorer and overall player for us," Briere, in a definitively optimistic frame of mind, added at the late-afternoon presser. "And if we didn't do it now, it's going to cost us a lot more down the road." 

Clean-up in Aisle '26: Flyers' draft looks more like shopping list

by Bob Herpen

Phanatic Hockey Editor

At this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, Philadelphia Flyers GM Danny Briere and assistant GM Brent Flahr identified needs and selected players which best fit their profile and ready-made template across six picks through seven rounds.

Among the haul were multiple defensemen and a pair of goaltenders. Only one of the bunch were under 6 feet tall and just three picks were under 200 pounds – even as teenagers. No wingers, no centers, no scoring. No chances. No risks. Just purchasing in bulk.

When asked on Friday night why they passed on a puck mover with the first-round slot, Briere had this strange, cryptic response: “I think it’s knowing the board and there’s more out there, too. It doesn’t mean that we’re done, that we’re not gonna draft a puck moving defenseman.”

Even stranger, he cracked a crooked smile and forced a laugh at the reporter who asked the question, then added, “We’d like to have that as well. Let’s see what tomorrow brings, hopefully we can bring you a smaller puck defenseman after losing Emil (Andrae) obviously. At the moment, we felt the value was more on that side.”

Spoiler alert: they did not.

Even if head coach Rick Tocchet continues to pine for bigger, tougher bodies – which is a bit of an oxymoron since he’s publicly come out *against* scrums and other after-the-whistle nonsense but actually makes sense if you want to play a bunch of dudes who can pound the opposition – their choices are as specific as they are bizarre. 

Maksim Sokolovskii from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League was taken as the No. 27 pick after Briere chose to punt on the verge of making the 21st overall selection. Built like an AT-AT at only 17 years old. 6-foot-7, 240 pounds. 

Even the pair of goalies had significant bulk behind them as teenagers: Martin Psohlavec from Czechia clocks in at 6-foot-5 despite his 185-pound frame, while fellow netminder hopeful Marek Sklenicka from Seattle of the Western Hockey League stands 6-foot-3 on a wiry 175-pound body.

It’s like Briere and Flahr wanted less to conduct a draft and instead opted to spend some quality time together gossiping and browsing in the supermarket and it just took some time to come upon the right aisle. Over 6-foot? Check. Over 200 pounds? Check. Another NHL-ready body in the mid-range of the first round? Check. Just like Porter Martone, Jack Nesbitt, Oliver Bonk, Carson Bjarnasson. 

Grab your coupons, ladies. Head to checkout.

For the first time in the 4-year Briere regime, no players were selected who are either currently on D1 college rosters or would head there in the fall. It was also the first time since 2008 (under Paul Holmgren) there were no wingers selected – that year it was 2 defensemen, 2 goalies and 1 center with just 5 picks. 

It may be the first time EVER not a single offensive player was chosen in the 60-year history of the franchise – if you believe one prospect site, Kent Sauer is a center and another says he’s a d-man.

Humangous Beeg

How ridiculous was the scope of the Sokolovskii pick? BoopStats himself, Bob Vetrone, Jr. tweeted that, for just the 6th time since 1967 and first since 2003, the Flyers’ first pick of the draft was actually taller than the Sixers’ first selection. 

With the draft complete, here’s a brief rundown at a majority of the club’s rostered and prospective defensemen and their respective dimensions:

Rasmus Ristolainen: 6-foot-4, 208 pounds Travis Sanheim: 6-foot-4, 222 pounds Simon Benoit: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds Nick Seeler: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds David Jiricek: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds Helge Grans: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds Adam Ginning: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds Oliver Bonk: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds Maksim Sokolovskii: 6-foot-7, 240 pounds Carter Amico: 6-foot-5, 225 pounds Spencer Gill: 6-foot-4, 213 pounds Kent Sauer, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds The only outliers in the bunch are: Cam York: 5-foot-11, 195 pounds Jamie Drysdale: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds Brek Liske: 6-foot-4, 190 pounds Max Laaitikainen: 5-foot-11, 173 pounds Paradoxically, when asked on Saturday about the continued size differential on the back end, Flahr said, “I don’t think it’s as much of a focus any more. I think we’re a smaller team and I think we addressed that last year and some of that was just circumstance.”

I’m unsure what part of the Flyers’ journey this past season made it a priority in either Tocchet or Briere’s eyes to go this big and this brawny on the blue line. It’s all too reminiscent of the darkest period in modern NHL history, known as the Dead Puck Era.

Or as Tocchet might say, the “Low-Event Period.”

There are many threads which led to the tanking goal totals league wide between 1995 and 2004, but for our purposes the principal reason was the size, strength and skill of the Legion of Doom. Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg were such a menace for a 3-year period that it gave birth to the neutral zone trap but also gave rise to NHL GMs scrambling to draft the biggest, heaviest defenders who could simply impede progress.

First on the slab was Hal Gill. Selected in 1993 out of Providence College, Gill entered the league in 1997 for the Boston Bruins at 6-foot-7 and more than 240 pounds. At the time, then-coach Pat Burns instituted a strict defensive mindset that shrunk the B’s goals-against by 106 goals in one season, thanks in large part to Gill’s ability to get in the way. Then, Zdeno Chara. A true freak of nature at 6-foot-9, 250 pounds, he was taken by the Islanders in the 3rd round back in ‘96 and loosed on the world.

That, in turn, bred the likes of power forwards such as Todd Bertuzzi and Jarome Iginla, while forcing established stars like Keith Tkachuk, Brendan Shanahan and Jeremy Roenick to increase their mass in offseason training.

It was an arms (and hips and legs) race which eventually exploded in the mid 2000s when the league obliterated its 2004-05 season and returned by embracing more opportunistic offense. It took another half decade before touts, scouts and team braintrusts switched to focusing on prospects under 6 foot and under 200 pounds, however.

When assessing this organizational mindset, I couldn’t help but think back to the summer of 2005. Then-GM Bob Clarke took two steps back after the leap forward in bringing 1991 draftee Peter Forsberg home by heralding two major free-agent defensive signings: Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje – both straight out of the caveman era. Neither player lasted more than 3 years here due to aggressive wear and tear.

It was the signal, before forgetting Claude Giroux’s name at the podium during the next summer’s draft, that Clarke was resistant to change and checked out.

Briere and Flahr look similarly out of step with a league that has done so much to highlight skilled players, embrace more goals, better and more frequent scoring chances alongside increased offense (expansion aside) over the last 10 years.

Yes, the need for defensemen and goaltending was obvious, but what does he and the rest of the Flyers hockey ops expect – that the current bumper crop of winger/centers is going to last forever without injuries or trades?

Or that the guys good enough to advance will either hook on or fade out?

Let’s not forget, it’s a game of Russian roulette to guess which of these prospects, if any, would be ready to be impactful in 3-to-4 years – which is about the typical time Tocchet would wear out his welcome if he’s allowed to stay close to the terminus of his 5-year deal. Then, the next regime is saddled with the previous coach’s wet dreams.

When pressed on the perceived “wide variance” of development projections for his defensive and goaltending picks, Flahr punted on an explanation, instead mumbling nonsense about a clean draft board, the rationale for trading down in the first round and Briere’s desire to keep feeding the pipeline with goalies.

If the strategery works, I’m afraid the Flyers front office may have accidentally kicked off a disturbing league-wide trend. If it fails, well, the worst is that we’ll suffer through some more traffic cones like Randy Jones.