6 Flyers Who Won't Return Next Season

3. Ryan Johansen, C

Another Flyer who might leave this offseason is one who hasn't even played a game for the franchise.

Veteran center Ryan Johansen and a 2025 first-rounder were sent from the Colorado Avalanche to the Flyers in exchange for defenseman Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-rounder at the deadline. The fact that the Avalanche attached a first-round pick proved that it was a cap-dumping move, which became clearer when Philadelphia placed the former 30-goal scorer on waivers the following day.

Johansen went unclaimed en route to the American Hockey League's Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Having said that, he's yet to play a game for the Flyers' AHL affiliate due to a hip injury that was discovered during the trade process.

Even if Johansen fully recovers from his injury, I have a hard time imagining his playing for the Flyers next year.

After all, the 31-year-old forward is signed through the 2024-25 season with an $8 million cap hit. That'd be a fair price if he was still in his prime, but that cap hit is way too large for a player with 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games this season. Instead of paying him, Philadelphia can either 1) find a suitor who's willing to take Johansen on or B) buy him out and only have to pay him $1.3 million over the next two seasons.

Putting two and two together, it's easy to see why Johansen won't be back come October.