The Philadelphia Flyers placed forward Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers on Tuesday for the purpose of terminating your contractThe team said the decision was due to a “material breach.”
Johansen, 32 years old, was marketed to the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, but never played a game for the team after reporting an injury.
Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, issued a statement following the Flyers’ decision explaining that the 11-year NHL veteran’s injury is “severe” and requires “extensive surgery.”
Ryan Johansen has a serious hockey injury that requires extensive surgery that has been scheduled.
Since being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, Ryan has worked in good faith with the Club, its medical staff and licensed outside physicians.
The Flyers’ attempt to terminate Ryan’s contract is disappointing.
We have been in contact with the NHLPA and will defend Ryan and protect his rights.
Johansen has 60 days to file a grievance through the NHLPA, which he is expected to do.
“The actions of the Philadelphia Flyers raise significant concerns. We are currently reviewing the matter,” the NHLPA said in a statement.
The end result could very likely be a negotiated agreement between both parties.
The Flyers did not expect Johansen to return from his injury
Two weeks after the trade, Flyers general manager Danny Briere said: Philadelphia Hockey Now that Johansen was in the process of rehabbing from the injury and that the news came as a surprise to the team considering he had played a game with the Avalanche two days before the agreement.
The Flyers waived Johansen after the trade and, with no one claiming him, planned to demote him to their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley. But a suspected hip injury prevented the move.
At his end-of-season press conference in April, Briere said the team did not expect Johansen to return and that Johansen did not believe he could play again.
According Pedia PuckJohansen has one year remaining on his current contract that carries an $8 million cap hit. His 2024-25 salary is a similar amount that will be split between the Flyers and the Nashville Predators, who agreed to retain 50% after they traded him to the Avalanche in June 2023.