Arbitrator rules for Flyers in Ryan Johansen contract dispute: Sources

An arbitrator ruled that the Philadelphia Flyers did not wrongfully terminate Ryan Johansen’s contract last year, team sources confirmed on Tuesday after an initial report by Darren Dreger of TSN.

The Flyers cited a “material breach” of contract by Johansen last August when they placed him on unconditional waivers and then terminated his contract, which included one more year and $8 million. Johansen had been acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche five months earlier and never played a game with the Flyers due to a hip injury.

The arbitrator’s ruling means neither the Flyers nor the Avalanche — who had agreed to split the final $8 million of Johansen’s contract — have any financial responsibility, and neither team will incur any salary-cap punishment.

Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, quickly disputed the Flyers’ moves last August and said Johansen suffered a “severe hockey injury that requires extensive surgery.” Johansen filed a grievance against the Flyers and, after almost a year, the dispute is at an end.

Johansen, a 13-year NHL veteran, did not play during the 2024-25 season and remains a free agent.

(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)