Christian Dvorak entered free agency on July 1 with hope that a strong second half of 2024-25 would attract an NHL team for whom he could maintain a top-nine role. The Philadelphia Flyers came calling.
The Flyers needed a proven center. They also wanted to add more size at center. Dvorak’s profile (6’1″, 201 pounds) fit Flyers’ general manager Danny Briere’s needs to a tee. The veteran NHLer is a strong two way player. He is responsible defensively. He’s also able to chip in offensively on occasion.
The club signed him to a one year deal for $5.4 million.
“First time being a free agent, you never know what it’s going to be like. Things kind of happened fast. I ended up picking Philly because they showed a lot of interest in me. It’s always nice to feel that,” Dvorak said in a Zoom press conference on Thursday.
In the wake of Ryan Poehling’s departure to Anaheim in the Trevor Zegras trade, the Flyers needs and Dvorak’s matched well. However, there was competition. Several NHL clubs reportedly offered multi-year deals as he hit free agency. The cap hit may have been lower. Conversely, there may have been more job security elsewhere.
Tocchet a familiar face to Dvorak
Dvorak chose to bet on himself, with a familiar face awaiting him in Philadelphia: Rick Tocchet, his former head coach with the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes where he spent the first five seasons of his career.
He is coming off a full 82 game season for the first time in his career with 12 goals and 33 points.
“There’s a big opportunity with them being a little thin down the middle,” Dvorak said. “Felt like a great fit for me, as a guy who plays a 200 foot game, who plays in all situations and winning face-offs.”
Drafted by the Coyotes in 2014, Dvorak reached career highs in goals and points under Tocchet during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with 18 goals and 38 points, followed by 17 goals and 31 points.
“It certainly helps, being familiar with Tocc,” Dvorak said “I know the way he coaches & he helped me out alot in Arizona as a young guy with a really young team there too. He was really good with us & I know he’ll be great with the young guys here in Philly.”
Finally Healthy
Arizona traded Dvorak originally to the Canadiens in September 2021. The Coyotes received pair of draft picks, including a conditional first-round pick. Montreal acquired the asset from the Carolina Hurricanes after they declined to match an offer sheet restricted free agent Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
In Montreal, Dvorak dealt with several injuries. Most notably, he had season-ending knee and pectoral muscle injuries in 2023 and 2024, respectively. However, the veteran played in all 82 games in 2024-25.
“I think it’s definitely a combination of being hurt the previous couple of years and missing a lot of time, it becomes hard getting into a groove and have your full confidence in coming back from major surgeries,” Dvorak said.
But he managed to settle in as the Canadiens second line center last season in helping them on their playoff push.
“Last year, I felt my best half-way through the season and the latter part of the year into the playoffs, I felt really good health-wise and about my game. It was a big step for me, being healthy the whole season.”
Dvorak: Skill set matched Flyers needs
One of Dvorak’s biggest strengths is his work in the face-off circle. Last season, he ranked third on the Canadiens in face-off wins with 591 (a 55.8% rate).
Only Sean Couturier has a better face-off percentage on the Flyers last season at 56.1% (Rodrigo Abols was at 58.4%, but only played 22 games).
In addition, he was one of the Canadiens’ key penalty killing presences averaging over 2:15 per game, and helping them to finish ninth in the league at 80.9 percent.
Conversely, the Flyers ended last season ranked 20th in the league in that category at 77.6 percent.
Dvorak is confident he can help them improve there this season.
“I take a lot of pride in that area and I’m looking forward to it,” Dvorak said. “You want to be top 10 in both categories special teams-wise. It’s about doing those little things on the PK: winning face-offs, blocking shots. It’s something I’ve done before & I’m always willing to do that. So I’m excited to help out.”
Even at what is considered a premium price for a role player, Dvorak has value. His versatility could go a long way in helping the Flyers compete for a playoff spot.
“I want to build off of last year, the momentum I had late last season and in the playoffs,” Dvorak said. “I felt it took my game to another level and I want to start this year at the same level.”
The Flyers are certainly banking on it.
WJSS: Two Flyers prospects invited (so far)
The Flyers made a substantial investment in US National Development Program players during the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft when they selected defenseman Carter Amico (38th overall), along with forwards Jack Murtagh (40th overall) and Shane Vansaghi (48th overall).
While Amico has only recently gotten back to on-ice training following his recovery from a knee-cap injury, Murtagh and Vansaghi impressed during the Flyers’ Development Camp last week.
Both players are on now on Team USA’s radar as they were among 42 invitees to the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase set for July 25 to August 2 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Following the event, all three players will be preparing their fall seasons in college hockey. Murtagh and Amico are headed to Boston University. Vansaghi will be a sophomore at Michigan State.
Off the Post Radio
In case you missed it, Wednesday’s show was packed with plenty of discussion. We welcomed Jessi Pierce from NHL.com and the BarDown Beauties Podcast to discuss the latest with the Minnesota Wild.
Not to mention, plenty of team reports on the Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, and more.
Make sure to keep an eye out for an announcement on Friday regarding our special guest this Sunday’s live broadcast at 9:30am ET on our YouTube channel!
The best hope for Dvorak will be that he has a great year and increases his trade value to a contender in exchange for draft picks next year.
He’ll be a free agent. He’ll just walk away if it all goes sour. That’s fine. Lotta cap freed.
The only way you’d get picks is if you trade him at the deadline like they did Laughton. Can’t say I’m too familiar with Dvorak, but I got that Laughton kinda vibe to his game.