The Flyers blogs on Hockey Hot Stove are powered by Phans of Philly, Liberty Valuation Group, New Balance of Mount Laurel, The Mens and Boys Store, Carl’s Cards and Collectibles, Team Toyota, Brian Propp’s Guffaw Cigars, Summit Public Adjusters, and State Farm Insurance.
The Philadelphia Flyers did a lot of business with agent Dan Milstein on the first day of free agency. The team signed several of his clients, including a five-year ($5.5 million) contract extension for goaltender Dan Vladar that kicks in for the 2027-28 campaign after his current deal ($3.5 million) officially ends. Meanwhile, the Flyers also signed Milstein clients Zach Aston-Reese and Danila Klimovich as depth forwards.
However, Tuesday’s most important signing was Tyson Foerster’s eight-year extension. Starting in 2027-28, the deal carries at $7.1 million AAV. It’s a very team-friendly signing, given the salary cap explosion. However, this presumes Foerster remains healthy.
He missed four months this season with a shoulder injury. He also had a shoulder issue a few years earlier. Last spring, he had a biceps injury and infection. When healthy, he’s become a very effective all-around player for the Flyers.
Foerster closed the 2024-25 campaign with nine goals (11 points) in the final nine games. He opened the 2025-26 season with 10 goals (13 points) in the first 21 games. Combined, he racked up 19 goals (24 points) in a 30-match span: roughly a 50-goal pace.
Unfortunately, On December 1, 2025, Foerster suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the next four months. He scored another goal in return game. Shortly thereafter, he hit a wall as the stretch drive and playoffs unfolded. This was not unexpected. Foerster only started to play closer to his overall standards — board work, defensively, etc. — near the tail end of Philadelphia’s 10-game playoff run.
Team Toyota Spotlight: The “Girouxmer”
During Wednesday’s press conference at the end of Free Agency Day One, Daniel Briere admitted that he’d spoken with unrestricted Claude Giroux about a potential return to Philadelphia. Naturally, the general manager declined to elaborate.
The news was unsurprising. Briere and Giroux remain close. As a young player, Giroux lived in Briere’s house for a time. They also shared the same agent (Pat Brisson, who still represents Giroux). Most importantly, while the 38-year-old Giroux is no longer the player who racked up 900 points in 1,000 games as a Flyer, he still has two traits that could help the team.
The veteran winger — he hasn’t primarily played center since 2016-17 — remains a solid playmaker on the power play. Secondly, Giroux still takes faceoffs and remains elite on strong-side (right circle) faceoffs.
I’ve long been of the belief there would be major drawbacks to a Giroux return. First and foremost, there’s a danger of sucking the oxygen from the younger players on the locker room and on the bench. It’s not because Giroux would be a bad teammate. That’s never been the case for the longtime Flyers captain. Rather. it’s because Giroux holds a certain stature on any team that he needs to be effective.
I doubt Giroux cares if he doesn’t get the captaincy, which now belongs to longtime teammate (and former linemate) Sean Couturier. Likewise, he certainly won’t mind allowing others to be the “voice of the room”. Giroux never particularly relished that part of the role, but it came with the turf.
However, I do think Giroux needs to be the on-ice orchestrator who gets the most puck touches (especially on the power play). That’s the task I want to see Matvei Michkov start to assume and consistently thrive. Moreover, the Flyers have had younger leaders start to emerge, such as Noah Cates and Owen Tippett. It’s important for that to continue.
It’s one thing to say that adding a franchise icon back into the mix won’t interference with the balance in the room. It’s quite another to pull that off successfully. Giroux himself may not want players like Cates or Tippett to defer to him. However, some of it is human nature.
For all these reasons, I’ve been against a Giroux return. Nevertheless, I also see the potential benefits.
Jason Myrtetus feels the same as I do. That was one of the main topics we discussed in Thursday’s edition of Flyers Daily.
Carlson goes to Tampa
The Flyers were unable to lure unrestricted free agent offensive defenseman John Carlson to Philadelphia. Ever since Darren Raddysh departed Tampa Bay for Toronto, the Lightning became the favorite to land the 36-year Carlson. On July 1, Carlson signed a two-year deal with Tampa for $17 million ($8.5 million cap hit).
First, Tampa Bay remains a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Bolts aren’t as good as the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes but they could potentially beat any team in a given series. It’s all about peaking at just the right time.
Secondly, the Florida does not have a state income tax. Therefore, a player’s gross salary goes a bit further. The Flyers presented a competitive offer, but Briere was only willing to stretch it so far despite the team’s dire need for a proven power play quarterback at the point.
Philly also added another veteran depth piece after announcing the initial signings. The team signed 31-year-old veteran checking/ defensive winger Zach Aston-Reese to a two-year contract. Year one is a one-way contract for $850,000. The second year is a two-way arrangement for $900,000 at the NHL level and $700,000 in the American Hockey League.
Aston-Reese is a bottom-six depth piece and proven penalty killer. He spent the past two seasons in the Columbus Blue Jackets with the NHL team and the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. The former Penguins forward also made career stops with the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings.
With the signings of Acciari, Aston-Reese and the one-year extension to Carl Grundstrom, it’s unlikely Philly will re-sign Luke Glendening.
Flyers Development Camp: Scrimmage Day
Jason Myrtetus and Brian Smith will have the broadcasting duties during Thursday’s Development Camp Scrimmage between Team Briere and Team Jones. The schedule for the day is below.
| Thurs., July 2 | Group 3 Group 1 Group 2 5-on-5 Scrimmage | 9:15-10:00 a.m. (Power Skating)10:00-10:45 a.m. (Skills)10:00-10:45 a.m. (Power Skating)10:45-11:30 a.m. (Skills)11:00-11:45 a.m. (Power Skating)11:45-12:30 p.m. (Skills)– | ——————6:00 p.m. | ——————Flyers Rink |
Cold War in Philly: July to September showings added
There are eight new showings added to the schedule for Joe Amodei’s Cold War in Philadelphia documentary about the 1976 game between the Flyers and CSKA Moscow (Red Army). The schedule is below:
Wilmington: Friday, July 17, 2026
Theatre N (21 W. Tenth Street)
Ticket Information
Oaks, PA: Fri. July 17, Sat. July 18, Sun. July 19, Mon. July 20
Oaks Center Cinema (180 Mill Rd.)
Ticket Information
Sellersville, PA: Thursday , August 13
Sellersville Theatre (24 West Temple Ave.)
Ticket Information
Bryn Mawr, PA: Wednesday, September 2
Bryn Mawr Film Institute (824 W. Lancaster Ave.)
Ticket Information
Lexington, MA: Monday, September 21
Lexington Venue (1794 Massachusetts Ave)
Ticket Information
Home › Forums › Flyers Focus: Giroux, Dev Camp and More