Christian Dvorak has agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Flyers, locking him in through the 2030-31 season. On the surface, it’s a solid deal for a reliable two-way center. But when you zoom out? This extension says a lot about where the Flyers believe they are right now.
In this episode, we break down:
Why Dvorak has quietly become one of the Flyers’ most impactful forwards
How his chemistry with Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny changed the top of the lineup
What the contract structure tells us about the Flyers’ long-term plan
Why Philly chose stability over selling at the trade deadline
Whether the five-year term is a smart bet or a real risk
And how Dvorak’s versatility could shape the Flyers’ center depth for years to come
This isn’t just about one player — it’s about a franchise signaling that it’s done rebuilding and ready to compete.
If you’re a Flyers fan trying to understand the bigger picture, this is a must-watch.
⬇️ Drop your thoughts in the comments:
Is Dvorak’s extension a smart move… or would you have played it differently?
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30 Comments
Don’t love the term, but a solid move for the team in my opinion. The team is doing great this year and he’s a big part of it, glad he’s sticking around
Would have shorted the length and added to the AVV
5yrs are you kidding me? Flyers are still the same old Flyers
This reeks of a Chuckie-2-trades deal.
I like Dvorak..for 3 years..not for 5.
For the Flyers sake I hope it works out for both parties.
Sucks to suck. Hopefully in 6 or 7 years when there is a new management group those guys will know what they are doing.
Well earned
This is a risky move for sure, but I’m here for it. The Flyers are at a point in the rebuild now where the tanking stage is over and it’s time to slowly add core pieces to build a winning team and help the young players progress. Clearly Dvorak has something that Tocc, Briere and Jonesy really value, it’s not like they’ve been handing out contracts to vets like free candy.
Danny needs to make a trade for another center whos younger and needs change of scenery
3 forwards need to go
I honestly dont want to see Hathaway or Nicolas d in unless a injury happens
davorak and coots , abols are not the answer
Danny needs to do better than this
I like davorak but 5 years little long for me
they need to.make a trade got to trade some forawds to get a center
there is no number 1 center in pipeline
ziggy needs 5 year deal
I think it's so far, so good. It's not bad, it aint great. It's better than what the other g. M. S did especially Ron heckstall.
I like the player, don't like the term. 2 years…3 tops. I think they signed him because they know they're not going to find a number 1 center anytime soon.
You’re one of the best hockey analysts out there. Really intelligent and cohesive analysis of a player.
I love the little edge Dvorak plays with….he’ll kind of slide up after a whistle and give a guy a bump or little elbow and look away….he will also go face to face and mug a guy but that’s not really his game, just a little “sandpaper” in his game. The $$$ looks kind of big but in an ever growing world of the salary cap, it won’t be stupid money in a couple of years when if he starts to decline with age.
Would’ve preferred a 3 or 4 year deal at a higher AAV personally… but I really can’t muster up the anger about this deal. He’s a really solid center and our team needs the depth. By year 3 he’ll be tradable if we need to get rid of him to the kids coming up. This also makes Cates expendable imo if we needed to make some sort of trade in the future.
Thanks James for being so positive compared to other podcast analysts; it's refreshing to hear what you say, it perfectly reflects my own thoughts. I am so angry about all the negativity I've heard in the last 24 hours…
At first, I didn't like 5YR, but he can play 12 forward positions and would be easy to move if we wanted too
Not overly impressed with no trade,but if can stay healthy(IF) its ok value
Hes alot more 2 way some that are making MORE
Question if we are winning and going in the right direction why are the fans mad. It's Working whatever it is that Danny is doing so far so good. I'm 70 years old I remember their 2 Cup Wins. It was so much fun. I'm not sure I can just wait anymore I am on borrowed time. Remember Mike Keenan yes he was nuts but he took a group that included Tocchet as a player to the Finals in 85 and 87 Wasn't that fun. The 39 game undefeated streak wasn't that fun LET'S HAVE SOME FUN AGAIN If they are winning give them leash show them you care. Danny signs Devorak. for the reasons you stated. We are developing ahead of schedule so lets let them go release the hounds. If your not reaching your not trying Let's Go Boys
Think he can be "adult" in room full of kids
Do you think they will sign Zegras long term too? If so, what would the contract be? I’d like to see a 6 year contract.
The low IQ on this channel is absolutely atrocious.
Another team of bottom6 Centers signed to term with zero elite potential at Center or on D in the system.
Signing 3Cs to wait for prospects who AT BEST can be future 3Cs.
Another team of overvalued players and overrated prospects just good enough to make the middle of the pack and pick in draft purgatory. AGAIN!!!
More patchwork fake rebuilds that end in mediocrity. AT BEST!!!
Meanwhile SJ and Chicago are drafting franchise Centers to build around.
Flyers have theorist tier rebuild in the NHL right now.
Another rebuild to another middling team void of elite ceiling players.
Flyers have NOTHING BUT bottom6 Centers in the organization!!! 🤣😂🤣😂
Briere just lost his job. Might be 6 months. Might be a year or two.
But we'll be firing another management for doing the same fake playoff run/fake rebuild 🤡🌎💩 that ends in perpetual mediocrity. Countless NTC's and NMC's for guys like Couturier, Konecny, Tippet, Sanheim.
What's next? Hathaway gets a 3.5m aav for the next 4 years?
Absolute 🤡🌎💩.
I wish I was a San Jose fan.
Or a Chicago fan.
Or a NJ fan.
Or an Anaheim fan.
Or a Montreal fan.
Vancouver is starting a rebuild this season…. How long before they surpass The Flyers rebuild you think? One draft? Two?
Parekh already has a higher ceiling then any Defender in The Flyers system or roster.
So wtf was the "Rebuild" for then?
For guys like Luchanko, Nesbitt. Bonk, and Bump? Laughable. Embarrassingly Laughable.
I'm so freaking disgusted with this management and organization it's not even close to funny.
We'll watch every other rebuild in the league that hasn't ALREADY, surpass us in the next two years.
They say "tanking doesn't guarantee anything".
Yes. That's correct.
But neither does 🤡💩 contracts and patchwork players on ridiculous contracts. Flyers giving out term and NTC's to bottom6 forwards on the roster.
Then wonder why they don't have the assets or elite prospects to trade for impact players.
Buium was LITERALLY the Center peice for the Hughes trade.
Do you think ANYONE EVEN CONSIDERED wanting Luchanko as a center peice in a trade for Hughes?
Just think about it Einstein.
Wow-a reasonable take from a Flyers fan instead of the twitter accounts that hate everything they do and ignore the progress they’ve made.
This team is NOWHERE NEAR CLOSE to contending for a Cup
And they have NO ONE EVEN CLOSE TO RESEMBLING a future 1C-2C or a future #1 Defenseman in this organization.
So….. Where do they get a 1C from? 1D?
Nowhere AGAIN!!!
So more wildcard spots and 1st round exits IF WE'RE LUCKY!!!
And more late 1st round picks for more guys like Luchanko, Nesbitt, Frost, Rubstov, Obrien, etc, etc.
So another rebuild to another middling AT BEST team void of elite ceiling talent huh? Wtf was the rebuild even for? Marketing?
Flyers management are such incompetent hacks.
Kevin Hayes 2.0.
The problem we are a rebuilding team that’s goal is to win a Cup in 3-4 years. Now we have 2 defensive Centers that are 30 years old under contract for the next 5 years.
If we weren’t saddled with Coots contract, i’d be fine with this signing. This signing is a metaphor for what the team has done for over a decade. They want it both ways. They want to rebuild, but refuse to go through the growing pains of multiple bad seasons to get those top 3 draft picks.
Briere signed Dvorak because he knows we don’t have any opportunity to get a 1C now. The free agent market dried up and we won’t be drafting in the top 5.
So we are back to the mediocre retool that we have done for a decade. We will toil as a bubble playoff team, but we are no closer to a 1C or 1D that we were 3 years ago when they started using the R word.
As a former Season ticket holder, i a not fooled anymore because this is like Groundhog day. The problem is Comcast knows that there are enough season ticket holders out there that will be happy and keep the building 90% full. That’s their business model and that’s why we have been mediocre since Obama was President.
Dvo will be a solid middle six center for the next 3/4 years while the other centers in the pipeline are still developing. Btw I’m loving the new emo outro 😂
Management found an hidden gem who fits the team well! As a center myself, I love his game. He's not necessarily an inumber 1 center, but he's an ideal number 2 in my opinion (smarts), and I agree with his game being built around positioning. Great moves, we are going to be playoff contenders soon, and cup contenders within the next 5 years. 😀
I get their logic, and although I leaned toward flipping him at the deadline and then resigning him again in the offseason, I don't think it's terrible. But he's a replaceable player and it seems like the team pulled the wool over their own eyes for a guy having a career year. Showing the team you "believe in them" when you're not a real contender yet isn't as valuable as having real assets you can use to get better players for when you are a contender.
As well as he has played and as well as the flyers are doing, this team isn't gonna win anything, maybe they make the playoffs but that's it. I think the flyers need to stop giving out long term deals on such short term sample sizes of a player.