The Philadelphia Flyers’ offseason is already buzzing and free agency hasn’t even started yet! In today’s episode we break down three big storylines shaping the Flyers’ summer.
🔴 Ilya Pautov Signs an Entry-Level Deal
The Flyers made their first move of the 2026 offseason, signing 20-year-old Russian winger Ilya Pautov to a three-year entry-level contract. A sixth-round pick from the 2024 draft (173rd overall), Pautov is a raw but offensively gifted forward who put up 23 points in 30 games in the MHL this past season while also getting his first taste of VHL action — Russia’s second-tier pro league.
He becomes the fifth player from Philadelphia’s 2024 draft class to sign an ELC. He’s no sure thing, but at this stage of the draft? He’s a very interesting flyer (pun intended). We break down what his game looks like and what a realistic development path to the NHL might look like.
🔴 John Carlson Trade/Free Agency Buzz
The big one. Multiple insiders have directly linked the Flyers to veteran defenseman John Carlson, now a UFA after his time with Washington and Anaheim. Carlson reportedly wants to be back on the East Coast, and the Flyers are said to be ready to offer a short-term deal potentially worth around $8-9 million per year.
We talk about why this makes so much sense — specifically what he would do for a power play that desperately needs a blue-line quarterback — and whether the Flyers can get it done.
🔴 What Does Carlson Mean for Rasmus Ristolainen?
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Ristolainen is entering the final year of his deal at $5.1M and is already back on trade boards this offseason. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos named him as a trade candidate, and teams like the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens have reportedly shown interest.
The latest reporting suggests the Flyers are open to trading Ristolainen — but are holding firm on a return that starts with a first-round pick. Crucially, sources say the Flyers would be willing to sign Carlson WITH OR WITHOUT moving Ristolainen first — but trading Risto would obviously free up cap space and create a cleaner roster picture. We dig into both scenarios and what each path looks like for this team heading into 2026-27.
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Flyers should’ve traded the 2 first from last year and a first in 2024 for Ivan demidov but no balls danny choked and we are stuck with Jack Nesbitt and Jett flyers will always be mediocre as long as we have Danny B
Re-Sign Risto. He's not a bad player.
The Flyers are a bunch of little Danny Briere's running all over the place. They need TWO bigger Centermen and TWO bigger, stay at home Defensemen. So, I would deal any of the little guys. Maybe they can get a nice return dealing Errson. They need Skill and Size. They must control the boards and they can't do that with a bunch of little guys. Michkov, Jett, Drysdale, Bump and a few others are trade bait. Toch will then work on special teams. Forget the playoffs with 15% on the Power Play. Let's see what Danny does.
He didn’t even stay healthy this year he missed the first half of the season. They would be full blow morons to take him into next season. This obsession with mediocre players will be death of us
Throw money at Carlson for 2 years. Trade Risto for a first in 2028. Package the 3 firsts in 2028 with a starter and a prospect for a 1C in Summer 2028.
If Drysdale was going to become a quarterback, he would already be one; he's not an offensive dynamo.
Right team wrong wrong wrong player. We want McTavish. Either center or LW. Fit perfectly Straight up for Rasmus. But please Not Carlson. We need young legs
You guys mentioned Jriceck having to be up with the big club bc he would not be waiver exempt but it musta feel on the radar bc they did re-up him on April 1st to a 2 yr $3 mill contract so we're able to let him cook a lil more in the AHL with no worries of him being claimed!!! So it is strange that we have been dealing with this question or issue lately!?!?!
There is a world where they sign Carlson and Keep Risto to start the season. They have plenty of cap space, it just comes down to roster space. Andre is going to get moved in the offseason either way. They will qualify him, but he's too small and not skilled enough for his size. Bonk and Jiricek will split time, or Bonk plays in the AHL, but Tochette has kept 2 defensemen on the roster so it's in the cards to see a top pair of Sanhiem/Risto, 2nd pair of York and Drysdale, and the 3rd Pair of Seeler/Carlson with Bonk and Jiricek playing splitting 20 or so games before the deadline. I do not see Risto being here after that if Jiricek shows some promise. He's basically his younger replacement with way more upside. Ultimately, I think Carlson is a no-brainer signing if he will come here. 1-2 year deal, whatever he wants since it doesn't hamstring their cap space long term and they're not in a position to need that money free for at least a couple years. They also have to be at least above the cap floor, so spend it while you have it on some talent.
Their other needs are a couple 4th line/PK specialists which should not cost them very much space, as the other weakness this season was a 28th ranked penalty kill.
David Jiricek PP QB and Bonk 3 line RD .Trade Risto , offer Dorofeyev and trade for 1LC Kraken best destination for trade .