It's not the honeymoon Port Moody NHLer Ryan Johansen likely expected.
Just days after Johansen was married to his longtime partner, Abbey Gray, last Saturday, Aug. 17, in Ohio, the Philadelphia Flyers announced Tuesday, Aug. 20, it has placed the veteran forward on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.
The team said the move was due to “material breach” and would have “no further comment at this time.”
The Philadelphia Flyers have placed forward Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers today for the purpose of terminating his contract due to a material breach. pic.twitter.com/7P9aRhVIl2
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 20, 2024
Johansen, 32, was acquired by the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, along with a first-round selection in the 2025 NHL entry draft in exchange for defenceman Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Philadelphia then immediately placed Johansen on waivers and a day later he was reassigned to the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
But, mysteriously, Johansen remained on the Flyer’s NHL roster and never played a minute for his new organization.
Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere told the blog Philly Hockey Now it was because Johansen was injured and couldn’t be sent down.
“He’s back on our roster doing rehab and trying to get better,” Briere said of Johansen, who played in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks just two days before he was acquired by the Flyers but had only 11 minutes of ice time.
After Philadephia's season ended, Briere said Johansen's time with the team was likely over.
"He doesn’t think he can play hockey," he said. "We need to get him better to figure out if there’s even a remote chance of him dressing for the organization at any level."
According to broadcaster and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Johansen’s injury may have something to do with his release from the Flyers.
“At issue is the injury that prevented Johansen from playing games for Philadelphia after being traded from Colorado,” Friedman said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
According to several sources: at issue is the injury that prevented Johansen from playing games for Philadelphia after being traded from Colorado.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 20, 2024
We will see how it plays out
Johansen is in the final year of an eight-year, $64-million contract he signed after he was traded in 2016 by his original NHL team, the Columbus Blue Jackets, to the Nashville Predators.
Friedman said Johansen is “expected to grieve this termination,” adding the Flyers “have made it clear they will present their case if asked to do so.”
In a statement released later Tuesday, Johansen's agent, Kurt Overhardt, said that's exactly what his client will do.
"We have been in contact with the NHLPA and will defend Ryan and protect his rights," said Overhardt, the founder and CEO of KO Sports, Inc.
Overhardt, whose firm also represented former Coquitlam Express star and retired NHL forward Kyle Turris, said Johansen "has a severe hockey injury that requires extensive surgery which has been scheduled."
He added his client has "worked in good faith" with the Flyers organization, its medical staff and other authorized doctors.
Another NHL insider, TSN’s Chris Johnston, said it’s likely the team and player would negotiate some sort of settlement on the $8 million he’s due to be paid this coming season, although half of that money is being covered by the Predators.
Players released from their contract become free agents who can be signed by any team.
Johansen played 63 games last season for Colorado, which acquired him in June 2023. He scored 23 points.
In 905-career NHL games, Johansen has amassed 202 goals and 376 assists.
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