Philadelphia Flyers
2026-06-19
The Philadelphia Flyers made a surprising run to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026, winning a series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Head coach Rick Tocchet brought postseason hockey back to Philadelphia in his first season. General manager Daniel Briere has about $32.5 million to work with in free agency. The Flyers should sign Darren Raddysh, a defenseman who scored 22 goals and 70 points for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Raddysh's production on the power play, with 10 goals and 26 points, is exactly what the Flyers need. And with the recent trade of Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit, the Flyers have bolstered their goaltending. But Raddysh's signing would give them an element they currently lack. Rasmus Ristolainen's potential trade could solve the crowded defensive group issue. Darren Raddysh is one of the top players in this free agency class, and some team will pay big for him. The Flyers' hesitation is understandable, given Raddysh's outlier season, but he could completely transform their blueline. So the question is, will the Flyers go for broke and sign Raddysh. The answer will depend on how much they value his skills and how much they are willing to pay. Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Matvei Michkov are all restricted free agents, which will eat into the Flyers' cap space. But with the right signing, the Flyers could make a deep run in the playoffs next season. The Flyers dominated the Penguins for much of their first-round series, and their postseason run ended with a sweep by the Carolina Hurricanes. Now they are looking to improve and make a stronger push for the Stanley Cup.