Flyers: NHLPA, Ryan Johansen File Grievance Over Contract Termination

The NHL Players Association announced on Thursday afternoon that they have filed a grievance on behalf of Ryan Johansen against the Philadelphia Flyers, contesting the recent termination of Johansen’s contract.

Recall that Johansen, 32, was acquired by the Flyers, alongside a 2025 first-round pick, in an NHL trade deadline deal with the Colorado Avalanche that saw defenseman Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick leave Philadelphia.

Johansen played all 63 possible regular season games with the Avalanche before being acquired by the Flyers but presented with an injury upon arriving in Philadelphia to meet with team doctors. Although he was placed on and cleared waivers, Johansen could not report to the AHL to play for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by rule due to his injury.

Flyers general manager Danny Briere told Philly Hockey Now on June 21, “As far as I know, (Johansen is) doing stuff that isn’t too invasive to see if it can rectify his issues. I think he’s coming in here next week to meet with our doctors and trainers, so we’re hoping to get a little more clarification on the rest of the summer and leading into camp and the season next year.”

With no apparent progress made in that aspect, the Flyers moved to terminate the NHL veteran’s contract on Aug. 20, citing a “material breach” of the contract before Johansen was placed on and cleared unconditional waivers.

In a prepared statement released later that day, agent Kurt Overhardt said, “Ryan Johansen has a severe hockey injury that requires extensive surgery which has been scheduled. . . Since being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, Ryan has worked in good faith with the Club, its medical staff, and authorized third-party physicians.”

Since Johansen’s injury occurred no later than the day he was traded, this leaves five months between the injury and Overhardt’s statement that claims surgery is scheduled.

Briere revealed in a Sept. 17 press conference that Johansen’s contract was officially terminated by the Flyers, which leaves them with roughly $3.17 million in cap space, per PuckPedia.

The precedent in this situation is usually a settlement between the team and the player and the NHLPA, but the grievance that was filed on Thursday is only the first step of the process.