Flyers waive Johansen citing 'material breach'

On August 20, 2024, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that they had placed forward Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract due to a "material breach." The specific reason for this breach was not disclosed by the team, leading to widespread speculation and controversy within the hockey community.

Johansen, 32, was acquired by the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2024, as part of a trade that included a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. However, Johansen never played a game for the Flyers. He was immediately placed on waivers but couldn't clear due to a hip injury that he had sustained prior to the trade. This injury prevented him from being demoted to the American Hockey League (AHL) and kept him on the Flyers' roster.

Flyers General Manager Danny Brière had previously expressed uncertainty about Johansen's recovery and future with the team. He mentioned that Johansen was supposed to meet with the team's doctors and trainers to get more clarity on his condition, but it seems that the situation deteriorated instead.

The Flyers' decision to terminate Johansen's contract will relieve them of his $4 million salary cap hit, which was the portion of his $8 million annual contract that they were responsible for. This contract originally came from an eight-year, $64 million deal that Johansen signed with the Nashville Predators in 2017.

The decision to terminate Johansen's contract has sparked a significant amount of controversy. NHL insiders suggest that Johansen is expected to challenge this termination, and he has 60 days to file a grievance. This situation is drawing comparisons to past instances where NHL teams terminated player contracts for material breaches, such as the Los Angeles Kings' termination of Mike Richards' contract in 2015.

While the Flyers have not provided details on the exact nature of the breach, the lack of transparency has fueled various rumors and concerns about the team's management and Johansen's conduct. As the story unfolds, it is likely to remain a hot topic in the NHL as the 2024-2025 season approaches​ (NHL)​ (HockeyFeed)​ (Philly Hockey Now).