Flyers GM Confirms No Extension Talks With Pending Free Agents
Asked by RG's Andrew Knoll whether there'd been any progress on new deals for Matvei Michkov or Rasmus Ristolainen, GM Daniel Briere didn't leave much room for interpretation.
"There's nothing going on at the moment," Briere said. "I'm sure along the way, at some point, there will be discussions, but not at the moment."
Two Names On The Clock
Philadelphia has two notable players with contracts expiring next summer.
Michkov is exiting his entry-level contract and will become a restricted free agent without salary arbitration eligibility, while Ristolainen is set for unrestricted free agency in July. September 15 marks the last day a team can sign one of its own players to an eight-year extension before the new CBA drops the maximum to seven years the following morning.
🚨 Matvei Michkov is returning to Philly tonight 🚨 pic.twitter.com/9nhIG0pu3z
— PHLY Flyers (@PHLY_Flyers) August 31, 2026
Michkov's situation is complicated by an uneven season. After a strong 63-point rookie year in 2024-25, his production dipped to 20 goals and 31 assists across 81 games last season, with his ice time falling to just under 15 minutes a night.
Briere has said before that waiting to see how this season plays out might be the smarter approach for both sides, a stance he's clearly sticking with even as other young players around the league have landed massive raises this summer.
Michkov reportedly returned to the Philadelphia area Monday night for the first time since the season ended, putting him back in the building as camp approaches even with his contract still unresolved.
Ristolainen Is A Different Kind Of Case
Ristolainen's situation carries less urgency.
The Flyers have been willing to trade him for a couple of years now, always at a steep asking price, essentially keeping him unless the right offer comes along.
Chris Johnston on Insider Trading: "I'm still wondering maybe a Rasmus Ristolainen reunion in Buffalo although the prices there are pretty high because there are a lot of teams involved with Philadelphia"
— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 5, 2026
AFP Analytics has projected he could land north of $6 million annually on a medium-term deal, a real jump from his current $5.1 million cap hit. With Jamie Drysdale signed through 2029-30 and young defensemen David Jiricek and Oliver Bonk both locked in for two more seasons, Philadelphia already has a stable blue line even without bringing Ristolainen back.
