Monthly Archives: July 2025
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 5, 2025
Don't Discount Nikita Grebenkin in Battle for Flyers Roster Spot
With an open battle brewing amongst wingers for an NHL roster spot with the Philadelphia Flyers, don't discount Nikita Grebenkin.
The affable 22-year-old Russian isn't drawing as much hype as counterparts Alex Bump and Porter Martone these days, but Bump and Martone are benefitting from being the shiny new toys of the prospect pool.
Both players are attending and skating at development camp this week, Bump is about to turn pro, and Martone is the No. 6 overall pick in the most recent NHL draft with a skillset that arguably should have seen him get picked much higher.
There's room on the Flyers' roster for all three, of course, in the wake of the injury to Tyson Foerster, but Grebenkin is inherently the dark horse of the group... for now.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has the benefit of having already played seven NHL games in addition to 143 KHL games and 57 AHL games.
Maple Leafs Coach Heaps Big Praise Upon Rising Flyers ProspectToronto Maple Leafs head coach and former Philadelphia Flyers bench boss Craig Berube likes what he's seen from Nikita Grebenkin, one of his old players. And he knows there's room for plenty more as Grebenkin embarks on the next chapter of his NHL career with the Flyers.
Grebenkin also won the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2023-2024 and won the Aleksei Cherepanov Award as the KHL's most outstanding rookie the season prior.
Plus, Grebenkin nearly debuted for the Flyers once already. Fans may recall that Grebenkin was re-called on an emergency basis on April 13, only to be re-assigned back to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms roughly 30 minutes later.
He's hoping that the next time he sees the NHL, he actually plays for the Flyers and remains with them.
"When I was traded to the Flyers, I only saw [Aleksei Kolosov] there from the Russians. I just changed the environment, the atmosphere for myself. I couldn’t play in the NHL, according to the rules, because after the deadline, only five [sic] people from the AHL can play. And at the deadline, five people were already called up," Grebenkin told Nikita Plokhikh of Sovetsky Sport. "But it happens. I think this will benefit both me and the team in the future."
The four AHL call-ups that preceded Grebenkin's emergency call-up were Kolosov, ironically; Emil Andrae, Rodrigo Abols, and Olle Lycksell.
Andrae, Abols, and Lycksell were re-called the same day the Flyers acquired Grebenkin from the Maple Leafs, so he didn't have much of a claim to a roster spot at the time.
Nikita Grebenkin Continuing Torrid Start to Life in Flyers OrganizationThe Philadelphia Flyers knew Nikita Grebenkin was a stud prospect when they acquired him from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but were they expecting this?
The Kolosov one was a little more bizarre, but he did end up starting two games in the last week of the season, including the season finale loss to Buffalo.
In any event, after acclimating to the Flyers organization and familiarizing himself with some current and future teammates, Grebenkin knows what to expect going forward.
"My role in the team is the third or fourth line. I need to take my place in the lineup, work on it. I hope for more, of course," Grebenkin said. "but for now, this is my goal, what I'm striving for, to secure a place in the lineup and help the Flyers win every match."
At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, and with his aggressive playing style, Grebenkin may have the edge over a player like Bump and the inexperienced Martone.
What comes next is squarely in his hands now.
Looking back at Panthers 6-game victory over Edmonton in Stanley Cup Final
It’s been quite a fortnight for followers of the Florida Panthers.
Just about two and half weeks have passed since the Panthers claimed their second straight Stanley Cup title.
In that time, we’ve seen some spectacular celebrations, another epic parade, the NHL Draft and the start of free agency.
Similarly to last season, Florida followed up their Stanley Cup Final victory over the Edmonton Oilers by hitting the town and enjoying the victory with their fans.
One welcomed difference to last June was that at this year’s parade, there was no rain. The sun shined throughout as hundreds of thousands of Panthers fans lined A1A along Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Interestingly, the Panthers have been one of the busier teams during the offseason, somehow re-signing all of their big unrestricted free agents – Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand – among the many moves made to shore the team up at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Now that it’s been a couple weeks since Florida last played a hockey game, it felt like a good time to take a look back at the six-game series against Edmonton.
Tight, high-scoring overtime games eventually led to Florida taking over toward the latter stages of the series, slowly but surely breaking down the Oilers and showing that they were the better team for the second year in a row.
Take a few minutes and check out the NHL’s Stanley Cup Final recap video below:
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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) celebrates after his goal as Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) watches during the second period in game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
Former Penguins Forward Anthony Beauvillier Re-Signs With Capitals
The Anthony Beauvillier experiment was a success for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2024-25 season.
They signed him to a one-year deal last July with the hopes that he would bounce back after a rough 2023-24 season, and he did exactly that, scoring 13 goals and finishing with 20 points in 63 games. He spent the rest of the season with the Washington Capitals after they acquired him at the trade deadline from the Penguins for a second-round pick.
Beauvillier had two goals and five points in 18 regular-season games with the Capitals before finishing the playoffs with two goals and six points in 10 games.
The Capitals loved what they saw and signed him to a two-year, $5.5 million contract. The deal will carry an average annual value of $2.75 million.
That's an excellent price for Beauvillier, who figures to slot into a middle-six role and can also play in the top six should injuries arise. The Capitals are coming off a second-round playoff exit at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes.
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Featured Image Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
NHL Free Agency: Did Six Cup Contenders Improve, Worsen Or Stay The Same?
As roster activity slows down following the start of the NHL’s free-agent frenzy, it’s becoming clearer what Stanley Cup contenders have done (and in some cases, haven’t done).
In this list, we’ll be breaking down a handful of Cup contenders that either improved, got worse or stayed the same after the start of NHL free agency.
Carolina Hurricanes
Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Improved
Why? The Hurricanes’ defense corps took a hit with the departures of veteran blueliners Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov. But Carolina GM Eric Tulsky addressed that area with the acquisition of former New York Rangers D-man K’Andre Miller and 31-year-old Mike Reilly.
The Hurricanes will be depend on youngster Alexander Nikishin to prove himself as a regular defenseman, but Carolina is an improved group overall with the addition of left winger Nikolaj Ehlers. The former Winnipeg Jets veteran can slot in on the top line along with star center Sebastian Aho and right winger Seth Jarvis, which would be one of the NHL’s very best first lines. At the very least, he will be an effective top-six player for the long term with a strong balance of goals and assists.
Carolina may still address its goaltending tandem, but in early July, this Hurricanes team looks deep, skilled and determined to push deeper into the post-season than it’s done in recent memory.
Colorado Avalanche
Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Improved
Why? The Avalanche are in the ultra-competitive Central Division, and GM Chris MacFarland proved last season he’s ready, willing and able to take big swings when it comes to changing up his roster. This summer, the Avs have already made tough decisions, including letting veteran left winger Jonathan Drouin leave via free agency and trading Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets to free cap space.
However, the Avalanche did double down on veteran center Brock Nelson as their second-line pivot, and they got an incredible bargain when greybeard defenseman Brent Burns signed a one-year, $1-million contract. The addition of Burns means that, once again, Colorado’s defense corps is going to be one of the best in the game.
The Avs still have about $4.12 million in cap space. They’ve got outstanding players at the high end of their pay scale and sturdy secondary components to fill out the roster. We dare say Colorado will push higher in the Central next season.
Dallas Stars
Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Stayed the same
Why? The Stars came into the off-season knowing they’d have to shed some talent to fit under the cap ceiling. They did that by trading left winger Mason Marchment to Seattle, but otherwise, they’ve been able to stay at least as competitive as last year’s team. That’s partially because captain Jamie Benn agreed to a one-year, $1-million contract with performance bonuses that could turn into one of the league’s better bargains.
That said, we don’t see the Stars as an improved team. Yes, they brought back veteran center Radek Faksa for a second tour of duty with the team, but Dallas is still slightly over the cap ceiling, so GM Jim Nill will have to move some money around by the time the season begins. Still, there’s a lot to like about this Stars team. We believe they’ll still perform about as well as they did last year.
Edmonton Oilers
Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Got worse
Why? The Oilers did find a way to fit in star defenseman Evan Bouchard’s new contract with their cap structure, but it came at the expense of veteran winger Evander Kane, who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. And Edmonton’s cap limitations also meant that valuable veterans Corey Perry and Connor Brown departed for Los Angeles and New Jersey, respectively.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman ostensibly replaced the offense lost with Perry and Brown moving on by signing former Washington Capitals winger Andrew Mangiapane. But other than re-signing secondary pieces Kasperi Kapanen and Trent Frederic, Edmonton has more or less been slowly picked away at by its cap constraints.
We still think the Oilers will compete for top spot in the Pacific Division, but if they go far in the playoffs again, it could be with a roster that currently looks worse on paper.
Florida Panthers
Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Stayed the same
Why? When you’re coming off back-to-back Cup championships, it’s basically impossible to improve on that performance. So we say that, with all due respect to Panthers GM Bill Zito and the brilliant job he’s done by retaining free agents Aaron Ekblad, Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, Florida basically stayed the same. That’s a very good thing.
The Panthers did lose some depth on defense with the departure of veteran Nate Schmidt, and given that Florida is now $2.95 million over the cap ceiling, Zito will have to make more cost-cutting moves in the days and weeks ahead. But when they’re getting their first full season with Marchand and defenseman Seth Jones, that should frighten every team in the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights
Improved, got worse, or stayed the same? Improved
Why? The Golden Knights landed the biggest fish in the UFA market this summer with the trade for and signing of former Maple Leafs star right winger Mitch Marner. To do so, they had to part ways with defenseman Nicolas Hague and center Nic Roy, but when you’ve added the instant offense that Marner will bring, it’s clear to just about everyone that Vegas is already a better team than the one that won the Pacific last season.
Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon is one of the savviest managers in the game, and he’s put together a lineup for 2025-26 that is clearly capable of going on a deep post-season run.
Marner has something to prove, as do the other Vegas players who weren’t around for the franchise’s first Cup victory. So, much of the roster is hungry and determined to push deep into the playoffs. That’s why we believe the Golden Knights are better now than they were at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
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Ottawa Senators: Are They Now Ready To Challenge In A Brutally Tough Atlantic Division?
Now that Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has had to watch his brother, Matthew, hoist the Stanley Cup in the Sunshine State for the second year in a row, it’s time to assess what GM Steve Staios had done over the past week to get Brady out of the backseat of that Hyundai Palisade.
1) Familiarity Breeds Growth
Coming out of the draft and the free agent frenzy, the Senators bid adieu to former regulars, Anton Forsberg, Travis Hamonic and Adam Gaudette. They extended Leevi Merilainen, traded for Jordan Spence and signed Lars Eller to be their replacements. GM Steve Staios also described deadline acquisitions Dylan Cozens and Fabian Zetterlund as being part of the team's overall roster improvements for this fall.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the Senators acquiring Jordan Spence from the LA Kings.
Depth pieces continue to be added, like former LA Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev and Washington Capitals minor league goalie Hunter Shepard.
It would seem, at first glance, that Staios believes that the roster that bowed out in six to the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one is closer to making a push than Sens Nation might have thought.
By leaving nearly $4.3 million in unspent cap heading into the season, fans might also conclude that Staios believes the Senators will be buyers at the trade deadline and wants to be able to take on salary without sacrificing draft capital.
Looking around the Atlantic, the Senators may now be able to challenge the Leafs in a playoff matchup. But with the Florida Panthers retaining almost all of their key personnel, it remains to be seen if the Senators can challenge the two-time defending champs.
2) Right Side Defense Depth
In addition to being a former right shot defenseman in the NHL, Staios seems to have put a premium on stocking that side of the cupboard with several moves in recent weeks.
The first move was to bring back 2019 first-rounder Lassi Thomson on a one-year, two-way contract at the league minimum. Thomson led the Malmo RedHawks in scoring last year in the Swedish Elite League, and perhaps he found his mojo in Europe.
The move at the draft to trade down and acquire Logan Hensler out of Wisconsin is Staios’ second year in a row investing a first-round pick in an RHD. Coincidence? Perhaps. However, when you throw Jordan Spence into the mix, a player who is ready to play now, it does give pause for thought.
What is Staios preparing for?
Clearly, Staios values being deep on the right side – both now and in the future. This side of the aisle has been a vulnerability in the past.
But Staios may also be worried about the viability of Nick Jensen for next season. Jensen is non-committal about his timeline for return after a reported hip surgery in May. This stockpiling of right-shot defensemen may be more than just depth. Staios may be preparing for the LTIR eventuality should Jensen’s recovery drift into the season, or worse, not go as planned.
Will this bridge the gap between the Senators and the elites of the East? This seems unlikely, but it appears that Staios is banking on his existing core taking a huge step forward this coming season.
3) Wiser, Not Older
By retaining the services of Claude Giroux, beloved assistant captain and mentor to Brady Tkachuk, this may be the strongest message that Staios could send to his dressing room and his fan base.
When you add Lars Eller to the mix, the Senators will now boast three players 36 years of age or older. Two of them are former Cup winners in Perron and Eller. So Staios obviously believes that experience makes a huge difference in the room and on the ice.
Giroux believes it as well. Financially, he could have done better elsewhere had he wanted to, and he seems prepared to negotiate one year at a time to earn his keep. He may love Ottawa, but he's not staying if he doesn't believe in the group.
But is this enough to get Brady out of the backseat? Will he just be a spectator at another Cup celebration in Sunrise, or does he believe, as Staios and Giroux do, that the Senators are ready to be contenders, not pretenders?
Again, this remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The Senators and their core will have to take a huge step forward, because the Panthers may be a dynasty in the making.
By Pat Maguire
The Hockey News/Ottawa
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Sens First-Rounder Says He Models His Game After Jake Sanderson
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Abbotsford Canucks 2025 Free Agency Tracker
The Vancouver Canucks made some big moves during the start of the 2025 Free Agency period, some of which impacted their AHL affiliate, the Calder Cup Champion Abbotsford Canucks. Vancouver offered short-term contracts to some of the team’s star forwards, but also didn’t qualify some of their character staples. Let’s take a look at how Abbotsford’s roster is looking after the first couple of days of free agency.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Four big pieces of Abbotsford’s locker room were signed to contract extensions the morning of June 30. The first of these was Max Sasson, who inked a one-year extension worth $775K. Sasson was a key piece in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup victory, as he scored five goals and nine assists in 24 games and was consistently one of the most noticeable forwards on the ice. In the NHL, the 2024–25 season was a successful one for Sasson, as he made his NHL debut and scored his first career NHL goal.
Howtown hero Arshdeep Bains was also signed to a contract extension, with the Canucks keeping the forward within the organization for another two years. Bains led the AHL Canucks in points during the 2024–25 regular season, scoring 11 goals and 32 assists in 50 games played. As well, he averaged a point per game pace during the Calder Cup Playoffs with seven goals and 17 assists in 24 games.
Another Abbotsford Canuck who signed a two-year deal with Vancouver was Aatu Räty. Though the forward missed most of the Calder Cup Playoffs due to injury, he made his mark at the NHL level by impressing at training camp and proving he can play a solid role as an NHL center. He finished the AHL season with 17 goals and 23 assists in 43 games, and seven goals and four assists in 33 NHL games.
The final AHL Canuck who received a new deal on June 30 was Guillaume Brisebois, who signed a one-year, two-way deal. The long-tenured Canucks defender has been with the organization since being drafted 66th overall by them in 2015. As a reliable depth defender at the NHL level, and a solid top-six option at the AHL level, Brisebois has been a franchise staple regardless of where he plays in the lineup. He had two goals and an assist in the team’s 24-game Calder Cup campaign.
T-Woo Qualifying Offers
On the same day as the four re-signings, Vancouver announced that they would be extending qualifying offers to two members of Abbotsford. Jett Woo, a key member of Abbotsford’s leadership core, received a qualifying offer from the team. Woo was selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft by Vancouver and has remained within the organization since then. He was one of four players to wear an ‘A’ for Abbotsford this season, and is one of three active players who also played for the Utica Comets. He scored a goal and five assists in 22 Calder Cup Playoff games.
Nikita Tolopilo was the second AHL Canuck to receive a qualifying offer. Tolopilo played in 36 of Abbotsford’s games during the 2024–25 regular season, registering a record of 20–14–2. He made 833 saves and posted a 2.66 GAA and .902 SV%. As well, Tolopilo had four shutouts. He won his NHL debut at the end of Vancouver’s regular season, recording a .938 SV% and 16 saves.
Unfortunately, four Abbotsford players were also not given qualifying offers. Defencemen Cole McWard and Christian Felton, and forwards Ty Glover and Tristen Nielsen did not receive qualifying offers from the team.
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New Deals With New Teams
As of publication, three former members of the AHL Canucks have signed new deals with new teams. McWard, who was not given a qualifying offer by Vancouver, became a free agent and signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders. The defenceman was signed by Vancouver in April of 2023 and made his NHL debut the same month. During Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run, he scored a goal and an assist in 12 games. Due to shifts in the lineup, McWard’s last playoff game was at the start of the Western Conference Final.
One of the team’s veterans, Phil Di Giuseppe, also departed from the team in free agency. He signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1, ending his four-year run with Vancouver. In his time with Abbotsford, Di Giuseppe scored 29 goals and 48 assists in 101 games played. He also had six goals and five assists in the team’s Calder Cup run this season.
While he was only with the Canucks organization for a season, forward Sammy Blais endeared himself to the fanbase as a hard-hitting character who could get under the skin of any opponents. Blais was signed to a PTO by Vancouver at the start of the 2024–25 season, but ultimately did not make the team and reported to Abbotsford for the season. He hit another level in the playoffs, scoring three goals and eight assists in the first 10 games and finishing the postseason with 19 points in 23 matches. On July 1, he signed a one-year contract with the Montréal Canadiens.
Unsigned (For Now?)
A crop of AHL Canucks have yet to sign new contracts with new teams or the Canucks. This includes those who were not given qualifying offers by Vancouver. Nate Smith, who joined Abbotsford for the 2024–25 season after two years with the Tucson Roadrunners, has yet to sign a contract with a team for 2025–26. The forward had nine goals and 17 assists in 60 games played with Abbotsford this season, as well as four goals and five assists in 22 playoff games.
Ty Glover is another forward who hasn’t signed a contract for the 2025–26 season yet. He was acquired by the Canucks via trade, and has spent the last two seasons with Abbotsford. During this time, he scored seven goals and 10 assists in 74 games. Glover also spent 15 games with the Kalamazoo Wings, Vancouver’s ECHL affiliate, back in 2023–24. With the Wings, he scored 12 goals and 11 assists.
A fan favourite and four-year member of the AHL Canucks, Tristen Nielsen is the final member of the team who was not given a qualifying offer and remains unsigned. The forward first joined the Canucks organization for the 2021–22 season, and has since posted 52 goals and 63 assists in 231 games. Nielsen also had five goals and four assists in all 24 of the team’s playoff games.
Christian Wolanin, who broke out offensively for Abbotsford in the 2022–23 season with six goals and 49 assists in 49 games, has yet to sign a contract for 2025–26. Wolanin has spent the past three seasons with the Canucks organization, signing a one-year contract with the team in 2022–23, and then a two-year deal that took him to the end of this season. He led all of the team’s defencemen in points during the regular season (40 in 58 games) and was tied with Kirill Kudryavtsev for the lead in playoffs (10).
The final player who remains unsigned is Akito Hirose. Brought into the Canucks organization in 2023, Hirose made his NHL debut on April 2 of this year and also played in three of Vancouver’s games in 2023–24. During the Calder Cup Playoffs this season, Hirose was taken out of the lineup due to players returning from injury, but found his way back in and stuck. He scored a goal and four assists in 22 playoff games.
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Did Evan Bouchard Hurt The Oilers' Cap Flexibility Or Just Make A Smart Contract Decision?
The Edmonton Oilers locked in one of their most important young stars on Monday by signing defenseman Evan Bouchard to a four-year extension worth $10.5 million annually.
It’s full price for an elite offensive defenseman, and it’s fair to ask whether Bouchard hurt the Oilers’ future cap flexibility, simply made a smart business decision in today’s NHL or both.
Speaking with the media, Oilers GM Stan Bowman said an eight-year contract – something many insiders and fans believed was the obvious move – was never a realistic option. Bouchard’s camp made it clear early in negotiations that a long-term commitment didn’t make sense for them.
“Getting him signed was critical,” Bowman said. “I guess in the negotiations, an eight-year term was never really in the cards… It’s really a function of the salary cap and where that’s going. We certainly know over the next three years, that’s going up considerably.”
Bowman said the asking price for an eight-year deal was so high that it “wouldn’t really make sense for anybody.”
While the Oilers were open to locking Bouchard up long-term, they were forced to shift gears, settling on a shorter-term deal that pays the 25-year-old top dollar now but also sets him up to cash in again when the cap is even higher.
In the short term, Bouchard’s $10.5-million cap hit will eat up a substantial portion of Edmonton’s salary space, potentially limiting the team’s ability to round out the roster. Add that cap hit to Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million, Darnell Nurse’s $9.25 million and Connor McDavid’s $12.5 million, and four players are eating up over 48 percent of the cap.
The Oilers now only have just under $176,000 in cap space with Andrew Mangiapane, Curtis Lazar and David Tomasek replacing Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown, Corey Perry and Jeff Skinner.
With the club in win-now mode, every dollar counts in achieving Cup-winning depth. Bouchard not taking a slight haircut on a four-year deal could ultimately hamper the Oilers’ chances of capturing the Stanley Cup.
At the same time, it’s hard to fault Bouchard for betting on himself.
With the salary cap set to climb, locking into an eight-year deal now could have left millions on the table. By taking a shorter contract, he keeps his options open and ensures he can negotiate another lucrative deal when the financial landscape is even more favorable.
Bouchard is arguably worth every penny of this deal. He’s been the high-scoring defenseman in the NHL for three straight playoffs. He had the most points by a D-man through the first two rounds of a single post-season in NHL history in 24, with 20 in 12 games, and he had the second-most points per game of any blueliner playing at least 15 games in the playoffs in 2024-25, trailing only Bobby Orr.
Defensemen are also getting paid good money this off-season. Noah Dobson just got a $9.5-million cap hit on an eight-year deal, and Ivan Provorov got an $8.5-million cap hit. Bouchard went one step further with his cap hit while potentially getting another raise in 2029.
In the end, this could be a case of Bouchard putting himself ahead of the team, but it’s a savvy decision for him in an evolving NHL market, and the Oilers got their star defenseman signed. That’s good news for keeping their Stanley Cup window wide open.
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Flyers Among NHL Leaders in Dead Salary Cap Space
The Philadelphia Flyers will head into the 2025-26 season with the third-highest amount of dead salary cap space in the NHL.
The Flyers are, for the time being, well-positioned to be cap-compliant to start the new season.
Their $5.52 million in available cap space currently ranks 17th in the NHL, and that's after a flurry of signings on the first day of NHL free agency, including center Christian Dvorak and goalie Dan Vladar.
But, there is one important piece of business still remaining, and that is to re-sign RFA defenseman Cam York,
The 24-year-old's next contract is likely to take up most of, if not all of that remaining space, especially given the current state of the market for defensemen and the rising cap ceiling in future seasons.
That's where the Flyers' sky-high dead cap comes into play.
Where Did These Former Flyers End Up in NHL Free Agency?Between their additions and subtractions, the Philadelphia Flyers have been well-represented in NHL free agency this year.
According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have the third-highest dead cap in the NHL, with their $6.83 million coming in behind San Jose's $9.69 million and Nashville's $10.23 million.
The Flyers have one year remaining on Cam Atkinson's buyout at a $1.758 million cap charge in addition to retaining half of Scott Laughton's salary ($1.5 million) and Kevin Hayes's salary ($3.571 million) in previous trades.
Not included in the dead cap number is Ryan Ellis's contract, which can be put on LTIR for relief during the season. But, technically, that's another $6.2 million the Flyers can't use for the roster.
If and when the Flyers assign goalie Ivan Fedotov to the AHL, they'll create a small $2.1 million cushion for themselves, but bringing a forward like Alex Bump or Porter Martone onto the NHL roster in his stead will immediately eliminate half of that relief.
Fortunately for the Flyers, their cap woes will come to an end after this season, as Atkinson, Hayes, and Laughton are all due to come off the books.