Michkov could help Flyers sign free agents in 2026

Another June 23 and another momumental piece of Flyers history has been added to this date. Matvei Michkov looks like he\'s officially done with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL and is heading to the Philadelphia Flyers two years earlier than expected.

The general consensus is that the plan for rebuilding would not change regardless of if or when Michkov arrived to join the Flyers. It\'s clear now though Michkov is definitely on his way. And although it most likely won\'t be this July 1 with the amount of dead money the team still on the books, the Flyers today essentially have opened their door a whole lot wider in alluring future top-talent unrestricted free agents, something that hasn\'t been said seriously in well over a decade.

The Flyers have a bevy of short-term anchors to deal with on their cap hit. Rasmus Ristolainen is currently on Injured Reserve. Although expected to be okay for the season\'s start, he still has three years left with a $5.1 million AAV. Then there\'s Ryan Ellis with three years and $6.25 million AAV on Long Term Injured Reserve. Cal Petersen has a year left at $3.85 million AAV and will most likely see Philadelphia only on a Google map before he plays for the Flyers this season (barring any injuries). In addition to those, Kevin Hayes is still on the payroll with two years left on retained salary for $3.571 million AAV. And Tony DeAngelo has a year left of his buyout with $1.666 million AAV. Not counting a possible buyout for Cam Atkinson, you\'re still looking at a batch of \"dead money\" on the books that is overwhelming to think about.

But there is light at the end of that tunnel, and that light is a lot brighter with today\'s news.

Briere would\'ve been seen as a genius by many had Michkov played out the rest of his contract and been ready for the Flyers in 2026-27. By having that possibly franchise-altering player here two seasons earlier he has simply made some of the other general managers who had the chance to take Michkov and passed on him look asinine. This gives Briere a lot more options at how to best compliment both the lineup and Michkov in terms of having people to play with. It should also give Briere time to see who is going to be with them when they become competitive again. And who they could covet from outside that might be able to get the Flyers to the dance again for the first time since 2010. Going the unrestricted free agent route when the \"dead money\" phase is officially dead could be the icing on what might already be a very, very desirable cake.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances Michkov will be entering his third season in the NHL in 2026-27. All with the possible exception of Ristolainen (and Ellis) will be off the books with most likely somewhere in the range of $8 million (conservatively) to $11 million (hopeful) added to the cap ceiling. So, if Briere is able to navigate his way through these waters he could be looking at having a decent chunk of cap money to play with to then attract the bigger fish that the Flyers were rarely in on since their 2010 Stanley Cup Final. Having a possible budding superstar still on his entry level contract could make things a lot more lucrative to unrestricted free agents who see a team that is hopefully on the rise and becoming more in the conversation of contender and less in the conversation as a darkhorse.

As of now the current UFA class for 2026-27 is led by Connor McDavid. It would clearly take a boatload of cash and the Oilers imploding spectacularly over the next two seasons for him to want out. But there are other UFAs that might not break the bank but could end up being huge additions. Adrian Kempe from the Kings is one who will be 29 as a UFA, Seattle\'s Oliver Bjorkstand would be 31 and also available. Other names that could be in that UFA class for July 1, 2026 also include Jack Eichel from the Golden Knights, Utah\'s Nick Schmaltz, Winnipeg\'s Kyle Connor and Minnesota\'s Kirill Kaprizov. The Rangers could both have Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba hitting the UFA market also.

Of course, all of those listed above could resign with their teams, but knowing the Flyers could be open for business in year three of Michkov\'s entry-level deal is something that has to make Briere feel good. Could Malkin want to play with a young Russian forward to close out his career, even if it is with a cross-state fiend? These are questions you could\'ve asked yesterday and been laughed out of the room. The answers today don\'t sound quite as stupid or far-fetched.

The key for Briere is to not rush things along, something teams with budding superstars (hello Toronto, hello Edmonton) have done, trading away the future in the hopes some aging UFA can get them over the hump now. It sounds like Briere knows patience is still crucial in order to get this team back off the ground for a lengthy, consistent chance for success each May and June.

On June 23, 2011, the Flyers altered the course of their franchise with the Mike Richards and Jeff Carter trades, essentially making Claude Giroux the cornerstone of what was to come. Now 13 years to the day, the Flyers have basically made Matvei Michkov that cornerstone despite not having played a game yet. Michkov\'s addition can do nothing but help Briere test the free agent waters if not in 2025 then certainly in 2026. Today is a good day. Maybe down the road sometime there\'s a parade on June 23.

Talking Points