Since the beginning of June 2025, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere has made nearly three dozen moves. The majority of those were contract signings, while the rest involved trading and, in one particular case, a waiver pickup. Some of those signings were signing fairly simple entry-level contracts. Meanwhile, some trades were also of the minor league variety, giving players a fresh start with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms or a place to develop and get playing time. Overall, Briere hasn’t made too many bad moves in helping Philadelphia the last 12 months and change. Here then are a top 10 list (with one honorable mention) of the best moves Briere has made in the last twelve-plus months.
Honorable mention: Luke Glendening claimed off waiver wire (March 6, 2026)
Although it doesn’t quite fit in with the trade route, or the signing method, Briere pulled off a great addition without the acquisition costing a penny. After making some moves on trade deadline day, and with Philadelphia keeping afloat but still nowhere near a playoff spot, Briere took a late-season chance on forward Luke Glendening. Glendening, placed on waivers by the Devils, was thought to be someone who could play some minutes on the fourth line. And maybe be a replacement for Nic Deslauriers who was shipped off to Carolina for chance at a Cup.
Glendening provided a spark on the fourth line, finding instant chemistry with Sean Couturier and Garnet Hathaway. The trio began looked like something Philadelphia was starving for most of the season, namely a fourth line that could outwork opponents often. After getting four points in 52 games with New Jersey, Glendening had a pair of goals and three assists in 18 games with the Flyers. Down the stretch, that line was instrumental in helping Philadelphia chase down one team after another for a playoff spot. In the playoffs, the forward was able to be a strong center, and indirectly responsible for a handful of goals that the Flyers scored after the fourth line were able to make a complete change in the offensive zone. Overall it was a stroke of good luck for the player and Briere in what became a magical two-month sprint.
10) Ryan Ellis and 2026 6th-round pick traded from Flyers to San Jose for Carl Grundstrom and Artem Guryev
With Philadelphia’s ledger still having contracts to Scott Laughton, Kevin Hayes, and Cam Atkinson on the books, Briere did a great bit of housecleaning just before the season began. In shipping off Ryan Ellis to San Jose, he rid the Flyers of their Long Term Injured Reserve nightmare for the final two seasons of the Ellis contract. Seeing Philadelphia offload the deal was a solid move, with a late-round pick going along in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom and Artem Guryev.
Guryev, a huge physically imposing defenseman, played six games for the Phantoms but spent most of his time with the Reading Royals. Grundstrom was a bit of a revelation, scoring seven goals in October and having a four-game streak in the opening month. Grundstrom, who was up and down the lineup, ended up with just nine goals and four assists in 47 games. The fact he was able to do anything seemed like icing on the cake knowing Ellis had no more ties to the organization.
9) Ivan Fedotov traded from Flyers to Columbus for a 2026 sixth-round pick
The three-ringed circus that was Philadelphia’s 2025-26 goalie carousel was altered months prior, but sending Fedotov off to Columbus cleaned up the logjam somewhat when it came to the goaltenders with the big club and the Phantoms. Fedotov was a nice story, eventually playing in the National Hockey League after roughly a decade since being drafted. But his 2024-25 was dreadful. Sending him to the Blue Jackets cleared things up in Lehigh Valley while ensuring Sam Ersson wasn’t part of another gong show.
8) Christian Dvorak signing 1-year, $5.4 million contract
To say the Flyers needed center help prior to the 2025 NHL Draft was an understatement. The season ended with Noah Cates needing a new contract, Sean Couturier looking like a shell of his former self, and then hoping the Flyers would luck into some help down the middle. Instead, Briere was proactive, signing former Montreal forward Christian Dvorak to a one-year deal at $5.4 million. It was a slight overpay, but considering it was a one-year audition, it didn’t seem like a high-risk signing. Dvorak took the proverbial ball and ran with it, ending up with 51 points and 18 goals over 80 games.
The center provided some help in all areas, from his faceoff effectiveness to two-way game, and taking some of the pressure off a declining Couturier. Briere rewarded Dvorak with a five-year extension in early January worth $27.75 million ($5.15 million Average Annual Value). The deal has been criticized by some for the term. However, for the initial contract the team negotiated with Dvorak, it turned out to be a home run.
7) Cam York signing 5-year, $27.75 million contract
People might have signed Cam York to a two-year, $27.75 million deal had they known how the 2025-26 season would end up. A season that had him struggling at times, and getting help more from Jamie Drysdale than was the case the previous season, York ended the year on a high, scoring the overtime series-clinching goal against Pittsburgh at home in six games. The stick toss will be talked about for ages.
But back to the contract. With a cap hit that looks more than reasonable for a middle-pairing blueliner, and no trade protection if he’s part of a possible package to land a top-end center, the contract works on many levels for York and Philadelphia. Especially for a guy who just turned 25 in January. Another reasonable deal for both sides, and one that should pay off for Philadelphia should York conclude the contract here or somewhere else.
6) Bobby Brink traded from Flyers to Minnesota for David Jiricek
As a proponent of Bobby Brink and seeing him turn from a one-way player into a very credible, hard-working, puck-battling, two-way, middle-six forward, it was irksome to see him dealt to Minnesota on trade deadline day. It looked to be months in the making, especially considering the glut of wingers the Flyers had on the roster and in the pipeline. Brink, center Noah Cates, and Tyson Foerster provided one of the more consistent lines the last two seasons, so seeing that line dissolve for defenseman David Jiricek seemed odd.
However, Jiricek is the type of reclamation project Briere laps up in a heartbeat. A former first-round pick, Jiricek’s game never materialized with the Wild. Add Quinn Hughes to their roster and Jiricek was essentially the Wild’s defensive equivalent of Brink: too many players, and only so many spots. Jiricek looks to make the club next year. Briere is hoping he does also given he’s not protected from waivers. But with time for his game to develop, and a knack for having some oomph on the power play, this trade might end up looking quite well for the Flyers.
5) Flyers trade 2025 first-round picks (22nd and 31st overall) for Pittsburgh’s 2025 first-round pick (12th overall)
After selecting their top pick of the 2025 NHL Draft (more on that later), Briere was able to move up 10 spots in the first round by sending their two picks to Pittsburgh. The Penguins, who had the 12th pick, ended up with the Flyers’ pick as well as a pick Philadelphia originally acquired from the Oilers. Briere, looking to take a swing like he did in 2024 with Jett Luchanko, selected center Jack Nesbitt. Nesbitt, who has size and playmaking ability, ended up with 58 points in 55 games for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. By landing two picks in the top 12, Briere hopefully helped Philadelphia down the road with some high-end talent.
4) Noah Cates signing 4-year, $16 million contract
Much like the York deal, signing Noah Cates to a logical, somewhat cap-friendly contract last June was another feather in Briere’s cap. Landing a middle-six center for $4 million per year was a decent move by any standard, but especially given the rising salary cap, making the Cates deal look quite frugal. Cates responded with career highs in points (47) thanks to 18 goals. He also had nine power play points to go with four game-winning tallies. And much like the York deal, Cates isn’t locked in regarding no trade or no movement clauses, so the contract will be rather easily to unload if Cates is part of a package deal for a top-line center or blueliner.
It’s another good bit of business done with a player who has become one of the more consistent two-way players in Philadelphia the last handful of seasons.
3) Porter Martone signing his Entry-Level Contract
Although there are performances bonuses included in the deal, the only thing better than seeing the Flyers draft winger Porter Martone in 2025 was seeing him put pen to paper in late March. A stunning loss to Wisconsin left Martone’s NCAA career with Michigan State over. Martone quickly signed the entry-level deal with Philadelphia and Martone was gangbusters. After scoring his first goal in overtime against Boston, Martone continued to blossom as the Flyers frantic playoff push became a reality. As for the playoffs, the winger showed far more poise and potential than anyone expected, opening the first round with two more game-winning goals, including a laser in Game 1 against Pittsburgh. Obviously burning a year of the entry-level deal might not be seen as wise to some rather finicky fans, Martone’s selection and signing has given Flyer fans a lot more hope than they had roughly 365 days ago.
2) Flyers acquire Trevor Zegras from Ducks for Ryan Poehling, 2nd-round pick, 4th-round pick
It could be argued this trade was the biggest move Briere made. But we’ll give it the runner-up prize for now. Zegras was in no man’s land in Anaheim, going from a forward who had “Michigan” promise and highlight reel playmaking skills to a guy looking for a fresh start. The Flyers, who had Zegras in their sights for some time, landed him in exchange for Ryan Poehling and some draft picks. Nothing huge. What Zegras did was change the dynamic of the Flyers, possibly giving the team a center who can develop over time while also adding a piece that should be with the club for years to come. Zegras had personal highs in goals (26) and points (67). He also scored 23 points on the power play, which is a ray of hope on a team that needs to improve that special team.
Zegras settled in immediately, thanks to having some friends in York and defenseman Jamie Drysdale, and developing a strong relationship with head coach Rick Tocchet in his first year. With a contract extension that almost looks like a given before July 1 (or the NHL Draft) rolls around, the acquisition of Zegras was an extremely smart move for Philadelphia and Briere.
1) Dan Vladar signing 2-year, $6.7 million contract
Like Dvorak’s extension, the jury will be out on Vladar’s extension which is expected to be in the five-year range. However, none of that would have been possible if Briere never took the chance and rolled the dice on Vladar last summer. Realizing the goaltending situation couldn’t reasonably get much worse than 2024-25, Briere landed former Calgary backup Dan Vladar to a two-year deal at a very reasonable cap hit ($3.35 Average Annual Value). Vladar was thought to be the backup to Sam Ersson going into 2025-26. He had other ideas.
Those ideas were stunning. After playing more games than his previous two seasons combined, Vladar led Philadelphia to the promise land: the playoffs. Vladar was out for two weeks in January, and the team suffered for it. But otherwise, other than the sporadic off night any quality NHL goalie has, he was rock steady. And a tremendous booster to his teammates throughout the games. Anything but high maintenance, Vladar provided the foundation any team hoping to succeed needs: a goalie that can stop the puck at least nine times out of ten. In the end, it was the biggest acquisition Briere made for the Flyers the last 12 months and change. As a result, the foreseeable extension could be a very positive turning point for the club moving forward.
