NHL Rumors: Elliotte Friedman cites reason behind Flyers' Ryan Johansen decision

The Philadelphia Flyers placed forward Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers on Monday to terminate his contract due to a "material breach." The Flyers issued a brief statement on Tuesday, saying they would not comment further on the situation.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman provided more details, tweeting that Johansen plans to challenge the termination:

"A little more information: Johansen is expected to grieve this termination; Flyers aren’t commenting, but have made it clear they will present their case if asked to do. So, while the contract may be terminated tomorrow, there is going to be a bit of a process here"

Friedman later cited the reason behind Philadelphia's decision:

"According to several sources: at issue is the injury that prevented Johansen from playing games for Philadelphi after being traded from Colorado. We will see how it plays out."

This situation surrounding Ryan Johansen's contract has raised questions, particularly regarding the injury and how it was handled. As the situation develops, more information may emerge, but for now, both parties seem prepared for a dispute.

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Ryan Johansen's injury and the Philadelphia Flyers' situation

Johansen was dealing with a hip injury in March, before the playoffs. The team discovered this injury after trading for him from the Colorado Avalanche. He was acquired in a deal involving defenseman Sean Walker and has a history of leg issues. In 2017, during the Nashville Predators' playoff run, he suffered from acute compartment syndrome and needed immediate surgery.

In June, Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere expressed uncertainty about Johansen's injury recovery status:

"If he's healthy, he would be in camp and have the chance to show us what he can do," Briere said (via NHL.com) "If he's not and he needs surgery, then he'll have to go through that."

Despite never playing a game for the Flyers, Ryan Johansen's situation continues to develop. He had one year left on his eight-year, $64 million contract with the Nashville Predators before he was traded to the Avalanche on June 24, 2023.