The Philadelphia Flyers made the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this year, but they are looking for more. After a six-year playoff drought, they are building a contender. That starts with an unsuing hero at the sport’s most important position. The Flyers are working on a contract extension for goalie Dan Vladar, according to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes.
Per sources, I’m told G Vladar and
the @NHLFlyers are working towards
closing in on a 5 Yr Contract Extension
that’s likely to land in the mid 5M AAV
range. #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/V0ubAjFEx1— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) June 14, 2026
“Per sources, I’m told G Vladar and the [Flyers] are working towards closing in on a 5 Yr Contract Extension that’s likely to land in the mid 5M AAV range,” Weekes reported.
Vladar was a third-round pick by the Boston Bruins back in 2015, but only played five games for the club. With Jeremy Swayman breaking into the league at the same time, Boston chose the American and traded the Czech goalie to the Calgary Flames. After making 90 starts in five years in Calgary, Vladar signed a two-year contract with the Flyers.
That two-year deal started this year, and the Flyers put him to work. Vladar started 51 regular-season games and all ten postseason games for Rick Tocchet. By the end of the run, he had run out of gas, losing all four games to the Hurricanes. But the Flyers believe in him as the starter and are going to pay him as such.
A backup for Dan Vladar must be the Flyers’ priority
In 2025-26, the Flyers ran out Samuel Ersson for 33 games to a dreadful .870 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average. Compare that to Vladar’s .906 and 2.42, and it’s easy to see why the latter got the playoff net. But Tocchet and the front office have to learn their lesson and decrease Vladar’s regular-season workload.
That means finding a new backup to improve on Ersson’s performance from last year. While Ersson is only 26 years old, Vladar is going to be paid like the starter and needs the support. David Rittich had a solid season with the New York Islanders and will be a free agent on July 1. He may be the most cost-effective backup option on the market. He is also from Czechia, the same country as Vladar.
The Flyers are not allowed to officially sign Vladar until July 1, which marks the start of the league year. That day, they should also find him a competent backup to get the most out of him late in the season. What else could the Flyers add this summer to make a deep playoff run next season?
The post Flyers rumors: Dan Vladar close to extension contract after 1 season with Philadelphia appeared first on ClutchPoints.
