On August 20, 2024, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that they had placed forward Ryan Johansen on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract due to a “material breach.” The specific reason for this breach was not disclosed by the team, leading to widespread speculation and controversy within the hockey community.
Johansen, 32, was acquired by the Flyers from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6, 2024, as part of a trade that included a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. However, Johansen never played a game for the Flyers. He was immediately placed on waivers but couldn’t clear due to a hip injury that he had sustained prior to the trade. This injury prevented him from being demoted to the American Hockey League (AHL) and kept him on the Flyers’ roster.