Potential offer-sheet targets for the Flyers — plus 3 Flyers who might get targeted

New York Times

15-04-2025

A dramatically rising salary cap, coupled with a healthy amount of talented young players on expiring entry-level deals, is already fueling speculation that the 2025 offseason could be the 'summer of offer sheets.'
Others are skeptical. After all, this sort of conjecture has happened before, only to fizzle out after July 1 when those offer sheets are eligible to be signed.
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But the St. Louis Blues successfully plucking Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers last summer — helping to spark a remarkable second-half surge into playoff position — surely has some other general managers thinking they might be able to do something similar. And considering Flyers general manager Daniel Briere has not been shy about trying to execute some major moves this summer, that's got to be one avenue he's pondering.
At the same time, the Flyers might not be immune to the threat themselves, with three key players who are pending restricted free agents: Noah Cates, Tyson Foerster and Cam York.
With that in mind, let's take an early look at players the Flyers could target, and how nervous they should be when it comes to keeping their own. Keep in mind, the offer-sheet compensation thresholds won't be revealed until June, but they're likely to be at least similar to last year's, listed here on PuckPedia.
McTavish, 22, has a healthy total of 22 goals and 51 points in 74 games this season, mostly as the Anaheim Ducks' third-line center. Drafted No. 3 overall in 2021, McTavish not only has the ability to create offense, but at 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, he's a tank.
McTavish hasn't quite developed into the high-end offensive threat the Ducks probably hoped he would be by this point, so they might be reluctant to match any sizable deal. They're also going to have to pay a number of their younger players in the near future, including Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier (whom they may ultimately view as a center) and goalie Lukas Dostal. Not only is McTavish behind Carlsson and Ryan Strome on the center depth chart, the Ducks rarely spend to the cap anyway. If the Flyers feel there's still runway for McTavish to reach greater heights offensively and figure out a way to acquire him, he would immediately become their top-line center.
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One scenario that could play out here, or with another target, is that the simple threat of an offer sheet might allow the Flyers to work out a trade. Perhaps there's a package deal with goalie John Gibson that makes sense here? The Flyers could include a guy like Ryan Poehling, for example, to help Anaheim fill the void that McTavish would leave, but it would obviously take more than that. Could the Flyers' own first-round pick, assuming it falls in the Nos. 5-to-7 range, even be in play for a guy like McTavish?
Another center, Rossi has 24 goals and 60 points with the Minnesota Wild as a middle-six option. He was also mentioned frequently in trade rumors this season. The primary issue with the 23-year-old Rossi is his size, as he's listed at just 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds. The Flyers are already among the smallest teams in the league.
The Wild might welcome a few extra draft choices if they're not sold on Rossi being a part of their future. They don't have a first- or a third-round pick in 2025, or a second-round pick in 2026 or 2027. If the Flyers were to threaten an offer sheet, perhaps Minnesota might be open to some sort of package with picks and/or a player (native son Bobby Brink, maybe)?
The 22-year-old is having a breakthrough season with 29 goals and 55 points in 76 games. He's exactly what the Flyers need: a power winger with size (6-foot-3, 227 pounds) who can score on the power play, where he has five goals and 15 points. Knies wouldn't solve the Flyers' problems at center, but he'd give them some needed offensive depth and physicality up front. His unique skill set was detailed here by colleague James Mirtle.
Knies' availability could depend on whether the Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign Mitch Marner. If the Maple Leafs can't afford Knies, the Flyers could be interested. And, of course, Briere has already done business with Toronto, dealing Scott Laughton there last month.
It's been a fairly dramatic decline for Dobson, who finished eighth in Norris Trophy voting last season but had some struggles with the New York Islanders this season. After totaling 70 points in 79 games in 2023-24, he has just 39 points in 69 games in 2024-25.
But Dobson only recently turned 25, so there's a decent chance this season is only a blip on the radar for him. He has some size at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, which, although he's not an overly physical player, would give the Flyers' blue line more wingspan on the left side. Dobson is also just one year removed from posting 24 points on the power play, which was 10th in the league among defensemen.
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If the Flyers are looking to take a chance on a younger center with upside who wouldn't cost them as much as the guys listed above, Bourque, 23, could fit the bill. He was the leading scorer in the AHL last season (77 points in 71 games), but has had trouble breaking through on a deep Dallas Stars team, currently skating on the wing of the third line.
The 23-year-old has probably made himself a few extra bucks with his late-season surge. Now with 24 goals on the season, he's tied with Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov for the team lead with two games to go. There's little doubt that the Flyers view Foerster as a key to their future, with his ability to shoot the puck and a 200-foot game that made him a favorite of former coach John Tortorella. It would be surprising if the Flyers didn't lock him up before July 1, perhaps even long-term.
Foerster's linemate, and another player it seems virtually impossible the Flyers let get away, Cates has been the Flyers' most consistent and versatile center since Thanksgiving. They're going to need him next season if they plan on getting better, particularly with their lack of depth down the middle. This deal will get done at some point, probably in the four-to-five-year range. In a perfect world, Cates slots in as a third-line center, even on a potential playoff team — which the Flyers hope to be sooner than later.
York reiterated after the Tortorella incident that resulted in his getting functionally suspended for a game that he wants to stay in Philadelphia. Whether the Flyers see him as a long-term fit, though, is still uncertain. There were talks about a contract extension into November, but nothing ever got done. If there's a team that's in love with York that's willing to give him, say, $5 million-plus annually, that would return the Flyers a first- and a third-round pick. They might be OK with that, particularly if they believe prospect Emil Andrae is ready to step in and start playing a bigger role.
(Photo of Mason McTavish: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)