Flyers Officially Announce Five-Year Extension to Dan Vladar

Going into the 2025-26 season, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Philadelphia Flyers was whether they had finally solved their long-standing issue in goal. Daniel Briere believed he had found the answer when he acquired Daniel Vladar, a talented goaltender who had shown flashes throughout his career but had never truly been given the opportunity to establish himself as a full-time starter. At the time, it looked like an upside gamble, but that gamble changed the trajectory of the franchise and collapsed a rebuild that many believed was still two or three years away from becoming a legitimate playoff team.

When the season came to an end, there was little doubt about how the organization viewed Vladar’s impact. He had not only become the backbone of the Flyers on the ice but also one of the emotional leaders inside the locker room, earning the respect of his teammates, coaches, and management throughout a season that exceeded expectations. Briere didn’t dance around the question when asked about Vladar’s future with the organization.

“He was our MVP, so it’s tough to not like what he’s done,” Briere said. “We feel our prospect goalies need a little bit more time still. So, ideally we would love to extend Dan Vladar.”

And that they have done. The Flyers officially announced on Wednesday that they have signed Vladar to a five-year extension worth a $5.5 million average annual value. The contract could not be announced until July 1, per league rules.

Vladar has one season left on his current deal, a two-year, $6.7 million contract, so the extension will start next July 1, 2027.

This extension wasn’t handed to Vladar. He earned it. He went 29-14-7 with a 2.42 GAA and a .906 save percentage in 52 appearances this past season, by far the best year of his career. More importantly, the Flyers became a different team with him in net. During the two weeks he missed with a lower-body injury in January, Philadelphia went just 2-3-1 and immediately felt his absence, both on the ice and inside the locker room.

He carried the Flyers to their first playoff berth since 2019-20 and their first series win since 2019-20 as well, beating Pittsburgh in six games. He posted a 1.33 GAA and a .947 save percentage during that stretch against the Penguins, slamming the door shut on the closeout win, but also in the shootout to punch the Flyers’ ticket to the postseason.

READ MORE FROM THE PLAYOFF CLINCH:

Unlikely heroes come through in Flyers’ playoff-clinching win: ‘This is why you play’

Vladar was not only the team’s MVP by winning the Bobby Clarke Award, but he also became the beating heart of a team that showed grit and resilience in the face of adversity all season. His calm demeanor and positive mindset definitely affected how the team played. This was something that Rick Tocchet discussed all season, but in the playoffs, that was amplified.

“When they were pressing, coming in waves, he would come to the bench and say, ‘We’re OK,” Tocchet said. “How do you not love the guy? He’s taking a bullet for some guys or the team and taking a bullet for me.”

The numbers say the risk is real, but the Flyers’ front office doesn’t see it that way. For his career, Vladar carries a .898 save percentage and a 2.81 GAA across 157 games with Boston, Calgary, and now Philadelphia. This past season was only the second time in his career he posted a save percentage above .900. Vladar had never started more than 30 games in a season before this one. He appeared in 52 games and started 51, then wore down a bit in March after a two-week injury layoff in January interrupted what had been an outstanding season.

Tocchet said he could wear the “C” or the “A” if the Flyers ever wanted to put a letter on a goalie. No game captured Vladar’s impact on the Flyers better than Game 6 against Pittsburgh. After the game, teammate Cam York, who scored the overtime winner that night, gave Vladar the flowers he deserved for his performance, which became an instant classic for Flyers fans.

“It was just so back and forth, Grade A chances kind of both ways, and it just felt like nothing was going to get past Vladdy,” York said. “I think we all felt that, we knew that we just needed one good, decent look and we were able to capitalize. So, he was unbelievable for us tonight. Just so many Grade A chances that they had that he just stood tall for us.”

READ MORE FROM GAME 6 VS. PITTSBURGH:

Flyers Bent but Didn’t Break, Because Dan Vladar Didn’t Allow It: ‘He’s Obviously Such a Special Person’

Vladar won’t be the last domino to fall this summer. Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Nikita Grebenkin still need new deals. Vladar, the reigning team MVP, deserves to be first in line.

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