Report: Ryan Johansen's NHL Days Are Likely Over

As the Philadelphia Flyers cleared their lockers and headed home for the season after a disappointing finish out of the playoffs, one item that emerged is the fact that Ryan Johansen, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the trade for Sean Walker, may be done in the NHL.

Briere said of Ryan Johansen that the player doesn't believe he (medically) can play hockey again.
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) April 19, 2024

Flyers GM Danny Briere said, "all I can tell you is I don't expect him to be back. We're dealing on the medical side with him. I think the No. 1 thing for him is to get him back to being able to play at this time. He doesn't think he can play hockey."

Johansen played in all 63 Avalanche games before the trade to Philly, when he was immediately placed on waivers and went unclaimed. He was assigned to the Flyers' AHL affiliate at Lehigh Valley, but didn't report as he was suddenly dealing with an injury issue that, according to one insider, came "out of left field."

Now it appears that whatever the problem is, it very well might end the 31-year-old's career.

Johansen, the former 4th overall pick in the NHL Draft (2010), compiled 13 goals and 23 points in his 63 games in Colorado before the trade, and in a 13-year career, has three 20-goal seasons under his belt, as recently as 2021 when he found the net 26 times with the Nashville Predators.