Johansen was placed on waivers by the Flyers for the purpose of terminating his contract.

Ryan Johansen was placed on unconditional waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday for the purpose of terminating his contract due to a material breach.

The Flyers did not comment on the nature of the breach.

Johansen has never played for Philadelphia after the forward was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche on March 6 due to a hip injury. Prior to the trade, the 32-year-old had 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 63 games with the Avalanche.

The Flyers intended to place Johansen on waivers after acquiring him in the trade but were unable to do so due to a hip injury.

Philadelphia general manager Daniel Breer said in June he was unsure about Johansen’s status as he recovers from the injury.

If he is healthy he will be in [training] “We have to have the opportunity to show him what we can do. If not and he needs surgery, he’ll have to have it,” Briere said.

Johansen’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, said Monday that his client suffered a serious hockey injury that required surgery, and that Johansen worked in good faith with the Flyers and outside doctors. Overhardt said he has reached out to the NHL Players Association to protect his client’s rights.

Johansen had one season remaining on the eight-year, $64 million contract (average annual value of $8 million) he signed with the Nashville Predators on July 28, 2017. He would have been charged $4 million toward the Flyers’ salary cap this season; the Predators retained 50 percent of his salary when they traded him to the Avalanche on June 24, 2023.

Johansen was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the No. 4 pick in the 2010 NHL Draft. He has recorded 578 points (202 goals, 376 assists) in 905 games over 13 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets, Predators and Avalanche, and 54 points (19 goals, 35 assists) in 67 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.