The biggest splash in the Flyers’ offseason was one that ultimately never happened.

The NHL felt the wave made by Danny Briere’s swing for Leo Carlsson. The Ducks matched the Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet to the restricted free agent, keeping him in Anaheim, but at a hefty price. Carlsson, who’s just 21 years old, is now the NHL’s highest-paid player with an $18 million average annual value.

“It was noticed, it was noticed around the league,” the Flyers’ general manager said a week and a half ago. “But what I hope, too, is that it was noticed by our fans and by our players, that we’re serious. The players did their part last year and we’re trying to do ours. We’re going to keep trying to improve the team to give them the best chance to be a contender for years to come.”

Jamie Drysdale seemed just fine with the Flyers’ offseason and outlook for this fall. The club is coming off its first playoff berth since 2020 and a first-round series victory over the Penguins.

“I think something that you guys have all kind of seen and heard with talking to the guys around the room is there’s a lot of belief within the guys,” Drysdale said a week ago. “I don’t want to think about last year too much, it’s over, but I think few people expected us to be the team that made it in at the end of the day, as well as winning in the first round. Within the locker room, we’ve got a lot of belief. I think we’ve got a great lineup, to be honest, and I think we’re only going to get better.”

Last season, Drysdale had a career year, which netted the defenseman a new four-year, $26 million contract this summer. He took promising strides defensively. At 5-on-5 last season, he recorded a plus-1 mark. The previous season, he was a minus-15.

Drysdale said “a lot of things” went into that improvement.

“One, just the recognition that I needed to step up,” he said. “I did not have a good year the year before. So that was part 1 of going into the season with a different mindset. And part 2, just the staff, the coaches, teammates, everything across the board. So many people played a part in it. Just the encouragement and the belief from all aspects. It was a good year; there’s still a lot more in the tank, though.”

The 24-year-old was one of 13 players on the Flyers last season to appear in their first playoffs. The Flyers like their nucleus and youth. The Flyers are also hoping the additions of backup goaltender Joseph Woll and bottom-six forward Noel Acciari address some weaknesses.

“I’d be very comfortable going into the season with this lineup,” Briere said.

The Flyers were not a high-end scoring team last season and their offense dried up later in the playoffs. The club produced only 10 goals over its last seven games after putting up 11 through the first three games.

A team like the Hurricanes definitely factored into that. The Flyers were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champions in the second round and didn’t have Owen Tippett for the series.

Having Porter Martone and Tyson Foerster for full seasons could be a significant boost for the Flyers’ offense. But the scoring will remain the biggest concern after the offseason. Do the Flyers have enough speed and playmaking? Will they have answers for their league-worst power play?

The Flyers have built up their cap space and could be ready to use it by making additions this season or next summer. Briere was ready to use it in a big way on Carlsson. But he won’t spend money just to spend money.

“If something makes sense, we’re going to look to improve,” Briere said. … “We’ve said it from Day 1, it has to make sense, and that’s what we’re looking for.”