The Philadelphia Flyers could be handing fans some good news soon enough this season. With the club in the hunt for a playoff spot, the Flyers will be looking to remain competitive rather than sell off pieces at the trade deadline.

But the good news isn’t precisely an acquisition. It’s keeping a key player in the fold.

That player is Christian Dvorak. According to notable insider Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers have engaged in talks about an extension with Dvorak’s camp. During the December 27 edition of Saturday Headlines, Friedman discussed how the Flyers and Dvorak could sign an extension as of Jan. 1.

That situation could mean that a potential extension for the Flyers’ current top-line center may not be far off.

“The Flyers and Dvorak are talking extension. I think everybody here would tell you that it has to work for both sides for it to happen. He’s played very well there… and what I can say is there are other teams out there who do not expect Dvorak to hit the market now.”

Of course, as Friedman noted, working out a deal won’t be automatic. But considering how good the fit has been for both sides, it doesn’t seem far-fetched that one could be coming down the pipeline sooner rather than later.

Making sense of what an extension for Dvorak could look like

Dvorak and the Flyers agreed to a one-year, $5.4 million deal this past summer. The deal was worked out very well for the 29-year-old. That being said, an extension may not work out quite the same way.

The Flyers’ center would likely want to land a multi-year deal. He’ll be 30 this summer, meaning that a max-term, eight-year deal may not be in the cards. That said, the Flyers may be willing to go a bit higher with the number of years to keep Dvorak’s AAV as close to where it is now.

Again, this deal needs to make sense for both sides. The compromise could be in length and AAV. Dvorak may be willing to take a shorter deal, while the Flyers may be willing to commit a bit longer. That compromise would lead to an AAV meeting somewhere in the middle.

For the time being, it looks like Dvorak will be another impending UFA that will not hit the market in the summer of 2026.