Adam Ginning stays with Flyers, signs 2-year extension

Knock one of the Philadelphia Flyers’ six pending restricted free agents off general manager Daniel Briere’s to-do list.

24-year old Adam Ginning, drafted by the Flyers in the second round back in 2018, signed a new two-year, $1.575 million contract extension with the club on Monday morning.

There were scattered rumors in early 2024 that Ginning was considering a move back to his home country of Sweden upon the conclusion of his NHL contract in the summer, presumably because he was skeptical that he would ever get a real chance to stick at the NHL level. He had appeared in just one NHL contest in 2022-23 — a late-season audition in April against the Columbus Blue Jackets — and had been passed over as a call-up option in the first half of 2023-24 on multiple occasions.

But with the Flyers ravaged by injury on the back end in March (and also having just traded Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche), Ginning got his long-awaited recall on March 6, and impressed alongside familiar AHL partner Ronnie Attard against the powerhouse Florida Panthers, helping the Flyers to a surprise 2-1 road victory. Ginning was sent down in trade deadline machinations later that week, but was brought back up mid-month, appearing in eight more games for the Flyers during the stretch run, scoring his first NHL goal in his final appearance.

Even dating back to his draft year, Ginning has never been viewed as a particularly high-upside blueliner, but one who would provide most of his value on defense and via his size and physicality. That said, in limited, sheltered NHL minutes last season — mostly beside Attard — Ginning flashed some play-driving potential, posting a strong 57.10 percent on-ice xG share at 5-on-5 in his nine games. His solid work was enough to convince the Flyers to give him two more years to prove he can become a full-time NHLer — and his late-season opportunity clearly convinced Ginning that he’ll get a legitimate opportunity in this organization.

The cap hit of $787,500 is just barely above the $775,000 league minimum over the next two seasons, but per the Flyers, the deal shifts to being a “one-way” contract in Year 2, which likely helped entice Ginning to sign. In Year 1, Ginning is on a “two-way” contract, meaning that he’ll be paid a lower salary for each day he spends in the AHL versus the NHL; in Year 2, however, Ginning will be paid the full $787,500 in real money, regardless of how much time he spends in the minors. It’s a slight added incentive for the Flyers to have him on their NHL roster to start the 2025-26 season (since they won’t save any real money by sending him down), and added financial security for Ginning, who will maximize his real-life earnings no matter his standing in the organization come next season.

This is primarily a depth signing for the Flyers, and does not necessarily mean Ginning has a leg up on making the big club out of camp. He remains waiver exempt to start the 2024-24 season, so even after signing this contract, Ginning could be sent by the Flyers to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during camp without the risk of losing him for nothing on waivers.

But he’ll certainly be in the blueline mix at Flyers training camp come September, and at the very least, will begin 2024-25 as a priority call-up option on defense. Expect Ginning to appear in at least a few NHL games this upcoming season, with the goal of carving out a full-time role for himself by 2025-26 at the latest.