According to reports, the Philadelphia Flyers have bolstered their organizational center depth with one of the NCAA’s top free agent forwards.
On Sunday afternoon, PuckPedia reported that the Flyers have agreed to terms on a one-year, entry-level contract with free agent Ohio State forward Riley Thompson, which will begin in the 2026-27 season.
Thompson, 23, scored 13 goals, 14 assists, and 27 points in 37 games with Ohio State this season, and produced a career-high 17 goals, 16 assists, and 33 points in 40 games with the school last season.
The 6-foot-4 Orleans, Ontario, native will be a restricted free agent when his contract expires next offseason.
It is currently unclear if or when Thompson will join the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers' minor-league affiliates, for the rest of this season on an AHL contract or professional tryout basis.
According to PuckPedia, Thompson's salary will be $922.5k, and he'll receive a $102.5k signing bonus from the Flyers.
As he's on a two-way contract, Thompson will earn $85k playing in the AHL on this deal.
With players like Phil Tomasino, Karsen Dorwart, Jacob Gaucher, Tucker Robertson, Lane Pederson, Anthony Richard, and Boris Katchouk all playing on expiring deals, the Flyers needed to add forward depth for the AHL and NHL clubs next season, and did so by inking a high-upside player in Thompson.