The Flyers announced they’ve signed defense prospect Ty Murchison to a two-year, entry-level contract beginning in 2025-26. His contract carries an $860K cap hit with a $775K base salary, an $85K signing bonus, and an $80K minors salary each season, per PuckPedia.
A fifth-round pick by Philly in 2021 (No. 158 overall), the 6’2″ lefty is coming off his senior season at Arizona State. The 22-year-old is about as one-dimensional as it gets for a stay-at-home defender. He never totaled more than seven points in a season at ASU but posted a combined +17 rating over four years and logged heavy minutes as one of the NCAA’s most responsible shutdown men. Named the NCHC’s Best Defensive Defenseman this year, Murchison posted four assists, 48 PIMs, and a plus-six rating in 37 games in the Sun Devils’ first year of conference play.
Murchison turns pro after compiling 9-14–23 and 279 PIMs in 145 collegiate games. A California native and product of the U.S. National Development Team program, Murchison’s signing rights were set to expire on Aug. 15.
After a strong collegiate career, Murchison focuses on finding his niche in the Flyers’ system. This year, he wasn’t listed among Philly’s top 15 prospects in Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s organizational rankings. His main internal competition likely comes from Hunter McDonald (No. 12), another big 22-year-old lefty in his first pro season with AHL Lehigh Valley following a two-year run with Northeastern. He’s had a strong first showing in the pros and projects as a capable bottom-pairing option in a few years, similar to the role Murchison will likely have if he carves out an NHL career.
Murchison’s deal makes him a restricted free agent in the summer of 2027. The Flyers now have 29 contracts on their books next season.
The article describes well one of the underlying problems with the Flyers: most of their defensemen have a projected ceiling of a bottom pair IF they reach the NHL. Most likely extends to the forward positions (bottom six). A key reason, along with bad NHL contracts and the resulting dead money, that the Flyers are bereft of top-tier talent.