Flyers eye Senators centers Pinto Cozens Greig in 2026 offseason

The Philadelphia Flyers rank Shane Pinto as their leading option among Ottawa Senators centers under contract at $7.5 million through 2030.

Contract values drive trade priority

Shane Pinto posted 46 points in 72 games during the 2025-26 season while skating as a right-shot center. Dylan Cozens recorded 59 points across 82 games in the same campaign at a $7.1 million AAV. Ridly Greig tallied 35 points in 77 games at $3.25 million through 2029. Both Pinto and Cozens remain 25 years old with no trade protection next season. Greig, at 23, has logged most of his NHL minutes on the wing despite centering junior teams.

Senators general manager Steve Staios has signaled openness to moving one of the three pivots in exchange for a right-handed defenseman. The club has expressed prior interest in Rasmus Ristolainen, whose $5.5 million cap hit the Flyers have indicated willingness to retain or absorb. Earlier dialogue between the clubs in 2024-25 centered on Josh Norris rather than the current trio, illustrating how Ottawa’s asset valuation has shifted.

Philadelphia sources confirmed Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken remains unavailable while Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks surfaced only as a secondary name. The Senators trio therefore constitutes the Flyers’ clearest avenue to add a right-shot center without entering unrestricted free agency.

Defensive return shapes both rosters

Ottawa’s stated need for a right-shot blue-liner aligns directly with Ristolainen’s profile. Philadelphia could package the veteran alongside a mid-round pick to secure Pinto or Cozens. The resulting cap relief for the Senators would free roughly $7 million while adding physicality on the back end.

Flyers management has long sought right-shot center options to balance their lineup. Acquiring Pinto would immediately place a proven 20-plus goal scorer on the second line behind existing top-six talent. Cozens would supply comparable production at a marginally lower AAV, allowing Philadelphia greater flexibility under the salary cap ceiling projected for 2026-27.

Greig functions as the fallback acquisition if Ottawa elects to retain its higher-paid centers. His lower cap hit and longer term would give the Flyers a cost-controlled third-line option who can slide to wing when required.

Timeline points to summer resolution

Discussions dating to the 2024-25 season provide both front offices with established communication channels. The current June window before the 2026 NHL Draft offers the most efficient period for a multi-asset swap involving Ristolainen. Delaying until training camp would risk exposing the Senators’ center depth to injury or performance regression.

Unless Staios secures an equivalent right-shot defender elsewhere, the Flyers hold leverage to extract at least one of the three targets. The deal would simultaneously address Philadelphia’s long-standing center vacancy and Ottawa’s defensive composition ahead of the next campaign.

By June 2027 the Flyers could enter the season with Pinto or Cozens anchoring their second line after shipping Rasmus Ristolainen to Ottawa in a deal that also includes a 2027 second-round pick.