A fresh twist has emerged in the Philadelphia Flyers’ rumored pursuit of Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague, casting doubt on earlier reports linking the 26-year-old blueliner to the Eastern Conference side.
Hague, a towering 6-foot-6 shutdown defenseman and pending restricted free agent, has become a hot topic this offseason as the Golden Knights weigh their cap management options. Expected to seek a raise in his next contract, Hague could be moved if negotiations prove too costly for Vegas.
Given his physical presence and steady play, the defenseman has attracted interest from multiple teams — with the Flyers among those initially speculated to be in the mix.
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However, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz has thrown cold water on that narrative, reporting that a team source “strongly denied” any interest from the Flyers in pursuing Hague. Kurz added that he does not anticipate Philadelphia making a move for the 2017 third-round pick.
This development calls into question the Flyers’ current defensive targets, especially with their right side needing reinforcement ahead of the 2025–26 campaign. Though Hague now appears off the table, Flyers General Manager Daniel Brière is still expected to explore options to bolster the back end.
Meanwhile, the Flyers have suffered a minor roster setback as Finnish netminder Eetu Makiniemi has departed the organization to sign a one-year contract with TPS in the Finnish Liiga, further underlining a summer of change for the club.
With Hague’s future still uncertain and Philadelphia’s blue line in need of upgrades, the coming weeks could bring more clarity to both teams’ off-season strategies. For now, however, it seems the Flyers are looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.
