Possible Flyers Free Agent Targets
With a new head coach, a new GM, the Flyers will look to this summer to reset and retool after a disappointing 2018 season. The next few months will be full of decisions for Flyers’ management with multiple young players needing new contracts while also having money to spend on the open market in free agency.
As the roster currently stands, the Flyers have the seventh-most cap space in the league with just over $8 million and will rise to over $31 million when the new league year starts in July where the Flyers will have Cam Talbot, Michal Neuvirth, Brian Elliott, and Jori Lehtera coming off the books as well as six restricted free agents. Those restricted free agents include Travis Konecny, Ivan Provorov, Ryan Hartman, Travis Sanheim, Justin Bailey, and Scott Laughton.
Konecny, Provorov, and Sanheim are all locks for new contracts this summer but we will have to wait and see if Chuck Fletcher chooses Hartman, Laughton, and/or Bailey over cap space to spend on the open market.
With the remaining cap space, the Flyers have needs to fill this summer and will undoubtedly dive into free agency. Let’s take a look at some possibilities for a Flyers team heading in a new direction.
Forwards
The Flyers could use some help down the middle. With Sean Couturier cemented as the team’s top center, the depth behind his is decent but could be improved. Scott Laughton had an excellent season, Nolan Patrick has had flashes but the Flyers desperately need another a consistent center if they want to compete next season. Most of the NHL’s elite have two great centers: Washington has Backstrom and Kuznetsov, Pittsburgh has Crosby and Malkin, Matthews and Tavares in Toronto, and so on.
The top options in free agency are Winnipeg’s Kevin Hayes (who played for Vigneault in New York) and Columbus’ and Matt Duchene. Hayes, 26, is coming off his best season as a pro with 55 points and would bring a big, physical presence who could center the team’s second line and second powerplay unit. While Duchene is a borderline superstar who tied his career-high in points with 70 playing in Ottawa and now Columbus.
Other options that could interest the Flyers:
- Ryan Dzingel, 27, Columbus Blue Jackets
- 26 goals, 30 assists in 2018-19
- Brandon Tanev, 27, Winnipeg Jets
- 16 goals, 15 assists in 2018-19
New head coach Alain Vigneault had his best success with the Rangers when they had a lineup full of speed and skill and that should be another important priority for Fletcher to add this summer. The top option on the market is one of the most talked about targets for the Flyers: Artemi Panarin. Panarin is one of the league’s elite scorers with one of the best shots in the league. Panarin could open up a whole lot for a Flyers team lacking pure snipers. Obviously, he would be quite expensive if the Flyers did choose to make a run at him as he is the biggest name on the market not named Erik Karlsson. But, if Chuck Fletcher is looking to make a splash, bringing in Artemi Panarin would be very much that.
Free agent options:
- LW Michael Ferland, 27, Carolina Hurricanes
- 17 goals, 23 assists in 2018-19
- RW Gustav Nyquist, 30, San Jose Sharks
- 22 goals, 38 assists in 2018-19
- RW Joonas Donskoi, 27, San Jose Sharks
- 14 goals, 23 assists in 2018-19
Defense
The Flyers defense was at the heart of many of their shortcomings last season with the unforeseen struggles of Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere. I would be shocked if we saw the same from those two next season but it would be best for Chuck Fletcher to bring in another veteran top-four defenseman to guide such a young defensive group.
The biggest name on the free agent market will be Erik Karlsson but he could prove too rich for the Flyers to afford especially with Provorov and Sanheim needing new contracts. Instead, the Flyers could target a physical type like Tyler Myers or a seasoned veteran like Anton Stralman.
Myers, who stands 6’8, has been a dominating presence for the past 8 seasons. Myers isn’t a talented offensive player but could bring some much-needed stability paired with an aggressive partner like Travis Sanheim or Shayne Gostisbehere.
Stralman is your typical, stay-at-home defenseman with plenty of experience. He’s 34 but on a short-term deal could provide some value paired with one of the Flyers’ young defenseman and on the penalty kill.
Other options:
- Jordie Benn, 32, Montreal Canadiens
- Alexander Edler, 33, Vancouver Canucks
- Jake Gardiner, 29, Toronto Maple Leafs
Goalie
Carter Hart has the starting spot locked down next season but with Elliott, Neuvirth, and Talbot all free agents, his backup is still in question. Neuvirth is as good as gone. Elliott could return but it would be rather unlikely while Cam Talbot is a definite possibility. The Flyers sent Anthony Stolarz to Edmonton for Cam Talbot but seldom used him. Yet, Talbot has said he is still interested in coming back next season.
If the Flyers choose to let all three walk, there are some options out on the open market that could attract the Flyers attention.
One of them being Anders Nilsson. The 28-year-old netminder has bounced around the league for six seasons making stops with the Islanders, Oilers, Blues, Sabres, and spent last year with Vancouver and Ottawa. In total, Nilsson posted a .908 save percentage in 2018-19 in 36 appearances.
Another possibility is former Devils, current Blue Jackets goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Kinkaid has been a very good backup who has shown the ability to take over the starting role like he did when Devils’ starter Corey Schneider went down the past two seasons. He is coming off his worst statistical season but a lot of that could be attributed to the poor team he had in front of him. In six seasons with New Jersey, Kinkaid posted a .906 save percentage over 151 games. He could be a good option as a backup or even a 1B to Carter Hart.
Other Options:
- Curtis McElhinney, 36, Carolina Hurricanes
- 33 games, .912 save percentage, 2.58 GAA in 2018-19
Featured Image: Sergei Belski/USA Today
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