Flyers Inactivity Could Be a Blessing in Disguise
Much to the dismay of many Philadelphia Flyers fans, the team has been quiet this offseason.
Too quiet.
Following last year’s offseason “wins” of trading for Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun, Tyler Pitlick, and the “trade and sign” of Kevin Hayes the Flyers took a big step forward this season, so fans were expecting much of the same this offseason. However, so far, other than trading picks for picks at the NHL Entry Draft and signing journeyman Derrick Pouliot to a 2-way deal (who is more than likely destined for Lehigh Valley), the Flyers have sat back. So Flyers fans are disappointed, but there are multiple silver linings to GM Chuck Fletcher’s madness.
As opposed to most other years in the salary cap era, the Flyers are sitting pretty in the cap space situation.
As it currently stands at the time of this writing, the Flyers have just a shade under $8.7 million in cap space for this upcoming season, with Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick left to sign as both have RFA status. That is more than plenty to get those signings done.
I fully expect Myers to sign a bridge deal and Patrick will be on a short “show me” type deal.
1st Positive // Avoiding Bad Trades
After hearing the costs of acquiring some top-end talent like Patrik Laine, Johnny Goudreau, or even William Nylander, I for one am glad the Flyers haven’t pulled the trigger on any of those trades.
With guys like Sanheim, Myers, Frost, Farabee, Konecny, Gostisbehere and multiple draft picks being mentioned as “must have’s” in order to acquire those players, the Flyers would be crippling themselves not only for this upcoming season but for years to come if they made one or more of those trades.
With the retirement of Matt Niskanen, the Flyers need to add a top 4 defenseman, not get rid of any. All those Flyers players mentioned have youth on their side and figure to be in the Flyers long term plans, with the possible exception of Gostisbehere, and all have very cap-friendly hits.
Myers and Sanheim in particular will be staples on the Flyers defense for the next dozen or so years. And who would replace them if they were included in a deal?
Neither York nor Zamula are quite ready yet. Think of the holes that would be created and the new problems the Flyers would have if they pulled the trigger on one of those deals.
2nd Positive // Salary Cap
Many teams currently sit at or near the salary cap ceiling. Many will have to trade away players that they don’t necessarily want to trade in order to get under the cap. I’m looking at teams like the Stanley Cup Champion Lightning, the Maple Leafs, Golden Knights and even the Canucks will all be in that situation.
Being in that situation is when teams trade players in lopsided deals, often throwing in extra picks or top prospects in order to get rid of a player so they can get under the cap.
That’s when the Flyers need to swoop in and take advantage of those situations. They have the cap space and the secondary assets to do just that.
3rd Positive // A Healthy Nolan Patrick
The Flyers not going out and signing a free agent third-line center, to me indicates that Nolan Patrick is almost ready for a return and possibly will be by the start of the season. He played a scrimmage game recently which is an excellent sign, one to get excited about really. It also tells me that the Flyers are excited and think that Morgan Frost is ready for a full season on the roster.
Couturier, Hayes, a healthy Patrick, and Frost as your four centermen – YES PLEASE!
Let’s remember that Connor Bunnaman, Linus Sandin, Tanner Laczynski, David Kase, Wade Allison, and German Rubtsov are all knocking at the door of the NHL. These players need to play. They are the reason I believe that neither Pilick nor Grant were resigned.
Sandin, in particular, will take one of those voids left by Grant and Pilick and the other will obviously go to Oskar Lindbloom.
Be patient Flyers fans, Chuck Fletcher will strike soon. He’ll add a top 4 defenseman soon, most likely via trade and most likely he will completely take advantage of another team’s salary cap situation.
Whether that’s all in one move or in multiple moves, he will get it done.
Featured Image: Jordan Hall
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