Flyers free agency primer: Cap space, top targets, biggest needs, and more
Ahead of free agency opening up today, here's a look at what business the Flyers could do to address the team's holes at center and on the blue line.
Free agency.
That special time of year when general managers can fulfill their wish lists or end up with coal.
Here’s everything you need to know before the frenzy begins.
What time does free agency start?
Beginning at noon on Wednesday, the Flyers can sign players from other teams to contracts. Of course, they could also lose members of the squad that led them to their first postseason spot since 2020.
Although terms shouldn’t have been discussed prior, miraculously, teams always announce new contracts at the stroke of noon.
It is also the kick-off point for offer sheets if anyone wants to be an agent of chaos.
Who are the Flyers’ free agents?
According to a league source on Tuesday, the Flyers have agreed to sign pending unrestricted free agent forward Carl Grundström to a one-year, $1 million contract. It comes one day after they handed out qualifying offers to four players and released six more to unrestricted free-agent status.
» READ MORE: Flyers qualify Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale, let six other RFAs walk
Here is a breakdown of who the Flyers need to and could re-sign from the system.
NHL unrestricted free agents: forwards Rodrigo Ābols and Luke Glendening; defenseman Noah Juulsen
NHL restricted free agents: forwards Nikita Grebenkin and Trevor Zegras; defenseman Jamie Drysdale
AHL restricted free agents: defenseman Hunter McDonald
AHL unrestricted free agents: forwards Karsen Dorwart, Oscar Eklind, Brett Harrison, Boris Katchouk, Lane Pederson, Anthony Richard, Tucker Robertson, and Philip Tomasino; defensemen Adam Ginning, Maxence Guenette, Artem Guryev, and Christian Kyrou
Dorwart, Harrison, Robertson, Tomasino, Guryev, and Kyrou were not given qualifying offers on Monday. They could all be signed to a new deal or an AHL-only deal to stay with the club. Garrett Wilson is listed as an unrestricted free agent on Puckpedia, but he is signed to an AHL contract for next season.
A league source has told The Inquirer that Juulsen will not be re-signed.
How much cap space do the Flyers have?
According to Puckpedia, as of Tuesday, the Flyers have $32,681,250 of cap space before signing the four restricted free agents. The expectation is that McDonald will be in the minors to start the year, and Grebenkin, who was skating on Tuesday at development camp, is working his way back from an injury.
Not counting Grebenkin’s deal, the expected cap space to sign Zegras and Drysdale should come in at an approximate annual average value of $15 million combined. That leaves about $17 million, and then minus $3 million to $4 million to cover Grebenkin and McDonald, there is some room left to add pieces to the lineup.
What are the Flyers’ biggest needs?
The Flyers have a few spots in the lineup that could use a boost.
The fourth line struggled at times this past season and went through a few retoolings. It needs at least a right winger, now that Garnet Hathaway has been traded to the Florida Panthers, and there is talk that Glendening could return, but nothing has been confirmed.
» READ MORE: 12 players the Flyers could target to upgrade their roster via trade, free agency, or an offer sheet
Although the wings are pretty much set, the center spot could always use an upgrade as the Flyers continue to search for a top-line pivot. And while the defense looks OK, there is always room for improvement, especially if the Flyers can find a defenseman to help the team’s dormant power play.
Who are the top free agents?
John Carlson, on a big-money, short-term deal, would make a lot of sense for the Flyers to help with the power play. But do the Flyers make sense for him? He’ll turn 37 during the season, and time is ticking on his window to win another Stanley Cup.
Rumors are percolating that the Flyers could add Noel Acciari to the roster. A 5-foot-11 center who just played against the Flyers in the playoffs with the Penguins — he had one assist in the six games — the Rhode Island native would slot onto the fourth line and be a key piece in the faceoff dot as a coveted right-shot, as well as on the penalty kill. Fellow bottom-six center Teddy Blueger is another name to keep an eye on, as he played for coach Rick Tocchet in Vancouver.
What about offer sheets/trade targets?
As previously mentioned, the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse have a mutual interest, with the Flyers, Pittsburgh, and Boston on his short list of teams. He previously requested a trade and would need to waive his no-movement clause to approve any trade destination.
The Flyers are obviously interested in Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski from the Columbus Blue Jackets and All-Star center Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. Like Nurse, they would need to approve any trade. And they surely wouldn’t mind adding one of Shane Pinto or Dylan Cozens, two young centers from the Ottawa Senators, to the mix if either was made available via trade.
Now, who doesn’t love an offer sheet? Would the Flyers be willing to partake in the one thing that gets everyone going? To be determined, but if they do, center Mavrik Bourque, 24, might be an attainable target given Dallas’ cap crunch.
What about Dan Vladař?
All signs are pointing to Dan Vladař signing a five-year extension with an average annual value of $5.5 million.
The Czech goalie is coming off a season where he went 29-14-7, with a 2.42 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. It was the lowest GAA of his career and tied his career-best save percentage, although he played in 22 more games than in any previous season.
» READ MORE: Dan Vladař has been the Flyers’ MVP all season long. He’s also far from your typical goalie.
He was even better in the postseason with a 2.18 GAA, .922 save percentage, and two shutouts after not posting one in the regular season.