Flyers sign Lupul to contract extension

Joffrey Lupul was under contract for another year, but Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said it made too much sense not to extend his deal.

"We think he's got outstanding potential to become a very good player in this league," Holmgren said. "He's one of our core guys that we decided to lock up and keep him here a long time."

The Flyers did just that yesterday by signing the 24-year-old Lupul to a four-year extension, worth $17 million through the 2012-13 season.

Lupul will make $2.3 million this coming season. The extension has no effect on this year's cap, which the Flyers have nearly reached.

"The Flyers have put a big commitment in me and a lot of other young guys who have been locked up for years to come," Lupul said in a statement. "The way that we can kind of all continue to play and develop these relationships on and off the ice, it is pretty exciting."

In 56 regular-season games, the winger scored 46 points, with 20 goals. He missed 26 games with a myriad of injuries, including a spinal cord contusion caused by defenseman Derian Hatcher when the teammates collided during a game at Toronto.

But Lupul delivered perhaps the most important goal of the season, an overtime winner at Washington in Game 7 of the first round of the NHL playoffs.

"We're relying," Holmgren said, "on everything coming together for him."