Hartnell signs 6-year extension with Flyers

For the second time in four days, the Flyers signed one of their top wingers to a six-year contract on Monday.

This time, it was Scott Hartnell, whose extension came after one given to Wayne Simmonds.

Hartnell, 30, is coming off a season in which he posted career bests in goals (37) and points (67).

Terms were not released, but the 11-year veteran reportedly will have a salary-cap hit of $4.75 million per season. He could have become an unrestricted free agent after the 2012-13 season, one in which he has a $4.2 million cap hit.

"I give Jaromir Jagr a lot of credit for my success last year in terms of focus on the game," said Hartnell, who finished second in the NHL with 16 power-play goals. "I'm going to try to carry that over."

Hartnell, who led the Flyers with a plus-19 rating last season, added that he did not think it would be difficult to find chemistry with Jake Voracek, the right winger who is expected to replace Jagr on a line with Hartnell and Claude Giroux. Jagr signed with Dallas earlier this summer.

"I think Jake got stronger as the year went on and had a great playoff. He plays with a lot of heart," Hartnell said in a conference call with reporters. "It gives us another left-handed shot on the right side like Jags, and I don't think it'll be too hard to find chemistry."

Hartnell said Giroux was "all smiles" when he told him he had signed an extension.

Before last season, Hartnell had been on the Flyers' top line with Danny Briere and Ville Leino.

As for the negotiations between the players and the league, Hartnell said that you "still have to have faith" that the season will start on time, but he added that the players "aren't anywhere close to accepting that deal," which includes a 24 percent rollback in salaries.

Last Thursday, Simmonds, who turns 24 on Sunday, signed a six-year deal for $23.8 million. Hartnell's contract reportedly is for $28.5 million.

The NHL is trying to limit contracts to five years in the new collective bargaining agreement. The old CBA expires on Sept. 15, and the owners may lock out the players and delay the season.

Assuming that the season is played, Hartnell likes the Flyers' young makeup. That played a part in his signing.

"We have a great future and chance to win a Stanley Cup," he said. "Obviously, that was a big part of it. I want to win."

Danny Briere confirmed Monday that his mother, Constance Brunet, 60, had died. Reports said she suffered a brain aneurysm.