Team: 2021-22 Philadelphia Flyers

Initial Creation Date: May 28, 2021

Published: May 29, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trying to do my best at a Flyers realistic offseason

Pending RFAs: Travis Sanheim, Carter Hart, Nolan Patrick, Connor Bunnaman, Carsen Twarynski, David Kase, German Rubstov, Linus Sandin, Felix Sandstrom, and Pascal Laberge.

Travis Sanheim: I don't see anyway that Sanheim doesn't return to the Flyers next season, so the question is what contract does he get? I see Sanheim signing and 2-3 year bridge deal around 3.5 to 3.75 million dollar deal. I don't think Sanheim wants to go long term because he's probably hoping he has a breakout year soon so he gets a expensive long term deal and I don't think the Flyers are willing to give him a expensive long term contract yet. *Final contract - 3 years 3.75 Million*

Carter Hart: If Harts ELC expired last year we would be talking a 6-8 year contract but with the disappointing season Hart will get no more than a 2 year deal. Money wise, it will probably be between 2-3 million dollars. If Hart bounces back on the 2 year contract he will get his big contract when it expires. *Final contract - 2 years 2.5 million*

Nolan Patrick: Patrick is definitely in the most interesting situation out of all the RFAs. Coming off a season where he provided solid defense, but has lost almost all his confidence in his offensive game. Part of his struggles offensively are; not playing for almost 2 years coming into the season,
getting barely any ice time, and most importantly having 0 confidence. His situation is interesting because a lot of different things could happen to him this offseason. I could see one of these 3 things happening; he resigns with the Flyers, he gets unprotected in the expansion draft and gets taken by Seattle (unlikely), or he gets traded. If I were to guess what would happen I think he will be traded. Things just haven't worked out with Patrick in Philadelphia and I think he wants a fresh start and the team could definitely look to move him. If he were to resign it would definitely be a 1 year deal around 1 million *Final contract (if he's resigned) - 1 year 975k*

Connor Bunnaman: Bunnanman is nothing more than a solid depth center. He played well enough last year when in the line-up and he will definitely get a little bit of a raise but nothing more than 1 million. Term wise he will most likely get a 2 year deal. *Final contract - 2 year 875k (2-way contract)*

Carsen Twarynski: Twarynski is an okay depth winger that can come up from the AHL and can fill a roster spot when needed. Twarynski contract will be similar to Bunnanmans, probably a little cheaper considering Bunnaman provides more value. I see it probably being a 2 year deal like Bunnanmans and under 900k. *Final contract - 2 years 795k (2-way contract)*

David Kase: As of this week Kase signed with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech league. The Flyers still have rights to Kase but he can't play with the Flyers organization until his new contract expires and then he can decide if wants to come back to North America.

German Rubstov: Rubstov was loaned to the KHL for the 2020-21 season and had an okay season over in Russia. I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed in the KHL for the 2021-22 season as well but he could definitely come back to North America too. If he does decide to come back I'd assume he would sign a 1 or 2 year contract worth around league minimum salary. *Final contract (If he signs) - 1 year 750k (2-way contract)*

Linus Sandin: If Sandin is interested in signing back with the Flyers instead of leaving back to the SHL his contract will probably be 1 or 2 years and around 800k. *Final contract (If he signs) - 1 year 794k (2-way contract)

Felix Sandstrom: I'm not sure if the Flyers will re-sign Sandstrom because they have some younger goalies with better potential that could make the transition to the AHL for the 2021-22 season. *I say he doesn't re-sign*

Pascal Laberge: Laberge is the same as Sandstrom as he has been at best just okay in his time in the ECHL and AHL, and also like Sandstrom there are younger players with higher potential ready to replace him. *I say he doesn't re-sign*

Pending UFAs: Andy Andreoff, Chris Bigras, Brian Elliott, Alex Lyon, Samuel Morin, Derrick Pouliot, Nate Prosser, and Tyler Wotherspoon

I'm going to make this quick since none of these players are really important at all. I think Morin will be signed to a 2 year 850k (2-way contract), and I think Chris Bigras will get a 1 year league minimum contract (2-way contract). I also think it's possible the Flyers bring back Tyler Wotherspoon to a league minimum deal as well.

Expansion Draft

I could see Seattle going in a few directions in the expansion draft depending on who's protected and who's not.

Protected FWDs: Giroux (NMC), Hayes (NMC), Konecny, Couturier, Lindblom, Laughton, Patrick
Protected D-man: Provorov, Sanheim, Myers
Protected Goalie: Hart

JVR: JVR is who I think is the most likely to be picked and who I think they will pick. JVR had a great 2021 season after a mediocre 2019-20 season. His contract isn't as bad as some think because it only has 2 years remaining from the start of next season. Obviously the 7 million dollar cap is a lot to take on but JVR is a good player and would be a great instant impact top 6 FWD for Seattle. I think the Flyers maybe would have to add a mid round pick or a B or C level prospect to have Seattle take on the contract but it would be worth it for the Flyers as 7 million is very valuble cap space and with winger maybe being the Flyers deepest position you can afford to lose JVR.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel: NAK has served as a great bottom 6 role player for the Flyers the past 2 seasons so it would obviously hurt to lose him if he is chosen but like JVR it hurts less considering winger is the Flyers deepest position. Since he's young with good potential I could Seattle taking him, but considering JVR will be one of the better players unprotected I think they will take him.

Nolan Patrick. I touched on Patrick earlier in this post so I won't go that into detail here. If Patrick is unprotected I think Seattle will take him. If Patrick got a fresh start with a brand new franchise and more opportunity I think he would thrive and finally start to show his 2nd overall potential. In the end tho I do see the Flyers protecting him.

Shayne Gostibehere: Ghost had a very underrated bounce-back season last year and he will almost certainly be unprotected in the draft. Even though I think there is still a solid player in Ghost I don't think Seattle would take the risk of taking on that contract for the next 3 years but he's still an interesting player to throw out there for Seattle.

What needs the Flyers should target via free agency and via trade

It's obvious the Flyers need help on defense as last year as the retirement of Niskanen left a huge whole in their top 4. Some players I would target if I was the Flyers; RD Erik Cernak from the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's clear how bad Tampa Bays cap situation is right now and Cernak has been a name thrown around in trade talks to help clear some cap in the offseason. I think Cernak would be a perfect fit in the top 4 as he is a big right handed defensive first d-man which is exactly what the Flyers need.

Another player I would target would be LD Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators. As the window closes for the Preds they might finally start to ship off some key players from their once great team. I think Ekholm fits in the time frame perfectly for the Flyers as his contract expires next offseason which is the same year that Giroux, Couturier, Farabee, and many more key Flyers players contracts expire. If works out you can re-sign him to whatever fits the next time frame with the Giroux and Couturier contracts. The only thing that I don't like about his fit is that he's a left handed but besides that everything the Flyers need Ekholm has.

I think the Flyers are missing a 4th line center and a guy that fits that description is Boone Jenner. Jenner is a solid bottom 6 two way center who would help stabilize that bottom 6 and complete it. I think CBJ would be interested in moving on from Jenner as he's getting older and the Jackets are clearly going into a rebuilding direction. He also has 1 year left so if it doesn't work out you can just move on next offseason.

Another guy I think the Flyers should target is veteran FWD Tyler Ennis. The Flyers virtually had no depth scoring last year and a guy like Ennis who could come in when injury's happen and can play all over the lineup would be a perfect fit.

If the Flyers want to really make a splash at a great young defenseman I think they should target St. Louis Blues D Vince Dunn. Dunn can play either side of the blue line and would probably pair well with anyone you pair him with. It would take a lot to get Dunn but he would be a great fit now and for the future.

Also the Flyers need to target any goalie who can be a good 1b goalie for Hart.

Finally I want to talk about trade assets on the NHL roster

Ghost is an obvious pick for this as he most likely be traded. Potential fits I could see are Florida, or St. Louis (in a Dunn trade).

Same goes for Patrick as he most likely will be traded. Potential fits I could see are Seattle, Vancouver, Detroit, or Chicago.

Voracek could be traded but I doubt it. Although if the Flyers make a blockbuster trade Voracek would probably be apart of it. I do see Voracek being moved in the 2022 offseason tho.

Now I'm going to make some moves let me know what you think of them in the comments!

The first move is trading Patrick to the Red Wings. I think the Wings would be interested in Patrick as they have weak center depth and Yzerman has traded for players looking for a fresh start before for example, Robbi Fabbri. The Flyers get Svechnikov in return as he is another player that just hasnt worked out and the Flyers get a 3rd as well because Patrick is a better player than Svechnikov. *I then signed Svechnikov to a 1 year 825k (2-way contract)*

Expansion Draft is simple since I already talked about it earlier. Pay Seattle an average prospect in Ratcliffe so they take on JVR's contract.

Now for the big move. I already talked about Dunn's fit with the team so lets talk about the trade. This trade only happens if the Flyers don't win the lottery. This trade would happen either days before the draft or on draft night. A 1st and 2nd is where the conversation starts and then the Flyers add Ghost to make the cap work and Ghost will be the replacement for Dunn. Then you add Hagg and a 3rd to sweeten the deal and I think you have fair value. The Blues will definitely want at least 1 roster defenseman back in a deal like this and either picks or prospects which is what I offered. *I then signed Dunn to a 3 year bridge deal worth about 4 million a year*

For the final trade I just give up a 6th round pick for Kris Russel who will come in to be Robert Haggs replacement.

As for free agent signings I signed Ennis to a 1 year deal (kinda overpayed but since it's only a 1 year deal it doesn't really matter). Ennis would be a good add to provide depth scoring and come in and play all over the lineup.

I signed Paquette instead of trading for Jenner because I didn't want to trade any picks after the Dunn trade. Paquette can serve as a gritty 4th line center for his 2 year contract and would be a decent fit considering the team need.

I also signed 2 goalies one being former Flyer Petr Mrazek. Mrazek is going to probably want a longer term contract but that doesn't work for the Flyers so I offered him more money for a 2 year deal. He could be a 1b goalie for Hart when he needs his rest. Comrie is just a add to get some more goaltending depth.

With all these moves you are still left with 4.5 million in cap to either spend for a rental at the deadline or save for the big offseason next year.

Now I'm finally done let me know what you think in comments because this took me forever so I want so feedback lol

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