With NHL free agency slated to open up at noon today. Who might be of interest for Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher? Remember folks the Flyers have approximately $8.68 million in cap space with Phillippe Myers and Nolan Patrick still yet to sign. The Flyers will have approximately $4 million to spend this offseason, assuming Myers signs for $3-$3.5 million per year, and Patrick signs for $925,000-$1 million per year. Let’s dive into this free agency primer, and find out who the Flyers could be targeting.
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Craig Smith
Before Matt Niskanen retired I would have thought Smith could go elsewhere, as the Flyers didn’t have much in a way of cap space. However, Smith will likely command $3-$3.5 million per year from a team that is in need of his services.
Smith provides veteran leadership, and he could pot big goals. He will play in any situation the coaching staff asks of him. Smith informed the Nashville Predators back in late September that he wanted to test free agency. Smith could be a 3C (In case Nolan Patrick is not cleared for Game 1), or a valuable 4C, or play the Wing shoring up the bottom six.
Mikko Koivu
Koivu has the Minnesota connection with Fletcher, and would veteran leadership on and off the ice. He is very good at the faceoff circle where he won 53.1% of his draws last season. Koivu is prone to scoring slumps, so that might not win over the fans of Philadelphia.
However, Koivu scores big goals in the clutch, and is a good two-way player. He has size, and can be a little physical at times. Again he will be a stop cap 3C or 4C until Nolan Patrick hayd been cleared. Koivu could sign a cheap $1.5-$2.5 million deal.
Derick Brassard
Brassard stands at 6’1 and weighs 201 pounds. He is a versatile player that can play Center or Wing. The good thing is he could play the 3C role if Nolan Patrick cannot play in the first game of the 2020-21 season. Brassard tallied 10 goals, and registered 22 assists this past season for the New York Islanders. His three goals and seven assists (10 points total) came with the man advantage. Not too shabby by any means. He isn’t the fastest skater anymore, but he is a solid skater nonetheless. Brassard struggles with is consistency, and that’s why he could fetch a cheap $1.2-$1.5 million deal.
Anthony Duclair
Lets do this one again. A few years ago for those that have been following me. I wrote an article on the Flyers signing Duclair to a deal before he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Now a few years later he pots 23 goals with the Ottawa Senators, and here I am clamoring for the Flyers to sign him. He’s 25-years-old, and has tallied two 20+ goal seasons. Duclair could sign for $3.5-4 million per year.
Michael Grabner
Grabner might not have the scoring touch he once had, but he does provide speed. He is an excellent Penalty Killer, and will be a threat to tally a short-handed goal like Kevin Hayes did for the Flyers this past season (Four to be exact).
This 33-year-old in Grabner has tallied 17 goals in the last two seasons, while potting seven of those 17 goals short-handed. He would a cheap $900,000-$1.2 million option to shore up the bottom six.
Bobby Ryan
What more needs to be written about this Cherry Hill native, who has gone on record saying he would like to play for the Flyers. Ryan even mentioned accepting a camp tryout. He would come cheap $1-$2 million, after he came back strong to the Ottawa Seantors after successfully beating alcoholism.
Mikael Granlund
Granlund is a Center that tallied 17 goals last season for the Nashville Predators. He has a Minnesota connection with Fletcher after playing for the Minnesota Wild. Granlund would fill in nicely as a 3C or 4C, but the question is at what price. He made $5.75 million last season. Maybe Fletcher could low ball him for a $3-$3.5 million, who knows.
Jimmy Vesey
Vesey struggled with consistency with the the Buffalo Sabres. He is a much better player than how he performed. Maybe a change of scenery will do him well. After potting 17 goals in 2018-19 with the New York Rangers, he only managed to tally nine goals with the Sabres in 64 games played. Vesey can also play the Power Play, and us an effective two-way player, as well. Vesey made $2.275 million in 2019-20, so maybe Fletcher could sign him for a cheap $1.2-$1.5 million deal.
Matt Martin
Martin can hit and get under the skin of his opponents, thus drawing a key penalty. He is a Flyers fans dream if he is on their team, but a pain in the rear end if you have to play against him. He’s exactly the type of player the Flyers sorely lack in the lineup for Physicality purposes. He can score clutch and big goals too. Maybe Fletcher could sign him to a cheap 2-years $4 million deal ($2 million AAV).
Kyle Clifford
Clifford is a pest, and a forward who stands at 6’2 and weighs 211 pounds. He is strong defensively, and can provide a net front presence. Clifford draws a ton of penalties as he gets under the skin of his opponents easily. Again the Flyers lack physicality within their lineup, he provides s ton of that. Clifford as mentioned above is defensively responsible, and he tallied seven goals in 69 games played combined with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings.
Pat Maroon
I know why and how Maroon left the Flyers organization. That is a thing of the past and happened many moons ago. Now it’s time to move on.
Maroon is physical most importantly, and he can pot a big goal or two, as well. For the season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he registered nine goals, and 14 assists for 23 points in 64 games played. He also has won back to back Cups. What more needs to said it written about him.
He’s good in the locker room, and there is a reason Cup winning teams keep coming for his services. How about Maroon rejoins the Flyers organization, and shots for the three peat while donning an orange and black sweater. He could come on a cheap $900,000-$1 million deal, as Maroon made $900,000 with the Lightning this past season.
TJ Brodie
Whomever Fletcher brings in to fill the void left by Niskanen’s retirement that Defenceman has to log minutes to pair with a beast in Ivan Provorov.
Brodie would definitely fill the void left by the Niskanen retirement, although he possesses a Left-Handed shot. He logged 20:27 of average ice time per night for the Calgary Flames this past season, and he tallied four goals, and 15 assists in 64 games played.
This steady Defenceman in Brodie was a plus seven this past season, but he might not be the fastest skater. However, he uses his big frame well, and will block shots (87 last season). The question becomes how much? Well, I think Fletcher could sign him for $4.0-$4.5 million depending on term.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Shattenkirk posseses a Right-Handed shot, and could pair well with Ivan Provorov, ad he logged 18:54 minutes a night for the Tampa Bay Lightning this past season.
He may not have the wheels he once had, but Shattenkirk uses his big frame well, and blocks shots (66 this past season). He tallied eight goals, and 26 assists for the Lightning in 70 games played. Also, he was a plus 22.
The question is how much? Well, he made $1.75 million with the Lightning this past season after being bought out by the New York Rangers. He might be looking for a raise, or maybe not. If he comes with a price tag of about $4 million, then he could become a Philadelphia Flyer.
Names to watch for AHL Depth Signings
Kurtis Gabriel- I firmly believe he re-signs with Philly for physicality purposes
Andy Welinski- Right-Handed Defense (Re-signs with Philly)
Curtis McKenzie- Left-Wing (Power Forward)
Josh Currie- Right-Wing
John Gilmour- Left-Handed Defense
Logan Day- Right-Handed Defense
