As the clock keeps ticking towards Free Agency, there are some holes within the Flyers lineup that Chuck Fletcher would like to shore up for next season. Flyers fans can cross off a blockbuster type deal for a top-six forward off their wish list, as this most likely will not transpire for the orange and black. However, a minor free agent signing is definitely in store.
After the Flyers re-sign their three RFA’s remaining (Philippe Myers, Nolan Patrick, and Robert Hagg) the Flyers will only have approximately $1-2 million of cap space left. This includes Oskar Lindblom’s new contract amount of $3 million, and Fletcher also has to re-sign Brian Elliott. With that being said, it’s going to be tough for the Flyers to move JVR’s contract, as many NHL teams are in the same situation as the Flyers in regards to the cap. However, what Fletcher could do is add a bottom six player that provides much needed physicality, and one that can pot a big goal to provide much needed depth within the bottom six units. From now until free agency, I will feature one player a week that the Flyers could realistically add for depth purposes. This week let’s talk about a Left Winger from the New York Islanders Matt Martin.
Martin is an intelligent hockey player, who stands at 6’3 and weighs 220 pounds. He is strong defensively, and really has a keen hockey sense. Martin isn’t the fastest skater, but he really gets under the skin of his opponents. He can board battle, forecheck, plays a two-way game, and possesses puck skills to succeed at the NHL level. For his efforts, Martin can really score some big goals, as he tallied five goals in the playoffs.
This 31-year-old in Martin is a solid, physical player and one the Flyers desperately need for physicality purposes. Martin is a bottom six player that plays the game the right way, and is good in the locker room. He could also play in the top six if need be. Moreover, Martin would fit in well in Head Coach Alain Vigneault’s system, as he plays a solid two-way game. For the season, he registered five goals, and three assists for eight points in 55 games played.
I know what everyone’s thinking, what would it cost to acquire Martin? Martin currently has a cap hit of $2.5 million, per Cap Friendly. Maybe the Flyers could obtain his services for the same salary of $900,000-$1.5 million. He would be a cheap replacement for Tyler Pitlick, in case Fletcher cannot re-sign him due to cap space.
Martin could be a huge asset for this young Flyers team. Even if Pitlick does in fact re-sign in Philly, Martin could still plug a hole in the bottom 9 or 12, thus giving Head Coach Alain Vigneault four really solid lines to work with. Martin would also provide physicality for the Flyers that was lacking in the playoffs.
No please no
Just take playing time away from a young player
We have bottom-six positions covered for years to come, thanks to great drafting by Ron Hextall! So we must try to draft boom or bust prospects in later rounds of draft, because otherwise they don”t get any playing time in the big club!