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. A minor free agent signing is definitely in store, and one area of need that the Flyers have at the moment is physicality.
The Flyers most likely will re-sign their three RFA’s remaining (Philippe Myers, Nolan Patrick, and Robert Hagg), and they will be left with approximately $1-2 million of cap space. This includes Oskar Lindblom’s new contract amount of $3 million, and Nicolas Aube-Kubel’s new contract of $1.075 million. Moreover, Fletcher also has to re-sign Brian Elliott, or search for another backup goaltender if he does not think Alex Lyon can fill that role. With that being said, Fletcher is going to have to get creative in order to make cap room.
It will be difficult to move JVR’s contract, as many NHL teams are in the same situation as the Flyers in regards to the cap. Fletcher we’ll have a tough time adding top tier talent, but he can 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 Toronto Maple Leafs Kyle Clifford.
Clifford is a gritty forward, who stands at 6’2 and weighs 211 pounds. He is strong defensively, and can provide a net front presence. Clifford is a decent 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, Clifford hits everything that moves and draws a ton of penalties. He is a pest, and Clifford plays his role well.
This 29-year-old in Clifford is a solid physical player and one the Flyers desperately need for physicality purposes. Clifford is a bottom six player that plays the game the right way, and is good in the locker room. Moreover, Clifford would fit in well in with the Flyers system as he plays well defensively. For the season, he registered seven goals, and 10 assists for 17 points in 69 games combined with the Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The physical player in Clifford currently has a cap hit of $1.6 million, per Cap Friendly. Maybe the Flyers could obtain his services for the same salary for around $1 million. He would provide the physical presence needed with this orange and black club.
Clifford could be a huge asset for this young Flyers team. He may not be the most gifted individual, but he sure provides as physical element to hang with the likes of Tampa Bay and the Dallas Stars. We are seeing Both teams hit and slam players into the boards in this Stanley Cup Final, and Clifford provides that and then some.
I like Clifford OK, but if an extra $1m per year is the difference that costs us Pitlick, then there’s a problem.
No more smucks!!
We should try to sign veteran center Brian Boyle, to be our fourth-line center! He is cheap but good option, and would add that much needed physicality!
Tired of watching Holiday on Ice . Flyers,need to get back to the Broad Street Bully hockey to win another cup
. LOOK AT THE TWO TEAMS LEFT IN 2020 WANTA,CUP gotta get phyical