With the recent Restricted Free Agent (RFA’s) signings of German Rubtsov and Linus Sandin. The Flyers are now left with seven RFA’s to include: Travis Sanheim, Connor Bunnaman, Nolan Patrick, Carsen Twarynski, Pascal Laberge, Carter Hart, and David Kaše. Let’s dive into these players to divulge what their next contracts will look like.
Travis Sanheim
Sanheim was born on March 29, 1996, in Elkhorn, MB, CAN. Like most Canadian children he found a love for the sport of hockey. Of course, like most kids his ultimate goal was to eventually play in the NHL. Well, his first wish came true as he was drafted 17th overall by the Flyers at the 2014 NHL Draft. After being drafted by the Flyers, Sanheim continued to play for his junior team of the Calgary Hitmen. He had a stellar campaign for the Hitmen in 2015-16, and managed to register 15 goals and 53 assists for a total of 68 points in 52 games played. After a career year, maybe it was his idol in Nicklas Lidstrom that gave him the added motivation to succeed.
“I admire Nicklas Lidstrom. He was steady, and could put up numbers offensively. I just tried to pick a bit from him..his stick was amazing, always had his stick in the right place at the right time.”– Travis Sanheim said to Jamey Baskow in 2017
The young steady defenseman in Sanheim never wavered hope of establishing himself as an elite shutdown defender. Unfortunately, last year things started out rough for Sanheim, and the Flyers defensive corps. in general. Sanheim had trouble taking the body of the opponent, as he was seen being outmuscled on multiple occasions. Fortunately, he did improve as the season wore on, but it was too little too late for Sanheim and the Flyers.
Sanheim’s offensive abilities are there, however, what he needs to do is get bigger and stronger so he could take the body of the opponent more often than not. He is an excellent skater and Sanheim can log minutes. But, he needs to get bigger and stronger and for this reason he will most likely receive a two-year extension worth an AAV of $4 million per year.
Nolan Patrick
Nolan Patrick entered this 2020-21 season with a chip on his shoulder. He wanted to prove to his doubters that he could stay healthy, as well as, produce. Patrick has a world of talent and people have seen flashes of this throughout his two years of playing for the Flyers (2017-18, 2018-19), as he has accumulated 62 points in 156 games played, “See how camp goes and go from there,” Patrick said on the first day of training camp.
Patrick thinks defense first and this cannot be understated. He played on a line with Claude Giroux, and Travis Konecny last night. To no one’s surprise this line was very successful as Patrick potted a big goal in the third period through the first seven games of the season, to which Giroux and Konecny were credited with apples on his goal, “I feel good,” Patrick said. “G makes good plays.”
In his second season Patrick became a better player, as he was faced with facing top line after top line on some nights. Patrick closes gaps on players, much like Sean Couturier does so well. The young 22-year-old in Patrick needed a fresh start this year, and Patrick produced five points in his first seven games played (2g,3a). Fans couldn’t have envisioned a better start for him. Well, he became very inconsistent as the season wore on, and only managed to produce nine points for the season. It definitely was not a blissful year that Patrick envisioned as he returned from his migraine disorder.
Patrick has a new agent, and his agent will bargain with the Flyers to get him to sign a one-year $1 million-1.15 million deal. He has accumulated 71 points in three seasons of hockey. He finally has an offseason to just train, train, train. Patrick should be ready to start next season with a chip on his shoulder once again.
Carter Hart
Carter Hart entered the 2021 season with high expectations. High expectations for the Flyers, and for his own self. Hart is seen by some as the savior of the franchise in terms of goaltending. For his efforts, the Flyers haven’t had this type of goaltending in some time, as Hart went 9-5 in the playoffs coupled with a 2.23 GAA, and a .926 Save Percentage. The future looked bright, and guess what folks it still does.
Hart has had his fair share of downs, however, he has had some ups, as well. Some observations I see from Hart right now are: He is playing deeper in the net, thus making himself smaller. In addition, Hart is getting beat over his glove. It appears that teams are focusing on shooting on his glove hand side, and it appears to be working for the opposition. Hart is a perfectionist and he will work tirelessly with Kim Dillabaugh to correct these problems.
That’s just it folks, these problems are correctable. As the season wore on it became relevant to see that Hart needed practice. Unfortunately, with this condensed schedule that most teams are going through it becomes hard at times for a young netminder to stay sharp or fix problems without practice “I’m just trying to stop the puck and right now I’m not,” Hart said at one point in the season. “Plain and simple. I just need to find a way to get back on track because I’m not playing well. I know it. Everyone knows it. It’s hard right now. But the boys battled back and that’s all that matters.”
He was battling, and Hart is a perfectionist. Hart prides himself on his work ethic and dedication to the game. If he is not at his best it affects him, this has been seen in his play as of late. However, the team still had his back in a down season, “Tonight, it wasn’t Hartsy’s night, but he’s a great goalie and he is already on for us,” Joel Farabee said. “We can’t really blame him at all.”
That’s just how the season went for Hart. Hopefully, he bounces back next season like we believe he will, but Hart will sign a new two-year contract worth an AAV of $3.75 million per year.
Connor Bunnaman
Bunnaman saw time between the Flyers Taxi Sqaud, the big club, and then back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at one point. He needs to find consistency in his game, and give energy each game. In the beginning of the season he provided the Flyers with some Jam on the fourth line, however, as the season wore on that wavered.
Hopefully, Connor takes this experience he has gained and comes back next season with a vengeance, as more prospects are looking for full-time spots next season like Jackson cates and Tanner Laczynski to name a few. He will sign a qualifying offer from the Flyers for one-year.
Carsen Twarynski
Twarynski just hasn’t developed into the player the Flyers thought they would receive when he was drafted from the Kelowna Rockets in 2016 as he potted 45 goals, and registered 27 assists in 68 games for the Rockets in 2017-18.
Fortunately, Twarynski is still very young at 23-years-old and with Kaše playing overseas this coming AHL season to pair with Max Willman getting an upgrade to play with the Flyers. This may afford him the opportunity to stay with the Flyers organization. Twarysnki typically plays with a physical edge to his game, but he did not do that in his seven games played with the Flyers this season. This coming season is a make or break season with the orange and black I believe, as more prospects are knocking on the window of the AHL.
Twarynski will sign a one-year qualifying offer to stay with the orange and black for depth purposes.
Pascal Laberge
Laberge just has to stay healthy. This has been his achilles heel since he signed his Entry-Level-Contract with the Flyers. Some will say all of this has been since his nasty concussion that he sustained in junior hockey with the Victoriaville Tigres.
Pascal has had a rough go in his professional career thus far, and has even seen time with the Reading Royals. Maybe with a new Head Coach Ian Laperrière with the Phantoms maybe he will be given a clean slate to impress. The clock is ticking with his time in the Flyers organization. It’s now or never. He has the offensively ability to have sustain a successful professional career. Laberge just has to be given an opportunity to do such. For the season last year with the Phantoms, he tallied three goals and registered one assist in 14 games played. Laberge will sign a one-year make it or break it qualifying offer with the Flyers.
David Kaše
Kaše will play for HC Sparta Praha for the 2021-22 season in the Czech Republic. The Flyers will qualify him like they did to Mikhail Vorobyev.
This off season will be an interesting one Flyers fans, and we will have you covered every step of the way.
The only one on that list worth anything is Hart. The rest is garbage.