Philadelphia Flyers Face Tough Decisions This Offseason

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

The Flyers have had what can only be called an up and down season thus far. Injuries, coaching changes, and inconsistent goaltending have been the major factors behind the Flyers’ lack of success as has the team's overall chemistry, or lack thereof.

No question about it, the Flyers No. 1 priority this offseason will be bringing an adequate goaltender into the fold. Given the Flyers have a total of $48.610 million (all numbers courtesy of nhlnumbers.com) already devoted to 16 players it will be tough for them to acquire said goaltender unless they are able to unload a large contract as part of a trade.

Another issue facing the Flyers is the number of restricted free agents they have. Daniel Carcillo, Darroll Powe, Brayden Coburn, and Ryan Parent are four players that will be looking for raises, especially Carcillo who, at $938,000 a year is underpaid by NHL standards. Parent ($1.5 million), Powe ($600,000), and Coburn ($1.4 million) should all command at least a 30 percent raise on their current contracts, with Powe possibly left out.

Complicating matters further are the Flyers unrestricted free agents which include retired defenseman Mike Rathje ($3.5 million), Ray Emery ($1.5 million), and Michael Leighton ($600,000). Arron Asham, Mika Pyorala, and Lucas Krajicek are also UFAs, none of whom are expected to be back with the Orange and Black next season.

A little quick math suggests that the Flyers will come to the free agent table with a paltry $8 million with which to sign eight players and that does not include the increases that are expected to go to Carcillo, Coburn, and Parent.

If we use that 30 percent increase to determine the hit the Flyers will need to endure in order to re-sign Carcillo, Coburn, and Parent, that equates to another $1,141,400 from that $8 million surplus, leaving the Flyers with $6,848,600 with which to sign eight players.

To say the Flyers will be in a tough spot to sign eight capable players for less than a million dollars per is an understatement. More likely, the Flyers will have to settle for cast-offs and second-rate talent in order to fill the void.

The going rate for a decent goalie these days is around $3 million. Subtract that number from the nearly $7 million and what you have left is $3,848,600 with which to sign seven players—OUCH! That’s just under $550,000 per player, which by NHL standards, well, that can’t even get you a Colton Orr ($1 million 2009/'10) these days!

Which brings us back to the Flyers need to unload a big contract. There has been plenty of speculation that the Flyers will approach the Montreal Canadiens about the possibility of trading for of Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak, which would be a HUGE upgrade in the net for the Flyers.

Here’s the kicker…the Canadiens have a total of $45,732,000 committed to just 14 players next season, which leaves them with around $11 million with which to sign 10 players.

A number of trade scenarios have included the Flyers sending Daniel Briere ($7 million salary 2011/'12), Jeff Carter ($5.5 million salary 2011/'12), Simon Gagne ($5.25 million salary 2011/'12), and perhaps even a Claude Giroux being thrown into the mix at $765,000 in 2011/'12.

With $11 million with which to sign 10 players, how is it that the Canadiens would be interested in devoting that kind of salary to just one player??? With Giroux being the exception of course.

Both Halak and Price are restricted free agents next season; both goalies will be looking for huge raises on their current (Price: $850,000; Halak: $800,000) salaries, which complicates matters even further.

One has to think that Price and Halak will command salaries in the $2-$2.5 million range, which means the Canadiens goaltending will be going up in price (currently $1,650,000 with Halak and Price in the fold).

If and when the Canadiens decide to trade one of Halak or Price they will have to be prepared to find another backup, which will cost them a minimum of $500,000. With that in mind, the Canadiens can expect their goaltending to cost them around an extra $900,000 next season, which, in turn, chops their available cash to $10 million with which to sign 10 players, which is alarming to say the least.

Add this to the real danger of Canadiens leading scorer Tomas Plekanec leaving for greener pastures and the Canadiens are in a bit of a pickle, wouldn’t you say? Remember, Plekanec is a UFA this summer so his numbers are not part of the Canadiens $45,732,000 committed to 14 players.

Simply put, the Canadiens cannot afford to bring in a big contract—it’s not in the cards—thus any delusional deals with the Flyers involving the likes of Gagne, Briere, or Carter seem difficult, if not impossible to make.

Could the Canadiens try to trade off some salary in order to facilitate a Carter, Briere, or Gagne deal? Sure. Question is, how do the Canadiens find a taker for the likes of Scott Gomez ($8 million salary in 2011/'12), Brian Gionta ($5 million salary 2011/'12), or Andrei Kostitsyn ($3.25 million 2011/'12). I don’t think Mike Cammalleri is going anywhere so his numbers are irrelevant.

Maybe this is where the Flyers will have to crumble in order to get Price or Halak. If the Flyers want one of the Canadiens goalies they may, in turn, need to take on a Andrei Kostitsyn or Brian Gionta while giving up a Jeff Carter or (God help them) Mike Richards?

The point is, a straight up trade makes no sense and will likely never come to fruition, not without some very crafty moves on both sides of the trading table.

Besides, according to nhlscap.com, Gagne has a no-trade clause, Briere has a no-movement clause, and Richards has a no-movement clause that starts July 1st, 2012, making all three difficult to trade, if not impossible.

The one player that does not have a no-trade and/or no-movement clause is Carter and for that reason, he is the most likely candidate to be traded, which I feel would be a mistake as it would hurt the Flyers’ offence tremendously. Another player that is void of a NTC/NMC is none other than defenseman Chris Pronger…would the Flyers ever consider moving their most prized acquisition of the 2009/'10 offseason?

Of note, Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen has a no-movement clause, making him difficult to trade as well, as does forward Scott Hartnell, who has been a part of many trade rumors over the season.

Yes, the Flyers need a goalie, this much we know; getting one into the Flyers salary structure will be difficult.

To read more NHL news and opinions check out my website @ www.theslapshot.com

Until next time,

Peace!