Philadelphia Flyers: Three Worst Free Agent Signings

With the signing of Nikolai Zherdev will this list increase to four?

Ray Emery

Emery was an unwanted man after being cut loose by the Ottawa Senators after the 2008 season. The Sens did not buy out his contract without reason. Emery had shown himself to be a self-centered hot head who cared very little about the team. No NHL team was interested in signing Emery for 2009 so he plied his trade in the KHL. Controversy followed him to Russia after he got into a shoving match with the team's trainer. It was a surprise that the Flyers inked Emery to a one year deal at the start of the 2010 season. Emery played well without any issues until an abdominal injury forced him from the line up in early December. He would not return for the rest of the season; $1.5 million down the drain.

Daniel Briere

Briere had a great playoffs for the Flyers this season, but don't let that cloud your thinking on him. At the start of the 2008 season, the Flyers signed him to an eight year, $52 million contract with a no trade clause. He is a productive player, but he is worth half of that $52 million, at best.

Chris Gratton

For some reason Gratton was much sought after restricted free agent following the 1997 season. The Flyers gave Gratton an offer sheet for a five year $16.5 million contract, which included a $9 million signing bonus. The Tampa Bay Lightning did not match the offer sheet and Gratton went to the Flyers. There was some controversy on this one as the Blackhawks said they had a deal in place with the Lightning before the Flyers. In the end, an arbitrator ruled in favor of the Flyers. Tampa Bay was entitled to four first round draft picks for Gratton leaving as a restricted free agent. Instead, the teams worked out a trade, Mikael Renberg and Karl Dykhuis from Philly for Gratton and the first round picks. Gratton lasted little more than a year in Philly before he was traded back to Tampa Bay. This signing would haunt Bobby Clarke for quite a while.