Brayden Schenn, Flyers Agree on New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The Philadelphia Flyers and center Brayden Schenn announced a new four-year contract Monday, avoiding arbitration in the process.

Schenn, 24, had a career high with 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 2015-16. The restricted free agent was set for an arbitration hearing Monday, where he was asking for a $5.5 million salary.   

Bob McKenzie of TSN reported the new deal has an average annual value of $5.125 million. While that number is closer to Schenn's asking price, the Flyers get two extra years of his prime—a period in which he might be playing at a below-market level.

The fifth overall pick in 2009, Schenn has slowly come into his own over the last three seasons. He's played at least 80 games in each campaign and set career highs in scoring while reducing his propensity for penalties. 

“I think I’ve come a long way and I still feel like I can get better and will get better,” he told reporters in April. “I finally felt this year like I had to be one of our go-to guys or one of the guys who tried to get the job done each night. I think that’s part of the reason guys like [Wayne Simmonds], Jake [Voracek] or [Claude Giroux] try to hold me accountable each night to perform and be good out there."

Schenn will serve a three-game suspension to begin 2016-17 after hitting Washington Capitals winger T.J. Oshie in the head during their first-round playoff series.

When he gets back, expectations will be higher than ever. Schenn emerged last season as a leader and potential All-Star for the first time; he's now being paid like a foundational piece of the future.

That the Flyers allowed the situation to go right down to the wire, however, may speak to some hesitance on their part. Their offer wound up being pushed $800,000 per season, not an insignificant amount of money under the NHL's cap. With needs on the first two lines, general manager Ron Hextall may wind up having to pinch a bit more than he expected for next season's cap.