Flyers likely to pursue stopgap options at center this offseason
As the Philadelphia Flyers prepare for the upcoming NHL Draft, they’re also keeping their ears to the ground on upgrades for their roster. As it has been for quite some time, the Flyers would like to make an addition down the middle of the ice. Adding a center is the Flyers’ top priority, though it may be more in the way of a depth move than a major splash.
It has been well documented to this point, but the Flyers are not in a position to make a major addition this summer. Due to the buyout of Cam Atkinson along with the retained salaries of Kevin Hayes and Scott Laughton, the Flyers have a little less than $7 million in dead cap space this summer. If you count the Ryan Ellis contract ($6.25 million AAV), they have upwards of $13 million in dead money; they can always shift the Ellis deal to LTIR, but they prefer not to if possible to accrue cap space during the year.
I believe the Flyers are in the market for a stopgap type of addition at center, a player who can bridge the gap over the next few seasons while they look to develop home grown talent down the middle. A player like Adam Gaudette is someone I think the Flyers could look at in free agency; he is still only 28 and is coming off a career best 19 goals with the Ottawa Senators.
I wouldn’t completely rule out the Flyers making a bigger move if one is too good to pass up, but there doesn’t seem to be a can’t-miss opportunity to add a center. There are some intriguing wingers on the market right now, but given the Flyers’ abundance of players at that position, I’ve been told they aren’t necessarily itching to get in the sweepstakes.
JJ Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres and Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars are two of the big name wingers on the trade market right now; while the Flyers do like both players, there is hesitation to pay a premium for either player given what the Flyers already have. Mason Marchment is another name in the rumor mill who I’ve been told the Flyers like, and while he would be a much lesser addition in the way of impact, the same problem remains with the Flyers having too many wingers already on their roster.
Speaking with a source earlier today, the Flyers’ long term outlook for their top-six has Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett on the wing. Tippett’s name has been tossed around as a potential trade candidate following a down season (and year one of his eight year extension), but I’ve been told that the Flyers have no plans to move on from him at this time and like the different element he provides in contrast to guys like Konecny and Michkov. Foerster, who just signed a two-year extension, is someone the Flyers believe can potentially reach the level of guys like Peterka and Robertson in the long term, and they don’t want to box him out of a top-six role.
The latest on Cam York’s contract
The Flyers have already locked up RFAs Noah Cates and Foerster, and now have to turn their attention to defenseman Cam York. The process, while slow, is moving along now, I’ve been told, and all options are on the table as to what term the contract could be.
What the numbers would be on a short term deal aren’t clear, but a longer term contract for York could come with an AAV of $6.25 million – the same number of fellow Flyer Travis Sanheim. This isn’t to say that is a slam dunk number for York on a long term contract, but it would be something the Flyers would “have to consider,” a source said.
As for York’s future with the team, he isn’t someone the team is itching to move and is part of the Flyers’ long term plans as of now. York did have a rough season and had a turbulent relationship with former head coach John Tortorella, but that has not affected the Flyers’ long term outlook on York, by the sounds of it. This isn’t to say York is untouchable or won’t be moved under any circumstance, but he is still someone the Flyers are planning to move forward with.
York, 24, finished the season with four goals and 17 points in 66 games.
Could Avs keep Ryan Lindgren somehow?
Switching gears to the Western Conference, the Colorado Avalanche have some decisions to make this summer, one of which being what to do with defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
Lindgren, 27, was acquired by Colorado from the New York Rangers ahead of the Trade Deadline. As I mentioned on X yesterday, Lindgren seemed like a good fit, and while it appears at the moment like he will go to market July 1, it sounds like the Avalanche would like to keep him if they can find a way. Following the Brock Nelson contract, it would take moving out some money in order to do so. The Avalanche have a little more than $93.5 million already committed to next season with just four defensemen under contract.
As listed on Frank Seravalli’s trade targets board, Charlie Coyle and Samuel Girard are two names I’ve heard the Avalanche are looking to move to free up some money. Coyle was acquired from the Boston Bruins ahead of the Trade Deadline and has an AAV of $5.25 million. Girard, who has found his name in the rumor mill in the past, carries an AAV of $5 million.
As for what Lindgren’s contract could look like, I’m hearing his current AAV ($4.5 million) would make sense on a long term contract.
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