Coming into this season’s free agency window the Flyers had the third lowest cap hit of the 32 teams in the league. Only behind the Capitals, who were in the red, and the Golden Knights, who have been known to “cheat” the system using the LTIR loop hole. So the Flyers were not in a financial spot to sign big name talent like former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos who signed a 4 year 8 million AAV contract with Nashville.
The Flyers did sign seven players after the free agency window opened. The team resigned veteran defenseman Erik Johnson to a 1 year 1 million dollar deal. Johnson played 17 games for the Flyers last season after coming here at the trade deadline from Buffalo. Philadelphia also resigned Garnet Hathaway to a 2 year 2.4 million annual salary. In Hathaway’s first season in Philly he played all 82 scoring 17 points.
While the two players the Flyers gave qualifying offers to before the deadline also resigned. Yegor Zamula and Bobby Brink both signed two year contracts. Zamula’s is worth 1.7 a year, while Brink will be making 1.5 a year. Zamula played 66 games last season scoring 21 points. While Brink split time between Philadelphia and Allentown, playing 57 games for the Flyers and recording 23 points. Philadelphia also signed their first round draft pick Jett Luchanko to an entry level deal for three years worth 975 thousand annually. While one new face to the team is center Anthony Richard who singed a 2 year contract worth 775 thousand a year. Richard was originally drafted by the Predators 100th overall in 2015 and has spent time with the Canadians and Bruins before coming to Philadelphia. He will most likely spend next season down with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
But the biggest signing has to be Matvei Michkov who singed a three year entry level contract worth 995 thousand annually. The Russian phenom is expect to make an immediate impact on the team. The Michkov hype is so intense that the team store is already selling Michkov merch.
Cover Photo: AP Photo/Matt Slocum
Nathan Harding
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