So, The Flyers Whiffed on Shabanov; What's Next?

The Philadelphia Flyers whiffed on star KHL winger Maxim Shabanov, as he decided to come to the Metropolitan Division, just not the Flyers. Instead, Shabonov will be joining No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer on Long Island.

Was Shabanov going to be a guaranteed star? In all honesty, probably not. But signing Shabanov was a low-risk, high-reward move, which is precisely the sort of move to help get you out of a rebuild.

Shabanov was touted as what would have been the Flyers’ biggest free agency move, but they missed out. So, that leads us to my next question: Where do the Flyers go from here?

The trade route has still not gone away, and neither has the UFA or RFA market. However, the Flyers’ current cap space has made things quite interesting.

Currently, the Flyers have $4,616,905 in remaining cap space. The team has been unwilling to put Ryan Ellis on LTIR, so his deal is on the books still. Now, the Flyers have to find a way to free up cap space to resign Cam York, but also to make any other move, if they choose to do so.

So, with that, let’s look at some of the top remaining options if the Flyers decide to stay active in free agency.

Flyers Top Remaining Options This Offseason

5. Joe Veleno, C, UFA

Yes, the Flyers overpaid for Christian Dvorak to be their fourth-line center. So, why would another center make the list?

Well, center is still the team’s biggest weakness, despite the recent additions of Trevor Zegras and Dvorak. So, why not look into other options? Joe Veleno is the perfect buy-low-now, and possibly flip him for assets in the future type, exactly like Ryan Poehling.

Veleno would come uber-cheap. He would come in and compete for the 4C spot, possibly pushing Dvorak to the wing. If it does not work out, put him on waivers or send him to the AHL. However, it could work out very nicely for the Flyers. It’d be worth giving him a minimum contract.

4. Jeff Skinner, LW, UFA

Unlike the player to follow, Jeff Skinner to the Flyers could actually make a lot of sense. They were looking to go after an LW in Shabanov, so if they want to add more scoring on the wing, Skinner makes a ton of sense.

Skinner would likely be more than willing to accept a one-year deal, which would be a perfect bridge for the Flyers. Tyson Foerster could miss some time with his now being an elbow injury. Skinner could fill in the top-six while FOerster is out, and just slide down once he returns.

The one-year deal would allow the Flyers to take their time with prospects like Alex Bump and Porter Martone. Skinner would be a short-term contract that is cheap, perfect for the Flyers.

3. Gabe Vilardi, C/RW, RFA (Winnipeg)

Gabe Vilardi is one of the top remaining options, despite the fact that he is an RFA, not a UFA. For the Flyers, he would fit everything they need. Vilardi’s age still fits the timeline; he has size, and he is a great net-front player on the power play. Oh, and he can also play center. Vilardi is coming off a career-high 61 points and is looking for a big deal.

Vilardi is still unsigned by the Jets, which could let things become interesting. Maybe an offer sheet goes out? Or, maybe they trade for his rights? Who knows.

What we do know is that the Flyers will have to get creative and make space for Vilardi. On top of having to resign York, Vilardi’s starting cost will likely be $7 million, meaning the Flyers would have to clear about $8 million if they want to resign York and acquire Vilardi.

2. Nik Ehlers, LW, UFA

I’ll be honest, I don’t think the Flyers have a chance here, but it’d be silly not to include Nikolaj Ehlers on the list. He is the best remaining forward in UFA, and the Flyers, all of a sudden, could use a top-six winger with Tyson Foerster’s injury.

Do I think they’re a real possibility for Ehlers? No, not really. He’ll command a long-term deal with a cap hit of $8M+ per year. But again, he’s clearly the top-remaining FA, so it’s worth throwing him on here.

1. Bowen Byram, LHD, RFA (Buffalo)

Bowen Byram may just be the top player available. It seems very clear that he and Buffalo will be moving on from each other; it’s just become a matter of when and where he will go, and how he will be acquired.

Bryam is a solid all-around left-shot defender who would help bolster the Flyers’ group of defensemen, but also add some scoring from the blueline. It would not be a cheap move. The Flyers would have to clear plenty of space to make it happen.

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So, The Flyers Whiffed on Shabanov; What’s Next?

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