As the NHL free agency frenzy dies down, it\u2019s clear the Philadelphia Flyers are still looking at the years after this coming season as when they will truly be competitive. <\/p>\n
Flyers GM Danny Briere absolutely killed the NHL Draft. Philly came away from Los Angeles\/Atlantic City looking like one of the true winners of the draft. They cannot say the same about free agency. <\/p>\n
The Flyers missed out on someone who was linked to them for what has felt like months. They were able to fill some big needs, but at what cost? Briere was also unable to follow up on his fantastic Trevor Zegras trade by adding any more immediate talent. <\/p>\n
So, what gives? <\/p>\n
The Flyers are clearly looking at another middling season. There are still too many holes on Philadelphia\u2019s roster that must be filled before it can truly compete. Unless they address those needs with one of the remaining RFAs, the Flyers seem to have their path. <\/p>\n
That said, let\u2019s address the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Flyers\u2019 free agency. <\/p>\n
Read More: So, The Flyers Whiffed on Shabanov; What\u2019s Next?<\/a><\/p>\n The Good: The Flyers Filled Big Needs<\/p>\n The basic principle of using free agency to fill your big needs is good, right? The Flyers had numerous needs heading into free agency, and each was addressed. <\/p>\n They needed a goalie, so the Flyers signed one. Oh, you need help at the blueline? Well, Briere went out and got two new options. They need scoring help at the wing or bottom-six center, so Briere went out and got someone who could fill both of those needs.<\/p>\n From the sound of that, it seems pretty good. However, that is about where the good from the Flyers\u2019 free agency ends, and the bad and ugly begin. <\/p>\n The Bad: Signing Dan Vladar a $3.35M AAV Deal, & Christian Dvorak to a $5.4M AAV Contract<\/p>\n Look, the Flyers desperately needed a stop-gap goalie, and they got one in Dan Vladar. You cannot be mad at addressing the goaltending position in free agency. However, there were no really \u201cteam-changing\u201d names available. <\/p>\n So, the Flyers were basically looking at giving a career backup goalie a chance to be better than Ivan Fedotov or Aleksei Kolosov. Dan Vladar, in all likelihood, will be better than both. But is he worth $3.35 million a year? <\/p>\n I say no. <\/p>\n By signing Vladar to such an AAV, the Flyers became increasingly handicapped in what they could do for the rest of the offseason.<\/p>\n The Flyers also needed to fill the 4C position. I fully understand being aggressive and getting the guy you want for the spot. But in no world should Philly be paying $5.4 million for a fourth-line center\u2013even on a one-year deal.<\/p>\n I like Christian Dvorak. He is a helluva player, and can certainly be a key contributor. Sure, you can slide him up and down the lineup, or even push him to the wing. The versatility is nice, and with Tyson Foerster out, he surely will be getting more time. But for $5.4 million, I would have signed pretty much anybody else. <\/p>\n That was a ridiculous allocation of funds. <\/p>\n The Flyers came into the offseason with a very good amount of cap space, but after the team signed Dvorak, that space quickly dwindled. <\/p>\n Depending on what the team decides is best for Jett Luchanko\u2019s development, there is a real possibility that both Dvorak and Noah Cates play on the Flyers\u2019 fourth line, meaning they would have $9.4 million tied up in two fourth-line guys. Garnet Hathaway has a $2.4 million cap hit, making that expected fourth line worth $11.6 million, or 12% of the cap. <\/p>\n Again, I do like Dvorak as a player, but at what cost was the signing worth it?<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0Flyers Busy to Open Free Agency; Agree on Two One-Year Deals<\/a><\/p>\n The Ugly: Flyers Cap Space Disappeared<\/p>\n The Flyers entered the offseason with approximately $26 million in cap space. Extensions of Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster brought them right around $19 million, and the acquisition of Trevor Zegras had them right around $14 million entering free agency. <\/p>\n So, with Cam York still yet to resign, Philly had ~some~ money to spend with multiple major needs remaining. <\/p>\n Instead, the Flyers gave way too much money to a backup goaltender and a 4C, and have yet to sign York to an extension. They now have $5,520,238 remaining in cap space, according to PuckPedia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Making matters worse, York did not want to go to arbitration, meaning he is still offer sheet eligible. Some teams could make things very difficult for the Flyers. <\/p>\n Returning to the topic of filling significant needs. Even if they make the roster, Dennis Gilbert and Noah Juulsen don\u2019t fill any gaps. I don\u2019t think I can honestly tell you either is better than Emil Andrae\/Egor Zamula. <\/p>\n So, the Flyers, still having needs and key contributors to resign, invested their FA funds in a backup goalie, two depth-defenders, and a 4C. Not great, especially after getting off to such an ideal start. <\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0Updated Flyers Prospect Rankings After the NHL Draft (+)<\/a><\/p>\n For more\u00a0Flyers news\u00a0and up-to-date coverage, visit\u00a0Philly Hockey Now<\/a>\u00a0and like our\u00a0Facebook page<\/a>. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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