Extensions for the… Extended?
I originally wanted to write up a few ideas I had about resigning key impending FAs, but I realized that there aren’t many this year. Jared Ross, Nate Raduns, and Danny Syrvet are all arbitration eligible RFAs at the end of this upcoming season. So then I began to think about extensions, more of who should earn them not who they will go to. I mean as far as I’ve seen, Homer doesn’t make good decisions when it comes to contracts. Chris Pronger’s being an exception to that, that one impressed me. So let us take a look at the guy who are going to be free agents in the next few years;
Arron Asham – Last year in free agency Asham signed a 2 year deal worth about $650k a year, ending at the end of the 2009-2010 season. Great signing for the Flyers, getting a momentum swinger who can throw 20 points up from the fourth line. More than likely to not find more money anywhere else but as we know here in Philly, money doesn’t really mean much for guys that want to play here. I can see another 2 year deal for Asham if his solid play continues this year. Plus he is one of my favorite role players, so obviously I’d like to see him stay.
Riley Cote – Another fan favorite, but a guy who is expendable. At $550k a year until the 2010-2011 season, his time could be limited in Philly. We love a fighter here but like Carcillo he needs to improve his offensive ability. If he proves he can put up 15-20 points a year I’d like to see him stay. Without the production though he is like Georges Laraque is for Montreal. Don’t be surprised if he walks in free agency.
Randy Jones – Here is where I am torn between the better from what he showed us to the greatness I know he is capable of. Last year his hips were destroyed, no secret anymore. He couldn’t pivot, hell he could barely skate. But, scanning the channels a day or two ago, I found a playoff game for the 07-08 season. Just watching how much smoother he was that year, I was sold that he could be good, and now realized why he wasn’t traded this year. With a salary of $2.75 million, when he is healthy he is worth it. Now if it were me in Jones’ position, knowing how patient the Flyers were with me and my pesky injuries, I would take the pay cut I’m almost positive is coming my way. At only 28 years old, I could see a 4-6 year deal worth around $1.5-$2 million a year. Affordable long term defense man who when healthy is a huge bonus.
Braydon Coburn & Ryan Parent – Both restricted free agents I wont jump into the too much. Coburn will likely find a raise through this. Long term and probably around $3 million a year. Which if you ask me would be a HUGE asset to have a defense man of his caliber at only $3 million a year for 5 years or more. Ryan Parent will probably have this year to actually prove himself for an upcoming contract. I doubt it will be over $1.5-$2 million per with maybe 4 years depending on his play this season. Both tremendous young talents who will be great one day.
Simon Gagne – This is where my catchy title comes into play. Gagne is under contract until the 2011-2012 season. So counting this season he has 3 years left on his deal. Gags is the longest tenured Flyer after being drafted to the team in 1998. One word comes to mind when I think about Gagne, reliable. For the last 10 years he has be consistent and dangerous for other teams. scoring 40+ goals twice in his career, we know he can finish with the right personnel around him. So how do you think Holmgren should approach this situation? Wait until he has 2 weeks until Gagne is a free agent and gets offered an insane amount of money to go home to Canada to play? Or, should he deal with an extension this year or next? My personal opinion is that the sooner he gets a deal done the better. As soon as Gagne’s name hits the open market the reality of him staying a Flyer shrinks, a lot. Hope for another scorer in three years time to come through the farm or a big name scorer from another team not asking a whole lot is about all we can do if Gags isn’t signed at the start of the 2011-2012 season.
Jeff Carter – A 3 year $15 million dollar extension and 46 goals later the thought floats around about this young sniper’s future. Under contract until the same year Gagne is, 2011-2012 is shaping up to be about $50-$75 million invested in these two guys for long term extensions. Honestly Simon Gagne is my favorite Flyer but if it came down to it I would take Carter first. 24 years young and already has a better scoring touch than Gags does with the size to match. There is no doubt that the two of them mean a ton to this team but the reality is with the salary cap expected to drop, the chances of the both of them staying in our jersey is slim to none. So in the next 2-3 years we will most likely see a face lift of the big names in this town. The only certain blockbuster players anymore are Richie, Pronger, and Briere. Hoping that we can retain most of the key guys to become free agents has turned into a full time job for me. Oh i probably forgot to mention that Carter is an arbitration eligible RFA when his contract ends, but knowing the rivals we have I would fully expect an offer sheet from a rival club. Look at Phil Kessel and that mess Boston is in. Lets hope Homer is a little smarter than Chiarelli. Enjoy the rest of your day and LETS GO FLYERS!!