Flyers extend qualifying offers to Hart, Sanheim and two others

With free agency just a few days away, the Flyers have put themselves in a good opportunity to make some more noise. They’ve already added in Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam Atkinson. Now they’ve taken care of a few of their own restricted free agents.

The team has sent qualifying offers to Carter Hart, Travis Sanheim, David Kase and Connor Bunnaman. Pascal Laberge, drafted in the second round in 2016, did not receive an offer. That will make him a free agent as he will look for any opportunity elsewhere.

Kase is currently playing overseas for HC Sparta Praha in the Czech league. This is simply to keep his rights should he decide to return. It is a similar situation as to what the Flyers did with Mikhail Vorobyev. Bunnaman may likely accept his qualifying offer, putting him under contract for next season. Hart and Sanheim won’t take the offers and will go into contract negotiations.

Neither have arbitration rights, though. Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic discussed what he believes the two could earn on their next contracts. Starting with Hart, it is unlikely that he will be able to cash in on a long-term deal at this time. There could be some concern that Hart won’t bounce back, but it’s extremely unlikely he puts up a repeat performance.

So a short term, bridge-like deal is probably what the two sides will come to terms with.

“Given the comparables, somewhere in the $3 million to $4 million range for a cap hit feels like a reasonable estimate on a two- or three-year contract for Hart. Blackwood’s 2020 deal is the obvious model, especially after Hart’s down season pushed him into that statistical territory.”

For Sanheim, he is coming off a two-year deal worth 6.5M. As O’Connor said in another article discussing a contract projection for Sanheim, he mentioned how going short term could end up costing the team in the end. Sanheim looked like he was going to step up into a top defensive role for the team. That would’ve made his next deal a potential longer term on.

But as most did last season, he struggled. So the Flyers may be off the hook a bit when it comes to his next contract. Of note, though, is that 2023 is when Sanheim can officially entire un-restricted free agent status. So the Flyers have an opportunity to buy themselves some time with longer than a two year deal.

Sanheim’s minutes have steadily increased over the last few years as he has seemed to solidify himself as a top-four defenseman. The points haven’t followed, however. After a career-high 35 points in 2018-19, Sanheim finished this past season with 15  points. His goal total has dropped steadily as well. He has posted totals of nine, eight and three the last three seasons.

The Flyers will likely want to take up a few of his free agent years, so it’s possibly they take a three-four year approach looking forward.

“That leaves the mid-length deals — the three-, four-, five-year terms. Sanheim would receive a sizable raise annually and receive the security that comes with a longer term, but the Flyers keep him in a cap hit range ($4.5 million-$5.25 million) that accurately fits his actual, current on-ice value and role. Unfortunately for the Flyers (and Sanheim’s camp), there aren’t many clean recent contract comparables in this range, which could complicate negotiations and ultimately lead the two sides to explore other options. But given Sanheim’s age, current role and contractual situation, the mid-range looms as a logical outcome for Sanheim’s next deal.“

So with about 11.7M of cap space left, if the Flyers agree to terms with those two around those amounts, that would be about 8M or so to sign those two. Without moving out another contract, that gives the Flyers around 3M or so to add in a backup goaltender and potentially a depth forward.

Flyers Re-Sign Sam Morin

Speaking of depth, the Flyers agreed to terms with defenseman Sam Morin on a one-year contract worth $750K. Chuck Fletcher spoke after the draft and said the two sides were working on a contract to bring him back. Both sides were interested in a reunion.

Morin had an interesting season as the team began an experiment of moving him to forward. The time off from two separate ACL injuries, it was looked out as a way for him to ease his way back in. The experiment didn’t last long. He briefly appeared as a forward in the NHL but moved back to defense when the Phantoms were shorthanded on the backend.

Morin will likely remain as either the team’s seventh defenseman or a potential call-up option if need be. If Morin ends up playing more than that, it’s likely the Flyers are in some serious injury trouble.

But it’s nice to see Morin back, he clearly enjoys being a part of this organization. And the team likes having him around as well. Just remember the reaction when he scored his NHL goal this past year.