Flyers Wrap Up Free Agent Frenzy With Depth Signings
Always a busy day around the NHL, the Flyers made their fair share of moves as free agency began this afternoon. Going in, the team was looking to add a backup goaltender and possibly a few depth options for the NHL squad.
They found those in Martin Jones, who signed a one year deal worth 2M. He’ll be looking to bounce back after a few tough years in San Jose. And he’ll be looking to help push Carter Hart as well.
Keith Yandle provides a few different options for the Flyers as he comes in on a one year deal worth $800K. Kevin Hayes had a fair amount to do with this move. Yandle has an opportunity to potentially quarterback the power play and gives the team another left-handed shot.
Aside from those two moves, it was a rather quiet rest of the afternoon and early evening for the Flyers. With Hart and Travis Sanheim still needing contracts, there wasn’t much else they could do without shipping out another big contract.
So the team looked towards their organizational depth and added a few potential call-up options as well as veteran presence for the Phantoms.
Both Adam Clendening, one year at 750K, and Nick Seeler, one year at 750K, were two of the depth signings that came out during the day. When Fletcher spoke with the media in the early evening, he spoke of five depth signings the team made with releases to follow.
These are the remaining three players that the Flyers signed.
Ryan Fitzgerald- One Year/750K
Fitzgerald is no stranger to the organization as he spent last season with the Phantoms. In 28 games he posted 12 goals and 21 assists. An AHL veteran, Fitzgerald has spent his entire career in the American Hockey League. Drafted in the fourth round in 2013 by the Boston Bruins, he spent four years at Boston College.
He had solid numbers while at BC, posting 10+ goals in each of his four seasons. His best season came his junior year when he scored a career-high 24 goals and 47 points. After graduating from BC, he signed his entry level deal and then a ATO with the Providence Bruins.
During his three full seasons with Providence, Fitzgerald found himself among the top five in points during two of those years. He was the top rookie scorer for the Bruins in his first season. He found himself in a similar situation last season with the Phantoms.
Fitzgerald is also the cousin of Kevin and Jimmy Hayes so there is a little family connection with this signing as well.
Gerry Mayhew- One Year/800K
Mayhew, while having some NHL experience under his belt, has mostly spent his career in the minor leagues. Up until this season, all of it was with the Minnesota Wild organization. And he has set quite a few records for their AHL affiliate during his time there.
Making his professional debut for the Iowa Wild in 2017, Mayhew has posted three seasons of double digit goals. He grabbed a career high 39 goals in 2019-20 after setting the franchise record for most goals in a season (28) the year prior. Needless to say he broke the franchise record again. He was also named the league’s most valuable player after that year.
A small taste in the NHL, Mayhew grabbed his first NHL goal in his debut in 2019. He became the eighth player in Minnesota’s history to score in their debut. Overall he has two goals and three points in 32 games.
He will provide some offensive power to a Phantoms lineup that is looking for more offense.
Cooper Zech- One Year/875K
Zech is another player that comes from the Bruins organization. Playing one year of collegiate hockey at Ferris State University, Zech became the first freshman to lead the team in point scoring since 1987-88. After that, he signed on to a two year contract to play with the Providence Bruins at the end of the 2018-19 season. Prior to that, he took part in the Capitals development camp in 2018.
After spending the following season in Providence, Zech was sent on loan to HK Nitra before the 2020-21 season was able to get underway. There he put up a modest two goals and 10 points in 15 games.
After returning, Zech struggled this past season for Providence. His numbers went down dramatically as he grabbed just a single goal and seven points in 21 games. Despite not having NHL experience, he ends up making the most out of the group. While an extra 75K doesn’t meant much, it’ll be interested to see if Zech can bounce back from a down year and find his way to the NHL.