Flyers Free Agency Targets Part I: Forwards

The salary cap is expected to be around $82.5 million dollars.  Barring a trade, the Flyers appear to have about $7 million to play around with. So, therein lies the problem.

The Flyers can’t spend willy-nilly on every free agent. They are going to have to use their funds wisely and maybe do some Howie Roseman-type finagling of the salary cap. If not, they may have to jettison some of their higher-priced talents in order to grab a few players. If not, they may only be able to get one or two “good signings” and have to rely afterward on depth talent.

Here, we will examine some of the players that the Flyers should try to snag if they can.

Centers

Claude Giroux

Bon Jovi is right…”Who says you can’t go home?” He’s a free agent. Will he come back? There is no doubt the fans would love it. But does he want to return? Maybe after a deep run on a winning team, maybe he wants to stay. OR maybe he wants to return and do it here. Maybe he’d even take a “home town” discount. It’s hard to say. Either way, the Flyers should definitely be getting his agent on the line.

Vincent Trocheck

Trocheck is a lot like his head coach, Rod Brind’amour. He’s never the best player on the team, but he does all of the little things that you want to be done: winning faceoffs, forechecking, chasing a dump in, setting up the plays, etc. He’d be a great center to add to this team with the likes of Couturier (and maybe Giroux).

He’s got the sort of grit that Flyers fans come to love and appreciate. He has stated he wants to stay in Carolina, but the Canes have several good free agents looking for a payday. If the Flyers can snag him, they should do it.

Nazem Kadri

Kadri is definitely one of the sexier names on the market this year. He’s posted career highs in points and goals. He’s looking for a payday and Colorado may not have the funds to match what others can throw at him as they have other players they need to decide on.

The downside is he is going to be 32. Is this a fluke or has he finally found his stride? Is he worth the gamble? If he can perform as he has, he just might be.

Ryan Strome

It’s always nice when you can steal a player from a rival. Strome has played on both NY teams and may want to stay in the Metro Division. He’s posted career highs in goals this season. He’ll be 29 this year and maybe cheaper than some of the others in this list. Plus, his brother, Matthew, is playing for Lehigh Valley. That might attract him.

Paul Stastny

Yes, Stastny is another older player that may be past his prime. But he’s got a solid work ethic behind him. He’ll be 37, but he did post more than 20 goals this season. If he comes cheap, he’d be a great third liner and stable veteran presence on this team. If the Flyers lose out on the big names and redirect other assets to defense, this might not be a bad signing.

Nicholas Paul

The Lightning have a problem. They are tapped out on the salary cap and can’t keep everyone. Like Scott Laughton, Paul is a solid defensive forward who can score from time to time. He could be a great third or fourth-line center in the mold of Joel Otto.

There are also restricted free agents in the center pool that the Flyers could look at. However, this is always a tough call because is it worth the trouble to get them? (Just ask the Canadiens-Hurricanes).  The Flyers have been unlucky at this in the past (for those of you who remember Shea Weber). But if you can sign the right player, it may be worth a shot.

Of these players, Dylan Strome (another Strome!) is probably the best of the lot. Martin Necas might be a good sleeper pick; but again, you don’t want to incur the wrath of the Canes. Kailer Yamamoto might be another one to take a shot at too.

Johnny Gaudreau

Phillies fans will forever hope that Millville’s Mike Trout will don red pinstripes. Eagles fans are happy that Haddon Heights’s Haason Reddick shores up their defense now. Likewise, Flyers fans hope that Salem, NJ native Johnny Gaudreau will come home.

He’s young, fast, and great. He’s what we want. He’s also going to be really, really, really expensive to get a hold of. BUT, he’s the kind of player you break the bank on. He could be the piece this team needs. Signing him, however, may limit other moves.

Ondrej Palat

As stated before, the Bolts have a lot of talent to re-sign and they can’t afford them all. If you can’t get Gaudreau, having a two-time Stanley Cup winner is not a bad consolation prize. He could easily slide into the top two lines and make some of the younger players stars with his veteran presence.

Max Domi

We all have memories of Domi’s father in the penalty box fighting a fan. Max is not his father. He can score as well as deliver big hits. He’s got a lot of grit in him that would appeal to Flyers fans. However, he has also been on three teams in two years. Is he a hot commodity or is there something else? Still, I would take a chance on him. He’d be a great third-line player.

Ilya Mikheyev

Toronto could soon run into similar cap troubles plaguing Tampa. If so, this Russian sniper could be a good player to go out and get. He’s had a career year with 20 goals. The future for him could be bright.

Evan Rodrigues

If you can steal Rodrigues away from the Pens, this addition would be doubly sweet. He’s had a career year in Pittsburgh and would be a decent second or third-line winger.

Andrew Cogliano

Cogliano has never been an outside sniper. However, if this team is looking for a depth piece for the fourth line, he’s not a bad player to go after.  He’s been around a while. He’s a good steady vet in the mold of Nate Thompson. He might be worth kicking the tires on.

If you are going to test the RFA waters, then Matthew Tkachuk might be the guy for you. He may be worth the hassle it takes to do this. Like his father, he is a prolific scorer. The Flames may have to choose between him and Gaudreau. The Flyers should pounce on one, or both, of these two if they get that opportunity. Other left-wingers that look attractive include Jesper Bratt, Andrew Mangiapane, and Adrian Kempe.