Yes, it is clear that the Flyers are in a youth movement. Philadelphia had a team average of 26.8 years old. This season, only Justin Braun, James van Riemsdyk, Nicolas Deslauriers, and Kevin Hayes were above 30 years of age. Thirteen players this year were 25 or under.
And while the younger guys did well for the most part, they could use some help. Aging mentors can do a lot for the growth and development on rising stars. A great example of this is when Jaromir Jagr spent a year on the Flyers with Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, and Brayden Schenn. And new general manager Daniel Briere was there for that.
So with that in mind, what veterans are out that that Briere could sign to this team that would make an impact on the youth? Now before we delve into this, we have to remember that we are not sure what the salary cap situation will be. This team has been cash strapped, but will have some money coming off the books (James van Riemsdyk for one) and may make some trades to help this out further.
But if the Flyers can afford some of these guys, they might be a good fit for the team; even if it just for a short term one or two year deal. The other thing is, how affordable will these guys be? Also, there is the possibility that some of these guys could announce their retirement before June. However, if they can be convinced to come to Philly, their experience could pay off huge dividends.