The Philadelphia Flyers have something special brewing heading into this offseason. From being projected to be a lottery team at season's end, to being one of the final eight teams left in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is a team that has the chance to grow and potential turn into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender if their young players all develop according to plan.
One of the reasons why the Flyers were so successful this season was because they finally solved their years long goaltending problem. Running through a variety of different starter's, the Flyers took a chance on Dan Vladar, signing him to a two-year, $6.7 million contract. This season, Vladar put up great numbers not just in the regular season, but also during their 10 game playoff run.
After Philadelphia's playoff run ended, Vladar expressed a desire to sign a new contract extension with the team. The thing is, the Flyers also have to extend center Trevor Zegras. However, it appears that Vladar will be the team's top priority this offseason.
While speaking with NHL.com's Adam Kimelman at the NHL Draft Scouting Combine in Buffalo last week, Briere said that Vladar's contract extension was a priority for him this offseason, saying, "It feels like he wants to be in Philly, and we want him there."
Dan Vladar gets first priority on in-house contract negotiations list for Flyers
"He was our MVP, so it's tough to not like what he's done," Briere said. "We're definitely interested in extending him. ... We feel our prospect goalies need a little bit more time still. So, ideally we would love to extend Dan Vladar."
Sure, making sure they get somthing done with Zegras, considering he is a restricted free agent, should be a priority. But considering that the Flyers finally have their starting goaltender, it makes sense why they would want to make sure Vladar is around for years to come.
It's a no-brainer why Briere would try to get something going as soon as possible. Signing Vladar last offseason felt like taking a flier, no pun intended, on a goalie that split starting opportunities during his time with the Calgary Flames. This season was his first starting more than 30 games. In 51 regular season starts, Vladar recorded a .906 save percentage, a 2.42 goals allowed average, and a 29-14-7 record.
Once the playoffs came around, Vladar played great. Sure, he may have given up a couple of flukey goals, but he kept the Flyers in games. In 10 starts, Vladar recorded .922 save percentage and a 2.18 goals allowed average.
Despite Briere's comments, it sounds like the Flyers already have soemthing agreed upon with Vladar. Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed in a recent interview that he thinks that the Flyers' contract extension with Vladar "is pretty much done," with the belief being that the new deal would extend the goalie by five years. Considering the NHL rules, the Flyers can't officially announce a new deal with Vladar until July 1.
Sure, there is risk in signing a goalie that had his first chance at extended starts a new contract. But given the bad luck the team had at the position, it is a risk the Flyers should be willing to make. Briere let it be known that Vladar is a priority, and based on what Friedman said recently, it sounds like a deal could be announced by July 1 at the earliest.
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