Spending money on a big-time free agent can be risky. It can pay off, like when the Phillies signed Bryce Harper. There are times when it can blow up in your face. Flyers fans can look at Ilya Bryzgalov for that one. Sometimes, it can be because you overpaid someone who just wasn't worth the money or the length like Kevin Hayes or the shell of once had been Vincent Lecavalier.
Sam Reinhart isn't a risky option. He could get hurt and never see the light of day, like Ryan Ellis. However, he is a big-time player. He would fill a need the Flyers have. He would single-handedly change the dynamic of this team. He could bring a Stanley Cup Championship parade to Broad Street.
Reinhart scored 57 goals this season, second to Auston Matthews. He scored 23 goals on the power play. In comparison, the Flyers, as a team, scored 31. Likewise, his 37 assists would've easily led this team. He is a game-changer. He has twice led the Panthers to playoff wins over the mighty Boston Bruins. He has taken this team on his back. This is the kind of go-to guy the Flyers need.
This is also not a fluke season. He has scored 20+ goals every season in all but one season since becoming a full-time player. This also includes the COVID-19 shortened seasons. Since being traded away to Florida, he has scored nothing less than 31 goals each season thanks to a high-powered offense that he lacked in Buffalo.
The Flyers should gamble on acquiring Sam Reinhart
Imagine what he could do here. Imagine him with Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Matvei Michkov, or Joel Farabee at his side. This could usher in a new age of Flyers stars and Golden Age of Flyers Hockey at the Wells Fargo Center.
At what cost? Currently, he is earning $6,500,000, with his signing bonus. As one of the top players in Florida, you can guarantee the Panthers will do anything they can to keep his talents in Miami, especially if they win the Cup.
Likewise, everyone can use a top-line center that can seemingly score at will. And if they can't do it currently, like the Bruins, I guarantee they will shed cap space somewhere to make it happen.
So, what could Reinhart command as a salary? Auston Matthews is the league's highest-paid player at 13.25M, followed by Nathan MacKinnon at 12.6M. Also north of the 10M mark for forwards include Connor McDavid and Artemi Panarin. Teammates Aaron Ekblad and Sergei Bobrovsky make exactly 10M each. The Panthers and Reinhart have briefly talked about an extension, but have put it on hold during their playoff run. Rumors have suggested that if he extends with Florida, the contract would not exceed that of Ekblad and Bobrovsky
If the Flyers would be serious about bringing him to Philly, they would likely have to offer at least 10M to lure him away. Would the Flyers have enough money for this? Not without shedding some salary. They could look at Morgan Frost and Rasmus Ristolainen to start. They are tapped out with buyouts, so they are stuck there. It might also mean saying goodbye to Travis Konecny next year.
On the other hand, Reinhart is so worth it. He could bring so much to this franchise that it might be important to try it. Bringing in a player who could score 40+ goals a year would turn this team around in a heartbeat. This is an Eric Lindros-level acquisition. They may need to see if they can do it. Sometimes you have to roll the dice and see if you win big. Then again, if you don't gamble now and then, you never win.