The '25-'26 Philadelphia Flyers thread

[zambonir]

Well that's annoying

[zambonir]

Also in this, Pelletier signs a three-year deal with Tampa, first season is still two-way, AAV is less than 850K.

Cal Petersen gets a one-way contract with Minnesota for $775, I assume that equates to "he can still clear waivers."

And Frost resigned for two years, $4.375 AAV with Calgary

Russian winger Maxim Shabanov snubs the Flyers for the Islanders

[Austinfan]

Put Shabanov in pespective, while people got all excited about him, compare him to another Russian forward:
Shabanov
20: MHL/VHL
21: VHL/KHLH 11g 1-1 2
22: KHL 67g 18-13 31
23: KHL 64g 25-25 50, PO 14g 3-8 11
Grebenkin
19: KHL 52g 9-17 26
20: KHL 67g 19-22 41, PO 23g 3-3 6
21: AHL 50g 12-16 28. PO 7g 1-3 4

Grebenkin is 6'2 209, agile, good shot and passer.
If 5'8 Shabanov can't stay at center, not sure he could beat out Grebenkin, Bump or Barkey.

Frost is getting almost as much as Dvorak, but for 2 years, and Farabee has 3x5 left on his deal.
Neither did much to get excited about after they were traded.

Pelletier was an odd decision, he showed enough that I'd have given him a 2 year deal just for depth.
Given they only have 10 NHL caliber forwards under contract, and Foerster may miss some time, Briere must either have an ace up his sleeve or is really high on the forward prospects, both Jett and Martone and the LHV forwards.

[Squire]

My disgust about Shabanov really isn't about the quality of Shabanov as a prospect although the Flyers front office fluffers sure did think it was a big deal when the Flyers were leaking to the media mouthpieces that he was going to be a Flyer. Its about a front office that overpromises and underdelivers and the media that covers the organization who think that their only job is to write down whatever the front office tells them to write down.

[bigegypt0417]

This makes sense if you assume that the actual player themselves makes the final decision on where they sign...Briere up until yesterday was optimistic.

Again...for the first time in a really long time it seems like the people making personnel decisions are running that show so i'm willing to give them time to show us what they can do.

[zambonir]

I thought the original reports about Shabanov all came out of Russia. That means it was probably the agent or his Russian team. Briere reallly doesn't seem like he's much of a leaker, or even a card-shower.

I feel like some people just assumed that Zabanov was another Michkov, despite the obviously very different path/age.

[bigegypt0417]

He's a 24 year old UDFA...i mean...he had an excellent year but he basically got the same as an NBA two way player...a one year contract.

[flyers19rw]

Shabanov was in the driver's seat in negotiating with the Flyers when the club was dreadfully short of talent at the center position. He's going to get paid with his bonuses and after a season can go back on the market if he chooses. It's a good deal for him.
However for the Flyers, after acquiring Zegras and Dvorak, to go along with Couturier and Cates, the Flyers need at center evaporated. It remains to be seen if Shabanov is a better player than Barkey or Dorwart at that position in the NHL. Pushing Shabanov too the wing where his size would be a detriment makes him less attractive of a player at a position where the Flyers have talent and depth.
Would it have been nice to acquire Shabanov? Sure. Now that they didn't do that, meh.

[zambonir]

Yeah but that was because he was only eligible for an ELC, so there couldn't be an actual bidding war. He's still going to be Islanders property - at least, restricted FA - for a good while.

By contrast Fedotov was drafted in 2015 and had already exhausted all his ELC and RFA years by the time he finished playing here for his first month, which is why the Flyers had to give him a two-year deal and more money than they just gave his replacement.

Not clear if bonuses were a deciding factor though certainly the Flyers could have competed on that front. I was just surprised it wasn't the Rangers.

[zambonir]

Now the Isles make more sense.

"The most important thing was ice time"

Maxim Shabanov Prioritized Ice Time And Fit In Choosing Islanders

[Austinfan]

Shabanov choose the weakest team. Smart, because he's still a marginal prospect.
AHL is similar to KHL these days, if a kid broke out at 23 in the AHL, no one would lift an eyebrow.
Tyler Johnson broke out at 21 and still needed a couple years to make the NHL as a fast, small forward.
Richards is a similar stye of player and has never been able to hold a NHL job.

He was worth signing for "free," but he'd struggle to break the Flyers top 9.

[bigegypt0417]

Interesting article about the possibility that martone makes the team out of camp.

Flyers depth chart 2.0: Could Jett Luchanko, Porter Martone make the NHL team?

[phillychuck]

Paywalled...what does it say?

[bigegypt0417]

A good amount of conversation Martone might be a good candidate to make the team out of camp...here some more speculation.

Flyers thoughts: Could Porter Martone make the team right now?

[Austinfan]

It's wide open right now.
10 forward spots set, but maybe only 9 to start the season (remember the 10 game rule, they could audition Martone while Foerster heals).

Jett, Martone - Jett is NHL or Guelph, Martone is NHL or ??? Was talking about college - higher level of competition, he'd be one and out.

Bump - needs to get stronger to handle pressure, but 3 months until TC
Barkey - probably needs a year in the AHL and weight room, similar to Brink
Grebenkin - has a lot of pro experience (over 200 KHL/AHL games) and skill, he'd be my favorite to win a job in camp
Gaucher - best forward on LHV last season and stepped up in POs, skating? Size, RH but RW crowded and may not be fast enough for C.

Abols and Richards have proven they can contribute for short stretches in the NHL, but are more AHL plus players.
They might start the season on the 4th line and buy time for the kids show they're ready for a promotion from LHV.

And Briere has lots of time to add bottom six forwards before the season starts, waiver wire at the end of TC, low cost deals (mid rd picks, an extra D-man such as Zamula or Grans).

[zambonir]

It says he could make the team out of camp.

Which is not really a new thing, he said it was his goal and they said he was pretty close. And since then Foerster has been injured and Shabanov wasn't signed, so spots are open.

Briere also said that signing Dvorak didn't automatically mean Luchanko couldn't make the roster and it also sounds like Zegras won't always play center, since he isn't good on draws but might be out there with another C who is at times.

One other thing it says is that Martone is able to play LW, where they are thinner. It's basically him or Bump.

[phillychuck]

Zegras should play center with either Couts or Cates on the wing for draws, but Zegras should be the center after the draw...Zegras also said he was working on his face-off skills.

[flyers19rw]

Missing having Giroux around to tutor Zegras on FOs