The 2023-24 season has been a decent one for the Flyers, who are pushing for a postseason berth when everyone expected them to be at the bottom of the standings. But a season of improvements means the pressure rises big time to secure a notable upgrade during the summer. While the free agent pool is very shallow, there are still some names out there that would, and should, draw the interest of Danny Briere and the Flyers.
Seems worth nothing, this is based around the Flyers’ needs mixed with their organizational appearance. Trying to think as they would, not necessarily just the best players available or personal choices.
Number 5: Anthony Stolarz
The Flyers are going to have to go shopping for a backup goalie, but unfortunately the market isn’t quite as saturated this summer as it has been over the last few years. Ideally, the Flyers need a capable tandem partner for Sam Ersson who is can eat eat at least one-third of the starts and isn’t a complete liability when called upon. This summer that may just mean giving old friend Anthony Stolarz a call. Stolarz, who was drafted 45th overall by the Flyers in 2012, played 19 NHL games for the club from 2016-2019. He’s played the 2023-24 campaign with the Florida Panthers where he’s posted an impressive .927 save percentage and 1.97 goals against average in 22 games played. Those are pretty much the best numbers out there and if he can keep his play at this level, is exactly what the Flyers need behind Ersson.
Number 4: Sam Reinhart
The former second overall pick in 2014 is now 28 years old and his play exploded upon his arrival in Florida in 2021. He’s posted 233 points in 232 games as a Panther and has garnered Selke votes in each of the last two seasons and eclipsed the 50-goal plateau this season. Can he maintain this high a pace on a significantly less dynamic team like the Flyers? Probably not, but he’d still be their best forward immediately and exactly what the doctor ordered to jump start the offense.
Number 3: Steven Stamkos
Stamkos poses a fascinating option if he were to actually make it to free agency. He’ll be 34 years old, is still producing at a very high level, and more interestingly, he’s been serving as captain of the Lightning for a decade now. Stamkos has been lining up on LW for the Bolts lately, which is a position of weakness for the Flyers. A veteran leader who can still produce from a position of need who will probably sign a shorter-term deal could make sense as an on-ice upgrade for the Flyers while sticking to their their culture-based rebuild.
Number 2: Noah Hanifin
Hanifin, who will turn 27 in January, has developed into one of the more underrated defensemen in the league during his time in Calgary. He is a lefty, a position the Flyers are overflowing at, but they could have an interesting tweak. Both Cam York and Travis Sanheim have been playing on the right side over the last year, meaning in Hanifin plays on the left and Sanheim continues to stay hot on the right, or they want to give Jamie Drysdale a legitimate partner, adding Hanifin could be a way to do it.
Number 1: Elias Lindholm
Lindholm is a center with three top 10 Selke finishes, including a runner up in 2022. He’s scored 357 points in 418 games in Calgary and seems to be good for at least 20 goals and 60 points a season. The catch? He just turned 29 and will be looking for a big contract this summer.
Lindholm seems like a cookie-cutter player the Flyers are attempting to build their center depth with. He’s along the lines of a Sean Couturier or Noah Cates. Thus, if there’s anybody in the free agent pool to reasonably assume the team would have interest in, it’s him. The age and potential contract is scary, but a near-30-year-old with hard miles on his body didn’t stop them from signing Couturier to his eight-year, $62 million deal. So even though it may not be the smartest idea, Lindholm makes sense to fulfill the vision Tortorella has for the team.
Honorable mention
Tyler Bertuzzi
Even though Bertuzzi has not quite reached the offensive peaks he did during his early days in Detroit, he’s still the kind of physical, grimy middle-six winger the Flyers would love to add to the team. He signed a one-year deal with the Leafs and has generally been considered underwhelming so he may even be had on the cheap this summer. Another middle-six winger isn’t exactly atop the priority list, but if he matches the bully image and culture they’re going for, that may have more bearing than talent.
Shayne Gostisbehere
A reunion between the Flyers and Ghost still feels unlikely, but considering how terrible the powerplay has been, Briere may have no choice but attempt to bury the hatchet and bring Gostisbehere back to Philly. He’s 30 years old already and has been a consistent offensive producer for the Coyotes and Red Wings and the Flyers’ defense is much more sound than it was when he was here last thanks in part to Brad Shaw’s presence, meaning he should be able to have more success this time around. If he can spark the powerplay he’d be worth every penny.
Nikita Zadorov
Zadorov was traded from Calgary to Vancouver months before the deadline, but he still hasn’t signed an extension, which would mean he’s still on the path to becoming a free agent in 2024. He’s a 29-year-old depth left-handed defenseman who loves to hit people. That alone will put him on the Flyers’ radar. A veteran meathead will undoubtably take precedence over a young guy like Egor Zamula, Emil Andrae or Adam Ginning any day in the world of John Tortorella.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: miamiherald.com
brotherlypuck.com 