The Calm Before The Storm

As many of you may know, tomorrow is Christmas in July for hockey organizations and their fans. July 1st is when the NHL free agency period begins, but usually doesn't last very long.  The free agency madness begins tomorrow at noon, and it is expected to be crazy from the get-go.

The Flyers as always, will be buyers in the free agent market.  Paul Holmgren is always looking for ways to help his team get better, in hopes of bringing a Stanley Cup to Philadelphia, where it really belongs Mr. Jeff Carter.  The Flyers have several needs that they need to address and this free agency should fix that.   More after the jump...

The Flyers essential need another forward to help Claude Giroux out on the first line, as well as another defenseman, and a backup goaltender.  With the addition of Luke Schenn, the Flyers need to sign one more defenseman, which they may not have to look to far for.  Matt Carle and his agent have met several times with the Flyers, and have made it clear that Matt loves it here.  Carle was rumored to have a contract set, which he would have to wait until July 1st to sign.  Now, reports are coming out that he may test the free agent market.  Personally, I think Matt Carle will stay here, and that will fill the need on the back end.

As for the forward position, the Flyers have been actively in the Bobby Ryan trade talks.  It is clear that Ryan wants out of Anaheim, he even said he wants to come to Philly.  It was reported that the Ducks were looking for Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier in the potential deal, that is not happening.  The Ducks have changed their packages several times, so we will have to wait and see on that; Ryan is not a free agent.

The Flyers have been rumored to be in the Zach Parise sweepstakes as well.  Teams like the Minnesota Wild, NJ Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins, among others are all trying to bring in the top free agent forward.  

There have also been reports that Ryan Suter was on the Flyers radar, but we will not be able to afford him.  The Penguins are looking to bring in both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, not cool.

• Today, the Flyers bought out defenseman Oskars Bartulis's contract, which free'd up $500,000.
• The Flyers have put offers out to restricted free agents Jakub Voracek and Marc-Andre Bourdon.
• Jaromir Jagr has talked with the Flyers a few times, but he is ultimately set to test free agency.
• With the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) still uncertain for next season, the salary cap has gone up, but no one knows if it will stay at the new projection of $70.2 million.
• According to CapGeek, the Flyers will have $13,603,056 in cap space, and that is including Chris Pronger's long term injury reserve money, as well as Oskars Bartulis's buyout,
• With Chris Pronger's LTIR money, that will not come into play until game one of the regular season.  However, the NHL allows teams to go 10% above the salary cap during the offseason.

Many believe the CBA will get done by the beginning of the season, several other believe that their will be a mini-lockout, we will just to wait and see.  One thing we do know is that tomorrow is going to be absolute madness around the NHL. The Flyers are ALWAYS involved in this, and it will be very exciting to watch.  Hopefully Christmas in July for Flyers fans can get us a nice shiny toy.