Philly Front Office

The Flyers got started early on next season’s business this week, locking up Tyson Foerster and Noah Cates to contract extensions. It makes you wonder why the other leagues put a moratorium on these types of deals. If you can handle your business then handle your business. Anyway, the two young forwards are here to stay.

Foerster signed last week for 2/$7.5m. In just his second full season with the team, he leveled up everywhere you’d like to see him improve. His 25 goals and 18 assists were career highs and only in around 16 minutes per game. 7 of those goals came in the last two weeks of the season. Crazy as it sounds, he finished second on the team in goals (we desperately need a gunner). He’s only 23. He signed what’s called a bridge contract, something that takes him past his restricted free agency years but not really a long term deal. The Flyers will be doing this dance with him again after the 26-27 season. The Hockey News liked the deal giving it a B+ with much deeper analysis than I could give.

Yesterday, Cates signed his extension for 4/$16m. He’s known as a leader, good defender, and a “try hard” kind of player., basically the kind of guy everyone likes having around. Vibes are getting people paid these days!  I’m kidding, Cates is more than just a feel good player and is considered versatile in how he plays. Those in the industry see his $4m AAV as a potential steal at best, and not immovable at worst. Last season he managed line. He managed 26 assists and 16 goals last year in about 16 minutes of ice time a night. Unlike Foerster, Cates was not a pending free agent. He’s 26.

The Flyers still have 2 restricted free agents left to sign in Cam York and the mid-season addition Jakob Pelletier. They still have about $20m in cap space to use with some ability to get a little more if necessary. They have one big deal in them if they want it.