Flyers come to terms with Stolarz, Lyon and Bardreau

11-27-2016_FlyersvsFlames_1st_credKateFrese-6(Kate Frese/Sports Talk Philly)

By Rob Riches, Sports Talk Philly contributor 

Another young Flyer will return to the organization, giving them one less restricted free agent to worry about. 

Just two days after agreeing to a one-year extension with Taylor Leier, the Flyers agreed to terms with their three remaining restricted free agents.

Cole Bardreau, along with goalies Anthony Stolarz and Alex Lyon, have signed short-term deals to remain with the Flyers, the organization announced Saturday. Financial terms had not been disclosed, as per club policy.

Bardreau, who turns 24 next week, signed with the Flyers as an undrafted free agent out of Cornell in 2015 and will return for two seasons on a two-way deal. In two full seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, he's scored 22 goals and 54 points over 126 games, plus a goal and an assist in 15 games at the tail-end of the 2014-15 season. He previously earned CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month honors in Feb. 2016.

Lyon earned the lion's share of playing time between the Phantoms' pipes last season, registering a 2.74 GAA and .912 save percentage in his rookie year. He previously spent three seasons as the starter at Yale, and will return on a one-year deal.

Perhaps the most intriguing case, Stolarz returns on a one-year deal as well. He made his way to the NHL level last season, finding his way into seven games and four starts while the Flyers dealt with injuries to Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth. Despite his limited time, Stolarz turned in a 2.07 GAA and .928 save percentage. He earned the first win of his career in his first start, making 29 saves in the Flyers' 5-3 win against Calgary on Nov. 27 — becoming the first New Jersey native to start an NHL game in goal in the process.

With a pair of young, prolific goalies on the rise in Carter Hart and Felix Sandstrom, the Flyers' decision to keep Stolarz and Lyon on short-term deals is an interesting one. Both goalies will essentially be the duo in Allentown this season, with the chance to continue to prove themselves for another season.

Of the seven qualifying offers the Flyers extended in June, six players will be returning. Just one — Roman Lyubimov — will not be, and another item can be checked off Ron Hextall's offseason to-do list.

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