Claude Giroux
Following an offseason of change, training camp has finally arrived for the 2021-22 Philadelphia Flyers. With that, we look at five questions facing the Flyers as camp begins.
After an impressive sophomore year, Joel Farabee was rewarded this offseason with a six-year, $30 million ($5 million AAV) contract extension, which will kick in during the 2022-23 season. Now that he’s got an extension, how will the young star in the making do from here on out?
Joel Farabee and the Flyers have agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $30 million, an average annual value of $5 million, Fletcher announced on Thursday. The contract begins in the 2022-23 season.
The Flyers have signed Sean Couturier to an eight-year contract extension worth $62 million, an average annual value of $7.75 million. The contract will take effect starting with the 2022-23 season.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Flyers announced that they had signed free-agent forward Derick Brassard to a one-year deal worth $825,000.
The Flyers appear to be done for the offseason, outside of re-signing Carter Hart and Travis Sanheim, and are hoping a majority of their acquisitions turn out to be wins on “quality bets.”
For the better part of a decade, the Flyers have utilized the same core group and struggled to consistently put together successful seasons. After their most frustrating one to date, Fletcher knew action was necessary. “We just can’t keep bringing the same players back year after year and expect different results. We had to make changes this year,” Fletcher said.
The Flyers have protected forwards Claude Giroux, Kevin Hayes, Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Oskar Lindblom, Scott Laughton and Nicolas Aube-Kubel. They have also protected defensemen Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim and the newly-acquired Ryan Ellis, as well as goalie Carter Hart in the upcoming Expansion Draft.
Even without proper recognition and appreciation, Alejandro Bedoya still puts in the work for his team.
As Flyers management – head coach Alain Vigneault and GM Chuck Fletcher and chairman Dave Scott – met the media on Tuesday, the trio rested on excuses for most of their comments, sounding more optimistic in hopes of a normal season than the work that may need to be done to a roster filled with holes.
