Free Agent signings.
For most sports fans, we’re always looking to have our favorite teams make a splash with them. They usually occur in the off-season, with the sports media creating the hype and rumors driving the price up for exceptional talent. Teams look to buy a player to add to their roster with the hope that they are another piece to the puzzle to achieve championship glory. One addition for the Flyers through free agency has made a huge impact for this current squad and will for many years to come.
But it was made in March. Yes, March 23, 2011.
Matt Read has been an excellent addition to the Orange and Black, signing a three-year contract at age 24 after playing four years of collegiate hockey with Bemidji State University in Minnesota. He won the CHA Player of the Year award for the 2009-2010 season and had drawn interest from many NHL clubs. When GM Paul Holmgren courted Matt, he brought him to a Flyers home game. The fans and the atmosphere helped win him over. Once he signed, he played in 11 games for the Adirondack Phantoms, posting 13 points (7G, 6A).
For the 2011-2012 season, Matt worked hard through camp and made the Flyers squad. He scored his first goal against future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur on October 8th. That rookie season, he played in 79 games, scoring 24 goals – which led all rookies – and added 23 assists. He finished fourth in the Calder Trophy (Best Rookie) voting, and added four points in the first-round series victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the postseason. The NHL lockout of 2012-2013 saw Matt head overseas to play in Sweden for 20 games. Then, when play resumed in the NHL, he scored 24 points in 42 games for the Flyers.
Before entering the 2013-2014 season, the Flyers brass had seen plenty in Matt to reward him with a contract extension. On September 20th, Matt signed a four-year deal (that kicks in next season) for 14.5 million dollars. This year, Matt has played in 63 of 70 games, scoring 19 goals and 16 assists. Playing the right wing alongside centerman Sean Couturier, they are often called on to play and tightly check the opponents' top lines. Matt’s ‘lunch pail’ work ethic has quickly won over the Flyers fans, along with his timely goal scoring. Now 27, he is in the prime of his career and part of the core of players put together to finally bring Lord Stanley’s Cup back to Philadelphia.
Mike Watson is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @Mwats_99
