The NHL's free agency period opened up 26 days ago, and provided its usual flurry of moves all over the NHL. Plenty of moves are made within several minutes of the market opening, while other players take quite some time to be signed — often leading to a discount deal.
GM Ron Hextall still has work to do to build and shape the Flyers roster, while one of the team's biggest struggles last season came from a consistent lack of secondary scoring. Here are several free agents that could make sense in a Flyers uniform come October.
Jiri Tlusty: After scoring 13 goals and 23 points on a dreadful Carolina team, Tlusty was dealt mid-season to Winnipeg for draft picks. Tlusty can also shift between center and left wing, providing some versatility to the lineup. At 27, Tlusty also has several good seasons left, making a shorter-term deal entirely reasonable.
Brad Boyes: Boyes was bought out by Florida this season, in a move that raised eyebrows throughout the league. He scored 14 goals and 38 points in a mid-line role for the Panthers last season, and has developed a role as a shootout specialist as well — though the jury is still out as to whether or not 3-on-3 overtime will reduce them. His age (33) raises doubt as well as the fact that his best days are well behind him, but he's certain to come cheap for a one-year deal.
Mike Santorelli: Santorelli scored 11 goals and 29 points for the dumpster-fire Toronto Maple Leafs before being sent to the playoff-bound Nashville Predators. The 29-year-old Santorelli has struggled to find a consistent home in the NHL — he's played for four different organizations since 2012-13, but would still be a low-risk move. The biggest hurdle for Santorelli to clear if the Flyers take that low risk on him is his center position — considering the team's logjam at center, a change in position would be necessary.
While these players could make sense for the Flyers, the chances at snagging them aren't likely, as there are quite a few limitations. Their $583,333 in available salary cap space is their biggest hindrance. While teams are allowed to exceed the cap by 10 percent in the offseason, it would add further items to Hextall's list in order to get back to the cap number by the start of the season.
Another issue is the makeup of the roster itself — you may notice a lack of defensemen and goalies on the list, as both positions are set. Fifteen forwards will already be vying for 12 spots, so adding another name to the mix doesn't completely make sense.
Hextall's work on the Orange and Black's 2015-16 roster isn't done yet. There are still some players that he's been actively looking to move, with respect to the team's current makeup and its core of prospects. If certain conditions are met, then these names and talents would make sense for the Flyers.
Rob Riches is a contributor to Flyerdelphia and Sports Talk Philly. Follow him on Twitter @Riches61
