The Flyers opened the offseason with the expected move of buying out R.J. Umberger.
Ron Hextall addressed the media on Thursday afternoon with more on the Umberger buyout.
Umberger had said in April that he expected the Flyers to buy out the final year of his contract. The Flyers didn't exercise the option on Wednesday, when the buyout period opened, but were able to finalize the process on day two.
“You don’t want to make rash decisions at the end of the season," Hextall said, "but that’s the way we we’re leaning for us."
Umberger took to Twitter to offer a statement on the buyout.
— RJ Umberger (@Umby18) June 16, 2016
The Flyers acquired Umberger for Scott Hartnell in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to the 2014-15 season. In his two seasons with the Flyers, Umberger scored 11 goals and finished with 26 points in 106 games. Hartnell scored 51 goals and 109 points in 156 games. Two years later, with Umberger on his way out, was the deal worth it?
"There were two parts to the trade essentially," Hextall said. "The one was the space. I felt like two or three years for then it was going to be good for us, and I feel the same way now. Hartsy’s been a good player in Columbus."
The main reason for the buyout was part of the reason the Flyers made the trade to begin with: cap space.
"We need space," Hextall said. "We’ve got guys that are coming up like Ghost and Schenn and Gudas. We need space. Hartsy played well for Columbus, and we’re essentially going to be out of it. So I’m fine with it."
The buyout saves the Flyers $3 million in cap space and will cost the Flyers $1.6 million next season.
Flyers Retaining All Assistants
Hextall also announced that all of the Flyers assistant coaches under Dave Hakstol will be returning. The assistant coaches are Ian Laperriere, Joe Mullen and Gord Murphy.
Murphy and Laperriere are entering their third season as an assistant coaches with the Flyers. Mullen joined the Flyers coaching staff in 2007.
Flyers Expanding Practice Facility
From Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post, the Flyers announced an expansion of the practice facility in Voorhees.
The expansion will be a 13,450 square-foot addition that will add a new gym, training facility, skill-development area and a rehab space.
The new gym will be closer to the locker room as compared to the second-floor gym they were previously using, closer to administrative offices. Similarly, the rehab area will be closer to the medical room.
The expansion was approved in January and began three weeks ago. Completion, originally expected in July, will be around the start of the season in October.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
