The Philadelphia Flyers and longtime franchise standout Jakub Voracek are heading for an interesting off-season. The two sides are at a cross roads with the Flyers hoping to improve and get back to the playoffs, but with limited salary cap space to do so. The team currently has just 14 players signed to one-way contracts for next season, but at a sum of $64.78MM, leaving them with only $16.72MM to add nine more players to the roster, including re-signing several key restricted free agents and ideally adding a top-four defenseman and reliable goaltender. The math doesn’t quite add up and Voracek’s $8.25MM AAV over three more seasons does not help. Voracek’s production is still strong, but has been in decline since a career year in 2017-18 and is currently not at the level expected given his lofty salary. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the relationship between the club and the soon-to-be 32-year-old winger are “not acrimonious”, as the two sides agree that a change of scenery may be in the best interest of both.
In order to accomplish that separation, the Flyers are not above giving Voracek away. Friedman writes that the veteran has been informed that he will be exposed in the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft, giving the Seattle Kraken the first shot at adding the former All-Star. This has been speculated by many given both the Flyers’ cap concerns but also their depth at forward. With at least forwards that deserve consideration for protection, including Voracek, and only a maximum of seven protection slots up front, Philadelphia will have to make some difficult calls. Exposing Voracek is confirmed to be one of them. While the cap commitment is an obstacle, Voracek has averaged close to 20 goals and 65 points at a full-season pace for the past dozen years and can still be a top-six forward for the right team. Losing an asset like that for nothing could be a difficult, but necessary move for the Flyers. The Kraken meanwhile have some incentive to take high-priced players, as they must hit a salary minimum in the Expansion Draft. While a number of expensive contracts will be available, Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol, the former head coach of the Flyers during some of Voracek’s best seasons, could be keen to bring in his former star.
[RELATED – Expansion Primer: Philadelphia Flyers]
Of course, the Kraken will have other options from Philadelphia as well, quite possibly even another high-priced but valuable scorer in James van Riemsdyk, as well as some young forwards and affordable defensemen. If they opt not to select Voracek, Friedman notes that the Flyers will move on and begin trade talks with other teams (if they haven’t already). While they won’t get fair market value for the accomplished scorer given their well-established cap issues, they will at least have a chance to get something back for Voracek in a trade as opposed to Expansion Draft selection.
If however, they can’t find a trade that they feel is fair, Friedman also notes that the two sides have an understanding that he may stay put and appear to be okay with that outcome, although it would leave the Flyers with a cap headache still to solve. With multiple potential outcomes, this summer could be a rollercoaster for Philadelphia and Voracek, but his old coach and the league’s newest team have the option of making it a short ride.
Good get him out of Philly!!!
The Wild and Flyers need to make a deal and move some junk around
The Wild already have overpaid in decline contracts…what the point of moving their junk for someone else’s…it’s a hole they will have a very hard time climbing out of until those contracts expire or they dupe someone into taking them on.
Voracek for Jeff Carter!
No
Carter’s value to Pgh will be seen next season w Malkin out for a few months to start season. Need 2nd line center. Not a floating wing
Okay, Jeff Carter in exchange for Jakub Voracek as well as first-round pick and third-round pick.
good
No way I’d give up Carter for Vorachek, even with a first lol
You are clearly no Paul Holmgren!
Good. Get him and Giroux out of here.
LOL. Giroux is your captain dumb*ss
yeah and?
Rah rah rah we hate near point per game players in philly…give us a 3rd line checker!!!
okay wise guy. he’s expensive, aging, and not the player his numbers suggest.
Can I ask was there someone boosting his numbers? I am asking seriously for I’ve always loved Voracek he’s a great player but don’t watch much philly games. I mean those numbers don’t just fell out of the sky. Yes he’s expensive so just lose him for nothing? Seems nonsensical. But it’s the fans just throwing two of the best players philly has had in the last 10 years totally under the bus. At least you’re not like Toronto throwing 90point 24 year olds under the bus!
Voracek’s 31 years old, in decline, and carries a ghastly cap hit for three more seasons. He sure doesn’t suck, but he’s also sure not getting better. No, I wouldn’t want to lose him for “nothing,” if I’m Fletcher. But this is a 6th place team with serious cap problems and several headaches: Giroux’s in decline, Hayes is in decline, Ghost Bear’s washing out, JVR’s not getting any younger, and do you toss the dice, haul out the checkbook, and pray that Hart isn’t just the latest of a long, long, long line of Flyers goalies who looked like they were the answer for a year or two?
Me, I bet Chuck Fletcher doesn’t sleep well of a night. If Seattle takes Voracek off of his hands, I bet that improves a little.
I can understand that situation is not ideal but I guess this goes back to these mega deals teams make. They know the back half is going to get ugly though truthfully 31 isn’t that old…however to just throw away a player of that caliber ….ugh shuddering…for nothing but cap relief…like he ain’t Louie Ericksson. I get the situation but the ravenous fans wanting him out I just don’t get it it’s not like he Steve smith’ed it in the playoffs…of course you’d have to get to the playoffs first..ZING!!! …id best get out of here I know broadstreet has a bad reputation…
I absolutely agree, backhandinbaptist. For every Ovechkin or Bergeron, where one of these long-term contracts gets you elite play for the whole length of it, you’ve got two grit-your-teeth overpays, two it-was-great-while-it-lasted-but-now-it-sucks Parise contracts, one complete bomb like Eriksson, and one cap-hell-guarantee like Bobrovsky. Who CARES how much “team control” you get when a good bit more often than otherwise it’s control over a contract and/or player that’s gone sour?
Honestly, if I was a team owner, I’d tell my GM that if he dared sign anyone to longer than five years (and ANYone for as long as five years with a NMC/NTC), there’d be a hit man ready to do him in. Sure, I’d miss out on the free agents who wanted max term. And I’d also miss out on having to keep paying the Loui Erikssons of the world long after the point where they can’t play hockey any more.
I totally agree with the exception of the elite few like a McDavid, Crosby, Ovi who were studs from day 1, I wouldn’t dare sign a guy for 8 years. It almost always ends badly. Ugh that Ericksson deal still makes me shudder though I won’t lie who saw him falling off a cliff so quickly?
If they can get get rid of him for nothing that would be enough.
If I’m Seattle, I’d much rather get JVR, but…beggars can’t be choosers. Voracek would still be a top 6 winger for SEA.
If you’re Seattle and if they have interest in picking up Voracek, wouldn’t you play the game and ask Philly for a sweetener just to make sure you select him in the expansion draft ?
I think getting a big legit top six winger is sweet enough…
Man Seattle is gonna have plenty of opportunities to replicate the success of Vegas. Gonna be a real interesting/fun July for hockey fans