Analysis: Cap management define 2022 NHL free agency

Neither Nazem Kadri, Johnny Gaudreau nor John Klingberg could sign with the Flyers even if they had their sights set on Philadelphia. Before any of the top NHL free agents had agreed to a deal this week, general manager Chuck Fletcher declared the Flyers out of contention for all of them because of “the reality of our cap situation.” “We don’t have the cap space to pursue those high-end type of free agents,” Fletcher said. It’s a great problem to have if you have too many good players and then time comes, especially in these days when the salary cap’s been flat, that something has to give.” Sure, that’s the case for the 2020 and 2021 champion Tampa Bay Lightning, who watched Palat and dependable defenseman Jan Rutta depart in free agency while extending three younger members of their core. In some cases, contracts are extremely hard to move.” Based on the $9.75 million cap hit Gaudreau agreed to with the Blue Jackets, the Flyers would have had the room had they simply decided not to double down on underachieving defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen during the season by signing him for $5 million annually, or ink Tony DeAngelo last week for the same rate after sending second-, third-, and fourth-round picks to Carolina for his rights. “We identified this as being the best path.” Montreal GM Kent Hughes put it this way: “Heck, Carolina, picked up two pretty good hockey players for very little.” Pacioretty’s contract having the same cap hit and length as van Riemsdyk’s made the Flyers’ inability to clear the decks for Gaudreau, Kadri, Klingberg or another top free agent stand out even more, even if the players don’t have the same track record in terms of production.