Recent report confirms the Flyers are closing in on a deal to acquire Avalanche star forward
Photo credit: Jason Franson / AP News
The Colorado Avalanche are in desperate need of draft picks and cap space; two things the Philadelphia Flyers currently have to offer.
There's another dependable center the Flyers could target who likely wouldn't come with as hefty a price tag, and his name is Martin Necas.
Flyers closing in on a deal to acquire Avalanche star.
Scott Cole from Broadstreet Buzz reports that Necas is entering the final year of his contract, carrying a $6.5 million cap hit, a figure the Flyers should have no trouble fitting into their budget for next season.
The Avalanche still see themselves as contenders in the Stanley Cup race, but the clock is ticking as rivals like Dallas, Winnipeg, and Edmonton continue to strengthen. With only $8.2 million in cap space to work with this offseason, Colorado is in urgent need of financial flexibility to remain competitive.
"They also need draft picks. In their recent quest to reach the Stanley Cup, they have raided their cupboards and doled out all their draft picks. This year, Colorado has only a fourth and seventh round pick. Next year, the Avalanche do not have any picks in the first three rounds." -Cole
If the Flyers are open to absorbing Necas' full $6.5 million salary, they could present Colorado with a draft pick package, perhaps their first-round pick outright, or a combination of a second-rounder this year and another year.
The Avalanche would gain valuable cap relief and a bit of future security, while Philadelphia lands a versatile, fundamentally sound playmaker capable of contributing on any of the top three lines.
"The Flyers would also need to throw in a player to help the Avalanche replace some of the scoring they'd lose. And they would likely want someone cheap. Sounds a lot like Bobby Brink, who has been mentioned by fans in discussions for Nicolas Hague." -Cole
The upside for the Flyers is that if Necas doesn't pan out or isn't interested in a long-term stay, they could flip him at the trade deadline for additional draft assets. If he does want to stick around, re-signing him would likely be more affordable than locking up players like Marco Rossi or Sam Bennett.
He'd probably command around $9 million annually, but that deal wouldn't start until the following season, when the salary cap is expected to increase. Plus, with most of the Flyers' core already signed beyond next year, they'd have the flexibility to make it work.
"Necas would be a great fit here. He could do just about anything you'd need and would bring a great playoff veteran experience to a team that hasn't been there in ages." -Cole
We'll have to wait and see what this offseason has to offer us.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 6 | 61 ANSWERS Recent report confirms the Flyers are closing in on a deal to acquire Avalanche star forward Do you think the Colorado Avalanche are shopping Martin Necas? | ||
| yes | 41 | 67.2 % |
| no | 20 | 32.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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