UPDATE 2:30 PM
The Flyers have lost two of their unrestricted free agents. Tyler Pitlick has signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes at a $1.75 million cap hit. Derek Grant has returned to the Anaheim Ducks, signing a three-year contract at a $1.5 million cap hit.
Center Nate Thompson remains unsigned.
Earlier today, the Flyers clarified the free agency status of center Nolan Patrick. Patrick falls under the 10.2 (c) classification of restricted free agents. He is an RFA in terms of his entry-level deal being completed and the Flyers have had to make a qualifying offer. However, due to the fact that he has not yet genuinely had three pro hockey seasons, he is ineligible for an offer sheet from other teams. He is also not eligible for arbitration. Thus, the Flyers hold Patrick's exclusive negotiating rights this offseason. Johnny Gaudreau fell in the same category with Calgary in the 2016 offseason.
A 10.2 (c) restricted free agent could more accurately be deemed a restricted not-free agent, because he has little leverage.
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The free agency period for the National Hockey League begins at noon today, both for restricted and unrestricted free agents. The Flyers have tendered the required qualifying offers for RFA center Nolan Patrick and defenseman Phil Myers (as well as center Mikhail Vorobyev, strictly in order to retain his NHL rights after he went back to Russia and signed a three-season KHL contract). The team's unrestricted free agents of note are forwards Tyler Pitlick, Derek Grant and Nate Thompson.
On Wednesday, shortly before the Flyers made their final selection of the 2020 NHL Draft, general manager Chuck Fletcher was asked if he expects to be active in the free agent and/or trade markets.
Fletcher was asked on Wednesday if he anticipates being active at the start of the free agency season, whether via pursuing free agents or making trades now and then reassessing salary cap management and, potentially, Expansion Draft strategy as well. He gave a typically close-to-the-vest and measured response.
"I’m not sure. It’ll depend on the opportunities that are there and the prices. As I’ve mentioned before, we like our group. I think our forward group is stronger than what it was at the end of last year. We’ve lost Niskanen, but we still like our defensive corps. We like our goaltending," Fletcher said.
"If we can improve our team, we will, but we’re not going to spend money just to spend it. If there’s some ability to add a player on the right deal at the right cap price and the right term, we’ll do it. If not, we’ll certainly wait. I think there will be opportunities along the way to address whatever needs we feel we need to address."
Prior to the Draft, I asked the Flyers' GM about his leaguewide expectations for the trade market in particular. He noted that, while the flat cap complicates things in terms of how much salary and term moves each way in any particular trade, the ability to temporarily exceed the cap ceiling during the offseason could enable clubs to make moves this fall and then work out the cap compliance issue before final rosters have to be submitted to the league.
"I do think there will be teams even after October 9th, after the start of free agency, teams that want to get involved, sign a player and then have to clean up the mess after they go over the cap after the start of free agency. I could still see trades happening into the fall here and even into the beginning of the season as teams try to become cap compliant and fill that last hole," Fletcher said.
"Don’t forget, you are allowed to go ten percent over the cap until end of training camp, until the season starts. You will see teams that are over the cap and having to work backwards. That may present opportunities even after the draft and the start of free agency. I expect some. There’s been an unbelievable amount of chatter. There’s not a lot of money in the system. It’s a little bit harder to find the right dance partner."
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Note: This blog will be updated through the day, with a time stamp and adjusted headline, if and when the Flyers make any free agent signings or trades. It's better to keep all information in one place and, secondarily, to allow the day's message board thread to be uninterrupted.