The Flyers made three unrestricted free agent signings on the first day of the NHL's signing season. The signings were as follows:
* Ryan Poehling signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract. The speedy 24-year-old center (6-foot-2, 196 pounds) has the inside track to win the Flyers' fourth-line center role come opening night.
Originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round (25th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Poeling has dressed in 128 NHL games to date for the Habs and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Minnesota native has not scored much at the NHL level (20 goals, 16 assists) in his NHL career to date but been a responsible player who has averaged 11:40 TOI and posted an individual 5-on-5 Corsi of about 49 percent. Statistically at least, he doesn't bring a boost in the faceoff department (45.8%) but has a career 57-to-36 ratio of credited takeaways to charged giveaways. Last season, he blocked 41 shots in 53 games. Poehling logged a total of 129 penaly killing minutes season.
Poehling because an unrestricted free agent after Pittsburgh declined to tender him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.
* Veteran winger Garnet Hathaway, 31, signed a two-year contract carrying a $2.375 million average value (AAV). As Flyers fans well know, Hathaway brings an agitating presence and has been on of the NHL's more effective fourth-line players in his 457-game NHL career to date.
An aggressive hitter who brings snarl, shot blocking and penalty killing, Hathaway has also netted double-digit goals in four different seasons. The Brown University graduate is a well-liked and highly respected player off the ice but often infuriates opponents on the ice.
Hathaway's acquisition is likely geared as much toward adding a veteran leadership dimension to the rebuilding Flyers.
* In a signing geared more to the Phantoms and added callup depth in the case of injury, the Flyers signed Rhett Gardner to a two-year contract with a $775,000 AAV. The big-framed (6-foot-3, 210 pound) center is coming off a strong two-way AHL season for the Texas Stars in 2022-23. The 27-year-old has played in 40 career NHL games with the Dallas Stars.