Before the Myers trade, I said that Sanheim was the odd man out. I don't see him as being a priority for us to keep. Especially with a few prospects a season or two behind him. I know some "stat guys" from around the league like him, but I don't believe he has separated himself enough for us to commit to a long(er) term deal near $5M AAV.

Maybe Fletch and his people value him more than I do and a deal gets done around 4 years at $5M. I still think it gets done at 1-2 years. Whatever cap hit. Don't care. He's penciled in the line-up this season. Hopefully he has a good year and can get us a 1st round pick.

I agree with what you said here but lets remember that it's the Flyers who chose arbitration. They have to be banking on something that they feel will hold down Sanheim's AAV. The knew exactly what Ellis and Ristolainen's cap hits were so we can't look at that as part of counting on salaries being depressed.
- MJL

I think they were just trying to apply pressure to negotiations. History would seem to suggest that Sanheim will get a player friendly number from arb. What he can't get is long term security tho.

Alternative would have been to not burn all the cap space before locking up a core piece. Seems like the Flyers were banking on the flat cap depressing salaries. Sanheim waited it out and the market moved in his favor.

He's "worth" $5M right now. He could still settle for less in the meantime, but I expect that's what he'd get in arb.
- Tomahawk

The cap space aside has nothing to do with the contract, they clearly had no interest going long term with him. The market moved in his favor but that doesn’t change the fact that they weren’t handing him a long term contract.

Free agent after the season. The Flyers had a bit of a cap squeeze in the 2008 offseason and it was uncertain if Smith would need shoulder surgery that offseason (he didn't). He played one additional season in the NHL.
- bmeltzer

They also chose to bring back Randy Jones who was a restricted free agent the same summer. I could be wrong but that same summer, they traded RJ Umberger to Columbus.

The cap space aside has nothing to do with the contract, they clearly had no interest going long term with him. The market moved in his favor but that doesn’t change the fact that they weren’t handing him a long term contract.
- ClaudeFather

And how do you know that exactly?

Before the Myers trade, I said that Sanheim was the odd man out. I don't see him as being a priority for us to keep. Especially with a few prospects a season or two behind him. I know some "stat guys" from around the league like him, but I don't believe he has separated himself enough for us to commit to a long(er) term deal near $5M AAV.

Maybe Fletch and his people value him more than I do and a deal gets done around 4 years at $5M. I still think it gets done at 1-2 years. Whatever cap hit. Don't care. He's penciled in the line-up this season. Hopefully he has a good year and can get us a 1st round pick.
- cdearth23

Separated himself from whom? How is an established top 4 NHL defenseman who is still young not a priority? Which prospects are a season or two behind him? Have we not learned the lesson on what happens when young players are elevated too quickly. It's taken 4 seasons for Sanheim to get to where he is now. Maybe its possible that a player like York might excel but it's not likely. York should break in playing on the 3rd pair. Losing Sanheim without a direct replacement creates a large hole in the lineup.

The cap space aside has nothing to do with the contract, they clearly had no interest going long term with him. The market moved in his favor but that doesn’t change the fact that they weren’t handing him a long term contract.
- ClaudeFather

This is a misread on your part.

I think they were just trying to apply pressure to negotiations. History would seem to suggest that Sanheim will get a player friendly number from arb. What he can't get is long term security tho.
- Tomahawk

Awful risky move there in what could alienate a player. It would seem they would want to create a situation where after what happened last year that a player is happy and will be focused and ready to play.

IMO, Sanheim hasn't proved himself to deserve much of a bump in pay during the last two seasons. I haven't seen a lot in the way of progress. I don't see how he gets anything more than 4.25-million per year on a two-year deal. That's 1-million extra per season for a guy that hasn't gotten noticeably better since his last deal. I think it's clear that CF doesn't see him as a long-term fit here at the money he will eventually make.

There really is no reason that it needed to get to this point with Sanheim.

Fletcher’s inability to ensure savings with overpayments for Hart, wasting money on Thompson, and Yandle…

There was definitely an option to get Buffalo to retain at least a bit with how much the Flyers overpaid, and I’m not going to mention the Hayes deal.

A poor GM made his own bed here, but apparently small overpayments don’t add up.

IMO, Sanheim hasn't proved himself to deserve much of a bump in pay during the last two seasons. I haven't seen a lot in the way of progress. I don't see how he gets anything more than 4.25-million per year on a two-year deal. That's 1-million extra per season for a guy that hasn't gotten noticeably better since his last deal. I think it's clear that CF doesn't see him as a long-term fit here at the money he will eventually make.
- dramado

It’s an interesting thought, regarding long term future.

Looking back at what was supposed to be such a strength in the Flyers retool.

The team already has found a way to rid themselves of Myers, Ghost, and Hagg.

Maybe Sanheim will beat out TK to be the next guy out on parole. A+ development on display.

And how do you know that exactly?
- Tomahawk

The team is clearly not comfortable going long term with him, at the moment.

His market worth could easily be $5M. Just look at what similar 20+ min LH dmen are getting in his age-range:

https://www.capfriendly.c...ge-24-27,signingage-24-26
-Tomahawk

If Sanheim actually believes he is worth $5M AAV, I would trade him in a heartbeat and let some other sucker pay him. If I'm the Flyers I am holding him to under $4M AAV because he has not demonstrated what-so-ever that he is worth more than that. I think the Flyers know that and why they are confident to go to arbitration with him.

This is a misread on your part.
- MJL

So you think they would have been comfortable going long term with him, what would that have looked like towards $6M? I don’t see him worth that, team probably didn’t either.

So there has to be another move coming. We lose a minor piece to create space and sign Sanheim to a 3-4 year deal worth $5M per.
- cdearth23

I don't think so, if the Flyers wanted that it would have happened by now. No, I think the Flyers just don't think Sanheim is that good, and I agree with them, he's not! He doesn't hit, doesn't use his size, doesn't over extend himself to block shots, is not good in net front coverage, doesn't QA the PP, and is very inconsistent in his offensive output. If I were the Flyers, I wouldn't commit to him because he is now 25 years old and a former 1st round pick, and is far from playing like it!

If Sanheim actually believes he is worth $5M AAV, I would trade him in a heartbeat and let some other sucker pay him. If I'm the Flyers I am holding him to under $4M AAV because he has not demonstrated what-so-ever that he is worth more than that. I think the Flyers know that and why they are confident to go to arbitration with him.
- jd250

Under 4 million for Sanheim but comfortable paying out the nose for a worse player in Ristolainen?

Maybe if Travis would have more hitz. The above PP argument is a strange one. It’s not his choice the team had blinders on and kept pumping Provorov out on the top unit when it’s clear he doesn’t belong there.

Separated himself from whom? How is an established top 4 NHL defenseman who is still young not a priority? Which prospects are a season or two behind him? Have we not learned the lesson on what happens when young players are elevated too quickly. It's taken 4 seasons for Sanheim to get to where he is now. Maybe its possible that a player like York might excel but it's not likely. York should break in playing on the 3rd pair. Losing Sanheim without a direct replacement creates a large hole in the lineup.
- MJL

I believe that Sanheim has not performed to a level that screams, "lock him up long-term." He'll get a 1-2 year deal. If he performs at a high level, great. Fletch can decide if he pays him or trades him. I do not believe Sanheim is a long-term priority for us. I agree that we cannot let him walk without having a replacement. Whether it is internal or via UFA or trade.

York is coming. I hear that Zamula is the second coming of someone.

Awful risky move there in what could alienate a player. It would seem they would want to create a situation where after what happened last year that a player is happy and will be focused and ready to play.
- MJL

Yes, like the Flyers did with Carter Hart? Isn't it clear the Flyers don't feel the same way about Sanheim as they do about Hart?

Yes, like the Flyers did with Carter Hart? Isn't it clear the Flyers don't feel the same way about Sanheim as they do about Hart?
- jd250

Isn’t it clear the Flyers aren’t a club to be purely trusted when it comes to development and player usage?

I think a long term-short term contract worth what Sanheim wants in his head 10 (mill a season)minus the amount in CF's head (3 million) so my magic 8 ball says he will get the amount that they settle on with a term everyone on this board hates.
Less all of the conjecture by a bunch of no nothings here that have not predicted one thing correct in like, forever.

Why would the Sanheim camp sign a one year prove it deal for low market value? He is not that level of player that would need to do that.
- MJL

After Sanheim's 2018-2019 season I would have agreed with you. But after last season where he played 55 games, got only 15 points and was a whopping -22, I really don't think he has a leg to stand on.

If Sanheim actually believes he is worth $5M AAV, I would trade him in a heartbeat and let some other sucker pay him. If I'm the Flyers I am holding him to under $4M AAV because he has not demonstrated what-so-ever that he is worth more than that. I think the Flyers know that and why they are confident to go to arbitration with him.
- jd250

So a young defenseman who has proven he can handle 20 minutes plus in a top 4 role while putting up around the 30 point range with no PP time has not demonstrated whatsoever that he is worth more than that? Maybe in your world but not in the reality of the NHL.

Isn’t it clear the Flyers aren’t a club to be purely trusted when it comes to development and player usage?
- FlyerFan3260

Why not? What do you base this on?

After Sanheim's 2018-2019 season I would have agreed with you. But after last season where he played 55 games, got only 15 points and was a whopping -22, I really don't think he has a leg to stand on.
- jd250

The entire team was putrid last year. What leg did Hart have to stand on after last year? Tell me who wasn't subpar and who didn't have a poor year last year?

Yes, like the Flyers did with Carter Hart? Isn't it clear the Flyers don't feel the same way about Sanheim as they do about Hart?
- jd250

No, the only thing that is clear is that the Flyers haven't been able to reach an agreement on a contract with the Sanheim camp to this point.