Players currently on the roster and entering long-term deals this offseason have shown this, including Zegras, forward Tyson Foerster (eight years, $7.1 million AAV) and goaltender Dan Vladar (five years, $5.5 million AAV).
“It’s a great place to play and I think we’re on the rise, it’s very exciting and I’m excited to be here for the next nine years,” Foerster said after signing a contract that starts next season. “… I love Philadelphia, I love playing with these guys. They asked me if I wanted to renew my contract this year and it was a no-brainer for me.”
Briere, who was named general manager of the Flyers on May 11, 2023, said after talking with agents and rival executives that trade protection issues related to the Flyers are no longer as big of an obstacle.
And Karlsson didn’t have to sign Philadelphia’s offer sheet; His agents Matt and Ryan Keator told the 32 Thoughts Podcast that Karlsson had offers from several teams but chose the Flyers.
“The coolest thing we see is that the guys here understand how they’re being treated and where the team is going,” Briere said. “Because it’s very important. To attract players, you must have a winning team or a team that at least has a tendency to become a contender. So I think more and more from the outside we’re starting to see more players. But we also understand that this is far from a done deal and we still have a lot of work to do.”
“Yes, there are a lot of teams on the offer sheet and he chose us, which was a good sign.”
It wasn’t exactly good, but Briere doesn’t seem ready to put the bat down anytime soon.
“I don’t know what will happen next. I can’t answer this question yet,” he said. “What I can tell you is that I would be very comfortable starting the season with this lineup.
“If something makes sense, we will strive to improve it. If there’s a chance… we’ve said it from day one, it has to make sense and that’s what we’re looking for.”