Good news: A world-class player is being targeted by the Philadelphia Flyers for signing.
The Philadelphia Flyers’ position going into the 2023–24 offseason is uncertain, as it depends on whether they made the playoffs or not, but they will probably both be looking to sign free agents and avoid overspending.
Thankfully, a number of excellent prospects have performed admirably in deep roles this season; this may not translate to a raise for them next year, which is good news for a Philadelphia team looking to maximize cap space. If the Flyers reach free agency, which unrestricted free agents (UFAs) should they consider offering a contract?
Colin Blackwell
With the exception of 18-year-old Connor Bedard, very few players for the struggling Chicago Blackhawks have been outstanding this season. It’s been difficult going, and a few more seasons of rebuilding are probably ahead of them. It’s therefore a little surprising that Colin Blackwell has turned in such a strong performance. It’s simple to write him off as just another underperforming player on a losing team because he has essentially been a depth player his entire career, but that hasn’t been the case.
With just 12 games played, Blackwell has seen very little action, but when he has, he has performed admirably. With an average ice time of more than 15 minutes, he has three goals and two assists for five points; the numerous injuries his Blackhawks team has suffered have given him a bigger role.
Among the forwards on the team who have played at least 100 minutes, he ranks third with an on-ice goals percentage (oiG%) of 60% at 5-on-5. He may have received the most ice time of his NHL career from Chicago because they are a much better team when he is playing than when he is not.
Blackwell is 30 years old, so his upside isn’t high enough to warrant a long-term or high cap hit contract. He should be a sought-after free agent for teams that need some bottom-six depth, but he might not receive much interest, unless he decides to re-sign with the Blackhawks. In free agency, it’s usually the physical bottom-six players who garner most of the attention rather than players like the Chicago forward. Whoever signs him might be getting a great deal.
Craig Smith
Now a member of the Dallas Stars, Craig Smith has pleasantly surprised them by developing into an above-average depth player. The 34-year-old is easy to ignore because he only gets slightly more than 10 minutes of ice time per game on average. Despite only having six points from 38 games (four goals and two assists), the forward has been useful in his role.
Although the Stars are a strong team this year, Smith has had a great season on his own. With 100 or more minutes played, his 5-on-5 oiG% of 57.1 percent places him fourth on the team among forwards, indicating that he improves his lines as nearly all of his teammates are in the top six.
His most frequent unit, which consists of forwards Sam Steel and Radek Faksa, has a 1.73 expected goals per 60 minutes, which is the sixth-best among all forward trios with at least 100 minutes together. This shows how good he and his lines have been defensively. Although it’s difficult to say if he could transfer that to another team, it doesn’t seem like a bad wager.
Devin Shore
Similar to Smith, Devin Shore of the Seattle Krakens has been a defensive specialist for his team this year. He may not stand out with his one goal and three assists for four points in 18 games, but when he was in the lineup, he was one of Seattle’s best two-way depth players. Having missed all NHL games since December 27, 2023, he would be a strong contender for a contract below the league minimum.
With only eight minutes of ice time on average per game, Shore, 29, has not received much playing time. This player doesn’t even seem like a lock to sign another NHL contract, much less be a strong contender to do so. He does, however, lead his team’s forwards at 5-on-5 in oiG% in the same 100-minute minimum as the others, finishing well ahead of the next highest scorer with 59.1 percent, at 64.3 percent.
If Shore is leading his team in scoring against opponents even when he isn’t scoring points, then his defense is at its peak. His line, which includes Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto, is the best on the team and ranks fourth in the NHL among forward lines with 50 or more minutes played. They allow an expected 1.3 goals against per game. He is worth trying out as a fourth-line player.
Amadio Michael
Michael Amadio, who was not highly valued in the NHL at the time, was a waiver claim made by the Los Angeles Kings to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021–2022. He is going to have another strong season in 2023–2024 after two consecutive good ones. His 5-on-5 oiG% of 59.5 percent is fourth among eligible Vegas forwards, but his stature is supported by his production of points. He is among the top six scorers in 40 games with six goals and eleven assists for 17 points.
If the Golden Knights decide not to sign Amadio, other teams should be vying for his services because he is coming off an even better season in which he scored 27 points and scored 16 goals in just 67 games, in addition to 10 points in 16 postseason games. If they don’t, he should be able to get a decent contract; however, his lack of celebrity could make that less likely. As a Stanley Cup winner, he would provide the Orange and Black with much-needed playoff experience.
Kubel, Nicolas Aube
The first and only former Flyer on this list, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, has found himself a nice home with the Washington Capitals. Despite playing in fewer games this season—just 27—he has four goals and seven assists for 11 points, which suggests that other teams should give him a look in the offseason.
Just 27 years of age, Aube-Kubel will be one of the youngest UFAs on the market. Among forwards with 100 or more minutes of ice time this season, he has by far the best oiG% on his team (69.6%); the next highest is an even 60. With more than 13 minutes of ice time every game, he has been given a more prominent role and is clearly superior to the typical fourth-line NHL player.
