How spike in NHL salary cap will impact the Flyers

All told, the Flyers have $49.36 million committed for next season.

That leaves approximately $21.7 million to spend, though a few players need extensions first. Goaltender Steve Mason will be due a big raise once he is eligible to sign an extension on Jan. 1. Steve Downie is set to become an unrestricted free agent and already earns $2.65 million. Brayden Schenn, Michael Raffl and Erik Gustafsson are all restricted. The Flyers also will need to find a deal for Ray Emery or look for a new backup.

Even with those obstacles, it’s a particularly comfortable figure (or uncomfortable, depending on how you feel about those players), since Giroux, Matt Read, Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds are all locked up to long-term deals already.

In other words, expect Holmgren to be active this offseason, with a few intriguing names – like Thomas Vanek, Matt Moulson, Joe Thornton, Paul Stastny and Alexander Steen – set to become free agents.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20131210_How_spike_in_NHL_salary_cap_will_impact_Flyers.html

That leaves approximately $21.7 million to spend, though a few players need extensions first. Goaltender Steve Mason will be due a big raise once he is eligible to sign an extension on Jan. 1. Steve Downie is set to become an unrestricted free agent and already earns $2.65 million. Brayden Schenn, Michael Raffl and Erik Gustafsson are all restricted. The Flyers also will need to find a deal for Ray Emery or look for a new backup.

Even with those obstacles, it’s a particularly comfortable figure (or uncomfortable, depending on how you feel about those players), since Giroux, Matt Read, Sean Couturier, Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds are all locked up to long-term deals already.

In other words, expect Holmgren to be active this offseason, with a few intriguing names – like Thomas Vanek, Matt Moulson, Joe Thornton, Paul Stastny and Alexander Steen – set to become free agents.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20131210_How_spike_in_NHL_salary_cap_will_impact_Flyers.html#usBEUm0uYmAu0XFB.99