How can the Flyers fit Dan Cleary on the roster?

So what’s the impact of Dan Cleary on the Flyers’ roster once he formally signs a contract?

It’s complicated, but it can be sorted out.

First off, the Flyers and Cleary agreed to a three-year, $8.25 million contract late Monday night (see story). His cap hit (AAV) is $2.75 million. An NHL source confirmed The Detroit Free Press story on the transaction.

GM Paul Holmgren confirmed only that Cleary would attend training camp on a tryout.

Because the Flyers are already $2 million over the $64.3 million salary cap for the coming season, they can’t sign him yet without making a trade to lose salary.

Rather than go the trade route, what the club is doing is, as stated, signing Cleary first to a PTO -– a tryout deal. That gets the veteran left wing into camp and keeps him here.

Remember, the Flyers can’t utilize Chris Pronger’s LTIR money — $4.921 million — until the season starts in October. Pronger has to be on the official roster that goes into the league office on Sept. 30.

http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/how-can-flyers-fit-dan-cleary-roster