Gagne Contract Status Still Uncertain: Should Flyers Fans Be Worried?

In the old NHL, the Flyers, specifically Bobby Clarke, would have picked up an A-list free agent to make up for the possible loss of Peter Forsberg to injury. With training camp just around the corner, this off season was a first for Flyers fans who are still getting used to the NHL’s new salary cap.

Unfortunately, the new NHL limits spending which leads to the number one question Flyers’ fans are asking coming into the new season: “Why haven’t the Flyers signed Simon Gagne? And is it time to panic?” The initial reaction is that the ownership is being cheap; not throwing out the big bucks for a legitimate star, but that is far from the truth.

In the old NHL there is no doubt that the Flyers would pay Gagne, believing that he deserves a big pay day coming off a team-leading 47-goal season. In the new NHL this problem is a little more difficult to solve. Gagne’s agent Bob Sauve is looking for a deal around 3 years/$15 million, similar to the contract one Alex Tanguay, a 30 goal scorer for the Calgary Flames (whom Suave is also an agent for) signed. This deal would provide Gagne with roughly $5 million a year, which creates some tricky arithmetic.

The NHL salary cap is at $44 million and the Flyers currently have roughly $40 million against it, leaving only 4 million maximum to spend on Gagne. This doesn’t mean the Flyers will be unable to sign Gagne, but what it does mean is that the Flyers’ roster needs some finagling and questions need to be answered to acquire the money under the cap to ink Simon.

It has been rumored that Antero Nittymaki is going to be the Flyers’ weight-bearing goalie this season, which will leave Robert Esche disgruntled since he has great distaste for sitting on the bench. Dealing Esche could be a way to relieve pressure on the salary cap but the problem with putting a goalie on the market so early on in the new season is that goalie value is extremely low. Teams want to see what they get out of their young talent and have confidence in their current situations. The value for goalies rises during the season as injuries mount and the season goes on because the team’s confidence in their net minder drops. Relieving Esche’s contract may become more likely as the season progresses but a deal early on in the season might not be out of the question if Clarke hears a good offer.

Keith Primeau is also a contractual question mark. Lately Primeau has been practicing and looking like his old self. “He looks like a man ready to play,” says coach Ken Hitchcock. Regardless of a few post-concussion relapses he had, Keith seems to be playing well, though he could be one game time hit from another long injured reserve trip or possibly early retirement. If Primeau cannot recover fully and decides to retire, his $3 million dollar contract will be lifted from the Flyers salary cap, leaving enough room to sign Gagne.

If Keith does make a full recovery however, it will leave the Flyers’ roster very forward heavy even with the experimentation of Sami Kapanen playing consistent defense. The excess of forwards should force the Flyers to make a move to get rid older players with relatively big contracts such as Petr Nedved and Turner Stevenson; but finding a buyer for them would require Clarke to put on an award winning performance that would be nothing less than artful and magnificent.

The Flyers expect Gagne to be in camp on time and to not start a hold-out like Colorado Avalanche restricted star Marek Svatos has stated he would do if not signed. Holding-out hasn’t become a habit among NHL players yet, but with a salary cap, roster situations could soon go the way of the NFL and any player unhappy with their current contract will put pressure on the organization to make a deal by skipping out of training camp.

With the recent success of a similar restricted free agent in Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins signing a 5-year 23.75 million dollar contract, Gagne’s camp, along with Flyers fans, should be optimistic that a deal will be made before Simon becomes a unrestricted free agent — regardless of the trade rumors swirling about involving Gagne for Peter Forsberg’s childhood friend and Swedish teammate Markus Nasland in Vancouver.

The situation may look dire from a fans point-of-view but it’s just going to take some stalling by Bobby Clarke, the lowball offers the Flyers already put on the table, and some ironing out of salary cap issues, that in time, will paint a clear picture of how Clarke will free up Gagne’s cash.

*UPDATE – 09/06/06
Gagne and Clarke continue to be at odds over a multi year contract. Gagne’s agent Bob Sauve has made it clear Simon will holdout of camp or maybe longer if a deal is not reached. Gagne and his agent have clearly stated he would like to remain a Flyer regardless of whether he holds out or not. The more time Gagne misses out of camp the more likely it will be that he gets moved to a team with adaquit cap space — though the Flyers DO NOT want to take those actions, it is a growing possibility.

*UPDATE – 09/11/06 
On Monday both Gagne and the Flyers agreed to a five-year, $26.25M deal which averts a major problem as Gagne will now show to camp.  It still seems likely the Flyers will have to move some players to relieve money against the cap.

Photo by Getty Images

Edited by L. Olivia Piotti