What are the Flyers’ contract plans for RFAs Zegras and Drysdale?
The Philadelphia Flyers have two significant restricted free agents this summer: forward Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale.
Zegras, 25, was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks last June for Ryan Poehling and two draft picks. Though Zegras has slowed down production-wise from the start of the season since moving to center in recent months, he is still on pace to tie his career-high point total with 65.
Zegras is in the final season of a three-year contract carrying an AAV of $5.75 million that he signed with the Ducks. He is two years away from UFA eligibility. As is the case with all contract negotiations, buying up the UFA years is what makes things expensive; the RFA years are when things still remain cheap.
According to sources, the team feels Zegras’ RFA years’ AAV should hover around his current $5.75 million. I had compared Zegras’ production to that of Ottawa Senators center Dylan Cozens a few months back; the latter signed a seven-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres directly off his ELC that carries an AAV of $7.1 million.
As a UFA, Zegras would likely get an AAV that falls somewhere in the neighborhood of $9 million to $9.5 million. If, for instance, Zegras were to sign an eight-year contract with the Flyers, they would have to negotiate a general AAV of balancing six years at his UFA number and two years at his RFA number.
Math has never been my friend, but an AAV somewhere in the $7.5 million to $8.5 million range would likely be the right landing spot for Zegras on a long term contract. Of course, Zegras’ camp could elect to go with short-term deals (he does have arbitration rights) until he can maximize his UFA years on a longer-term deal.
If that were the case, Zegras could maybe cash in – all assuming he maintains his current level of production – on an AAV closer to $10 million in two years time, especially with the salary cap’s projection, which is expected to hit $113.5 million by 2027-28. It would also give Zegras more time to potentially establish himself as a center, which would inherently increase his overall value.
Drysdale, who turns 24 next month, was acquired from the Ducks 26 months ago in the blockbuster trade for forward Cutter Gauthier. Identical to Zegras, Drysdale is in the final season of a three-year contract and is two years away from UFA status; his current AAV is $2.3 million.
According to sources, the Flyers view Drysdale fourth on the totem pole among their defensemen behind Travis Sanheim, Cam York and Rasmus Ristolainen, in that order. Drysdale has taken a major step this year but still averages less total ice time than Sanheim and York while also not being a penalty-kill contributor like Ristolainen. The aforementioned three defensemen’s AAVs are reflective of that, as well.
According to sources, Drysdale’s RFA dollar value is somewhere in the $3 million to $4 million range. Reading the tea leaves, the Flyers don’t seem to be as eager to go long term with Drysdale as they are with Zegras. Based on conversations with sources, the Flyers would like to keep Drysdale’s overall AAV under that of fellow defenseman Cam York’s $5.15 million. On a five-year deal, Drysdale could land a flat amount of $25 million to carry an even $5-million AAV. On a four-year deal, you could see it come in around a total of $18 million.
The Flyers have some decisions to make this summer with their two significant RFAs, but they don’t seem like they will be overly complicated contracts to sort through.
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