December 29, 2015
Considering the cap crunch that Ron Hextall and the Flyers currently find themselves in, the solution to keeping impressive rookie defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere around likely wasn’t going to be ideal.
And now we have our answer, as the Flyers have placed forward Sam Gagner on waivers (first reported by Elliotte Friedman). Even if the rest of the league passes on Gagner, who is making $3.2 million in the final year of his contract, the Flyers can create enough space to retain Ghost when Mark Streit is activated off long-term injured reserve:
According to @generalfanager, #Flyers needed to clear ≈$254,000 to activate Streit and keep Gostisbehere.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) December 29, 2015
If Gagner clears and is sent down to the AHL, I believe the #Flyers would have ≈ $696,000 of cap space.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) December 29, 2015
With the move, the Flyers are now carrying eight defensemen. Gagner, who was acquired from Arizona in the crazy Chris Pronger/Nicklas Grossmann deal over the summer, wasn’t on the ice for the team’s opener in Tampa. When he did crack the lineup, Gagner started off the season with four points in his first five games.
Gagner has continued to have trouble getting on the ice. He hasn’t cracked the Flyers’ lineup since November 23rd, when he suffered a concussion against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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