Flyers GM Ron Hextall’s Definition Of “Free-Rein” Will Shape The Flyers Off-Season

“Free-Rein” a term used in times when someone gets the ability to do whatever they want. In the sports world, it is the opportunity for someone, normally the GM, to shape the team that employs him in his own eyes.

Well, during the Flyers exit interviews this season, Flyers President, Paul Holmgren, gave GM Ron Hextall just that.

“Ron has the flexibility to do whatever he wants with his cap space and his roster. If that’s the decision he wants to make moving forward, he’s got free rein to do that. I think Ron continues to do what’s right for the organization.”

So, lets define “free-rein” according to Webster Dictionary…

Free-Rein – unrestricted liberty of action or decision

Two things stand out in that definition.

First, being unrestricted. With Hextall preaching building through the draft for the past 5 years, when does he turn the switch to add to what he has? The Flyers have probably the deepest prospect depth due mainly to just that. Building through the draft and hitting on late round talent. Therefore, now with “free-rein” and plenty of cap-space, does that mindset finally change?

Second, action or decision. The action or decision will be Hextall’s and Hextall’s alone. A decision on how much ‘free-rein” Hextall is willing to use in on his own actions. Nobody else. Now, after 5 seasons of getting this team out of cap hell, Hextall has the ability to do what he chooses with this team.




Therefore, How will GM Ron Hextall define and use the “free-rein” given to him?

Well, he has already made some decisions and made things known about what he wants to do in free-agency.

Hextall announced during his exit interview that UFAs Brandon Manning, Matt Read, Johnny Oduya, and possibly Valtteri Filppula will not return. Their is a possibly in-front of Valtteri Filppula because Hextall didn’t close the door completely on bringing back the 13th year pro.

“My conversations with most of those guys were the plan right now is not to bring you back. Things can change because we don’t know what happens over the summer. Fil is the one guys where we have interest, so we’re going to see what happens here. The other guys, unless something changes, we don’t plan on bringing them back right now.”

Theoretically, that means two definite game roster spots will open up and possibly a third if Filppula isn’t brought back. But, if you have watched any Flyers hockey over the past year, those spots will be probably filled by veterans and the rookies passed over again.

However, one underlining thing to not bringing those guys back is the cap-space they open up. At the moment, with all 4 guys off the books and the cap expected to rise to $80M next season, the Flyers have $22M in cap-space.

So, will Hextall open up the bank for the big free-agents this off-season? Will we see a similar situation to what Minnesota did back in 2012 signing the best forward and defenseman in the same year? Would you like to see John Carlson and John Tavares in a Flyers uniform next season?




But, before we go signing the top 2 free-agents in the class, lets back track for a second and look into a more realistic number of cap-space the Flyers actually have.

That $22M may seem like a ton. However, the Flyers have to tread lightly with that number because they have some very important players that need new contracts the following off-season. Those names include Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, either Brian Elliott or Michal Neuvirth, and Wayne Simmonds just to name a few.

Therefore, when you start to put some of their contract numbers in the mix, that number is nowhere close to the $22M is says we have this year. If Provorov gets $6-7M, Konecny $4.5-5.5M, $2-3M for a goalie, and possibly a short-term $3-4M for Simmonds, it starts to add up.




If thats the case, going into the 2019-2020 season, the Flyers cap hit will be at $56.5M with a ton of holes to fill. During next years off-season, the Flyers will have to make decisions on UFAs Michael Raffl, Jordan Weal, and both goalies. While, also resigning Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, and forgotten about RFA Scott Laughton.

So, if you add in $8.5M for Tavares and $7.5M for Carlson, that number becomes $72M with only about a little over $10M in cap space if the ceiling goes up another $2-3M like it has every previous season. That is not a lot of room Hextall will have. Especially, having to add five more forwards and another defenseman to fill out your roster for the 2019-2020 season.




However, here is where things brighten up for the Flyers.

Just like the Eagles did last year in route to a Super-Bowl, their last piece was their cheapest piece. What I mean by that is the quarterback position was the cheapest per production in the NFL. For the Flyers, that would be the goalie position. With Carter Hart seeming to be taking the reins in the 2019-2020 season, the Flyers will gracefully use his rookie contract to their advantage and bulk up the roster to win with him up-front. Just like the Eagles did with Carsen Wentz.

But, this whole situation depends on how Hextall defines his “free-rein”. If Hextall doesn’t feel like these guys are what the Flyers need going forward, neither of them will be considered. Also, he has to judge if this year is the year to use his money and cap-space.




With another big contract coming off next season, Jori Lehtera’s $4.7M, and a much deeper free-agent class next season, is it smart for Hextall to use his money now? Or should he wait and go big next off-season with more money?

Its like the question, Would you rather have $1,000 today or a year from now? Everybody will have a different answer and thinking. However, in this case, only one person’s opinion matters and that is Ron Hextall’s.




So, Mr. Hextall what is it going to be? Are you going to bulk up the roster now and let Carter Hart be your final piece to the puzzle? Are you going keep saving and pick your pieces next off-season? Or are you going to continue to build through the draft and do this your way?

That is the million dollar question for the Flyers this off-season. Hopefully, this “free-rein” will change Hextall’s mind and make him start adding to the group he already has. How much more can you get building through the draft?