Recapping the Cap (and Leino)

Currently, the Flyers cap for next year projects as follows:

Forwards

Leino (???) -Briere (6.5) -Hartnell (4.2)

Nodl [.8925] -Richards (5.75) -JVR (1.654)

????-Carter (5.27) -Giroux (3.75)

Powe [.761] -Betts (.7) -Shelley (1.1)

Total: 31.27

D

Pronger (4.9) - Carle (3.4)

Timo (6.3) - Coburn (3.2)

Mesz (4)-O'Donnell [1]

Total: 22.8

Goal

Bobo (1.75)

Leighton (1.55)

Total: 3.3

Overall: 57.37

Cap 10-11 - $59.4

There are so many variables in projecting something like this, that you have to make some assumptions to have any kind of meaningful conversation.

For the above, I assumed that Nodl and Powe will accept the Flyers' minimum RFA qualifying offers, and that O'Donnell will resign for the same amount. I also assumed that, one way or another, the following players will not be on the roster next year.

Laperriere

Carcillo

Walker

Zherdev

Boucher

One more assumption; the cap next year will go up by a few million. Let's say it goes up by $3.6 to an even $63 million.

So, given all these assumptions, the Flyers will have approximately $5.5 million in cap space to sign Leino, #12 and #13 forwards, and a #7 defensemen. The Flyers have also indicated in the past that they want to enter the season with at least $1 million in cap space to provide some flexibility during the season. That would reduce the functional signing space to $4.5 million.

Okay one more step. Let's say the Flyers sign cheap-o players for those bottom of the lineup guys at approximately $700k each.

I take a few things away from this breakdown;

1) The Flyers could absorb a signing of Leino without making other changes if he signs for less than $2.4 million

2) If Leino wants more than that, something else will have to go (I say Carle is the likely candidate)

3) Trying to project all this when there are still so many variables floating around is pretty much a futile exercise.