Christian Dvorak immediately improves the Flyers' depth at center. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f16f5a11-d951-4d35-b5d7-2d41a4b802df.jpeg] Christian Dvorak immediately improves the Flyers' depth at center. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images) The Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] are on a crusade to start NHL free agency, quickly signing multiple players, including Christian Dvorak, to address some big team needs. The biggest - literally - and perhaps the most important piece of business from the Flyers Tuesday was signing 6-foot-5 goalie Dan Vladar [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-get-their-goalie-sign-dan-vladar-in-free-agency], who is now the only non-prospect to be contracted beyond the upcoming 2025-26 season. Vladar, 27, should provide some semblance of stability to a position that has had none for the Flyers in recent years, even if he's not quite good enough to elevate the Flyers as a whole. On the more surprising side, the Flyers also went out and added versatile forward Christian Dvorak on a one-year deal worth $5.4 million. This was, for all intents and purposes, and overpayment, even in this free agent market, but this was probably the cost the Flyers needed to pay to pry Dvorak away from Stanley Cup contenders. The 29-year-old played for new Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-coach-rick-tocchet-has-exciting-simple-plan-for-matvei-michkov] during their time together with the Arizona Coyotes and has six 30-point seasons to his name at the NHL level. Oh, and he's won more than 55% of his faceoffs in each of the last two seasons. The Flyers needed a reliable replacement for the departed Scott Laughton [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-officially-fleeced-maple-leafs-in-scott-laughton-trade] and Ryan Poehling [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-can-find-the-perfect-ryan-poehling-replacement-in-joe-veleno] while they wait for Jett Luchanko [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-jett-luchanko-thriving-in-first-true-playoff-experience] and Jack Nesbitt [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-jack-nesbitt-trade-complete-with-2-penguins-draft-picks] to develop, and signing Dvorak buys them another year for that. Additionally, with the salary retained in the Andrei Kuzmenko trade now off the books, the Flyers have one more salary retention available to use this season. Ex-Flyers Defenseman Ivan Provorov Signs Absurd Contract Ahead of NHL Free Agency [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/20a5fe46-1248-437e-9ffa-baee6ef38f61.webp] Ex-Flyers Defenseman Ivan Provorov Signs Absurd Contract Ahead of NHL Free Agency The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> have won the Ivan Provorov trade in more ways than one. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/ex-flyers-defenseman-ivan-provorov-signs-absurd-contract-ahead-of-nhl-free-agency] Assuming Dvorak has a good season in Philadelphia, the Flyers can retain half his salary and move him at the NHL trade deadline. Then, if Luchanko's season ends early, he can then replace Dvorak and join the Flyers at the end of the season. Two moves that made less sense were the additions of journeymen defensemen Noah Juulsen (RHD) and Dennis Gilbert (LHD). These players could very well be brought in simply to breed competition for NHL roster spots, but fans won't be happy about the possibility two ineffective veterans with limited skillsets block prospects like Emil Andrae [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/why-the-time-is-now-for-emil-andrae-to-cement-his-place-in-the-flyers] and Helge Grans [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/why-helge-grans-is-forcing-his-way-into-flyers-plans-for-next-season] from playing time. Including Cam York and excluding Grans, the Flyers now have nine defensemen on their NHL roster, so something is going to have to give a few months from now. It's worth noting that Juulsen was a favorite of Tocchet's on the Vancouver Canucks and is highly regarded for his shot blocking and penalty kill work, but he also didn't record a point in 35 games last season and is coming off a season-ending injury. If the Flyers really wanted veterans to push for ice time, why not try Adam Ginning, a 25-year-old prospect on an expiring contract running out of time to crack the NHL? Hunter McDonald, Grans, and Louie Belpedio are there, too. The Flyers also added a depth forward in Lane Pedersen, who briefly played for Tocchet in the past, as well. With Tuesday's proceedings seemingly coming to a halt with a decision from Maxim Shabanov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/flyers-target-maxim-shabanov-takes-important-step-in-nhl-journey] looming, the Flyers have $5.49 million in cap space [https://puckpedia.com/team/philadelphia-flyers] with, hopefully, enough room to re-sign York and add Shabanov.
