The problem isn't the next couple years, it's in 2020-21 onward when you have RFA contracts for Provorov, TK, Patrick, Lindblom, Sanheim, Myers.
That could be $30+M between them.
There will be top players/free agents available every summer, question is when do you pull the trigger and for whom.
If Karlsson was the free agent instead of JT, he might be a target for Ron.
But since he may be available next summer, he might just wait and see.
Waiting another year or two has real advantages for the Flyers:
1) Hart is closer to starting, they'll have a better idea about Sandstrom and Ustimenko as well
2) Prospects will have better track records, which both tells Ron where his holes are and increases their trade value
3) The team will have a better record, worse draft position, which makes it easier to trade 1st rd picks
It's not like JT or Karlsson will make us a Cup contender, they haven't made their current teams, they won't do that here - this isn't the NBA. You need a hockey team, heck, Pittsburgh could only get to the conference finals once in six years despite having Crosby, Malkin, Fleury and Letang in their prime years.
So until the kids have a couple more years under their belts, overpaying for free agents will just close the window on the back end without shoving it open on the front end.