Confirmed with Link: Raffl Signed to Multi-Year Extension (3 yrs/$2.35 AAV)

[Tripod]

Little too much AAV, but not by enough to worry a lot. Goal for this team needs to be to continually find/develop quality 3rd and 4th liners so we don't need to pay them more than this contract.

Agreed. Having Konecny, NAK, Lindblom, Leier, Fazleev is a big step in filling spots from within. As will this coming draft.

 

[GKJ]

Raffl will be an important player, because he's probably going to be playing with a lot of those prospects once they're called up, before they move on to bigger roles.

 

[Curufinwe]

The signing is what it is - a standard contract for a run of the mill bottom six player that can kill penalties and play a bit on the power play. With that being said, if The Score in Canada was correct that the Florida Panthers were offering Brandon Pirri in exchange for Raffl, then I have to wonder why Hextall didn't pursue that deal.

How much is Pirri going to demand?

I'd rather have Raffl at the same price. We have forward prospects on the way who can provide offense.

 

[Larry44]

Raffl will be an important player, because he's probably going to be playing with a lot of those prospects once they're called up, before they move on to bigger roles.

Agreed. I've always liked Raffl. He's a gamer. He's the type of guy you need on your team. Good example for the kids. A versatile player who did score 21 goals last year. He can play up and down the lineup anywhere you need him. Glue guy in the room, apparently, with his goofy personality. The contract is just right in amount and duration.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

Very happy with this contract.

 

[DrinkFightFlyers]

Not bad. Would have preferred a little less money and a year shorter but can't complain about this deal.

 

[daynus]

Glad we have him inked for 3 more. Yah he is a guy you can put anywhere,any time, good guy for our youngsters.

 

[CanadianFlyer88]

I don't get those saying they preferred two years to three.

Raffl is still in his 20's and he can be used anywhere in the lineup at 5-on-5. He's also the perfect bottom six player on a contending team, which is what the Flyers could be in that third year of the contract.

 

[deadhead]

These are not the contracts that get you in trouble, given that any replacement is going to cost $1M+, it's not like it's going to be a cap eater. And Raffl is not a typical "3rd/4th line" player as some have suggested, just compare him to all our other 3rd and 4th line players and it becomes obvious it's not that easy to find solid wingers who can fill multiple roles competently at a reasonable price.

 

[Broad Street Elite]

These are not the contracts that get you in trouble, given that any replacement is going to cost $1M+, it's not like it's going to be a cap eater. And Raffl is not a typical "3rd/4th line" player as some have suggested, just compare him to all our other 3rd and 4th line players and it becomes obvious it's not that easy to find solid wingers who can fill multiple roles competently at a reasonable price.

On a winning team, I think that's exactly what he is. He's been deployed as more than that at times by the Flyers in large part because of our lack of depth at the wing (hence a few years of lottery selections).

 

[FadeToBlack]

Too much. Whatever, it's only overpayment by a 1/4 mill or so.

 

[ILoveStephanieBrown]

Too much. Whatever, it's only overpayment by a 1/4 mill or so.

The definition of nitpicking.

 

[FadeToBlack]

The definition of nitpicking.

Overpaying players is never good... let's say Raffl should really be in the $2m region, that's about a 15% overpayment. Overpay a pair of third liners by 15%, and you're looking at $700k... overpay a second liner by 15% as well, and we're looking at the difference between a $2.5m player and a $4m player. Might not seem like a lot, but overpayments add up quickly.

 

[tade]

Overpaying players is never good... let's say Raffl should really be in the $2m region, that's about a 15% overpayment. Overpay a pair of third liners by 15%, and you're looking at $700k... overpay a second liner by 15% as well, and we're looking at the difference between a $2.5m player and a $4m player. Might not seem like a lot, but overpayments add up quickly.

Good thing is that he's not overpaid. He absolutely deserves this deal.

 

[FadeToBlack]

Good thing is that he's not overpaid. He absolutely deserves this deal.

I don't think paying guys who have never hit 30 points and aren't PK specialists $7m over 3 years is a smart move. I guess we'll just have to disagree.

 

[Appleyard]

Overpaying players is never good... let's say Raffl should really be in the $2m region, that's about a 15% overpayment. Overpay a pair of third liners by 15%, and you're looking at $700k... overpay a second liner by 15% as well, and we're looking at the difference between a $2.5m player and a $4m player. Might not seem like a lot, but overpayments add up quickly.

The thing is... it is not an overpayment!

He will be the ~190th-200th highest paid forward in the NHL at the START of his deal...

He is being paid middling 3rd liner money for a UFA contract. That contract is good if he puts up ~20-25 points a year while playing solid D and helping drive possession.

The median cost per point amongst regular NHL forwards on UFA contracts is something like ~$120k... in Raffl's case that means 20 points a year.

There are very few (~25-30 a season) UFA NHL forwards who are being paid less than ~80-90k per point.

80k per point in Raffl's case would be 29 points.

 

[FadeToBlack]

He will be the ~190th-200th highest paid forward in the NHL at the START of his deal...

Do you have a reference for this? Can't seem to find a list of NHL players sorted by salary.

Look at contenders, nobody is paying wingers Raffl money for Raffl production. Closest comparables are Jaden Schwartz and Antoine Roussel.

Schwartz is younger, puts up more points, and is RFA, so his $2.7m is pretty fair.

Roussel is about the same age, puts up slightly more points in less total TOI, and also more PK time... for $2m per, right what I think Raffl should make.

So sure, the Flyers can pay Raffl $2.35m for what he brings to the table, but that isn't something a contending team will do, unless you're telling me that Raffl is unique or brings something other players don't. I guess you could argue that Raffl is a $1.8m a year player who's possession game adds 1/2 a mill per year, but I just don't think Raffl is the kind of guy we should be slotting into our roster for the next three seasons, I don't think he's the kind of player that contending teams pay $2.35m to per season to play on their third lines.

I wouldn't have as much of a problem with the $2.35m number if it was over the next two seasons, fwiw. Paying a bit more to get the term down would have worked for me.

 

[Appleyard]

Do you have a reference for this? Can't seem to find a list of NHL players sorted by salary.

Look at contenders, nobody is paying wingers Raffl money for Raffl production. Closest comparables are Jaden Schwartz and Antoine Roussel.

Schwartz is younger, puts up more points, and is RFA, so his $2.7m is pretty fair.

Roussel is about the same age, puts up slightly more points in less total TOI, and also more PK time... for $2m per, right what I think Raffl should make.

So sure, the Flyers can pay Raffl $2.35m for what he brings to the table, but that isn't something a contending team will do, unless you're telling me that Raffl is unique or brings something other players don't. I guess you could argue that Raffl is a $1.8m a year player who's possession game adds 1/2 a mill per year, but I just don't think Raffl is the kind of guy we should be slotting into our roster for the next three seasons, I don't think he's the kind of player that contending teams pay $2.35m to per season to play on their third lines.

I wouldn't have as much of a problem with the $2.35m number if it was over the next two seasons, fwiw. Paying a bit more to get the term down would have worked for me.

https://www.capfriendly.com/

This year his 2.35m cap hit would be 195th in the NHL. There are already 162 forwards signed for next year who are going to be paid more... and at least ~30 more who are RFA and UFA who will be on more than that after July.

Schwartz and Roussell are under RFA deals... they are not really that comparable. Both are going to be making quite a lot more when they reach UFA.

 

[FadeToBlack]

https://www.capfriendly.com/

This year his 2.35m cap hit would be 195th in the NHL. There are already 162 forwards signed for next year who are going to be paid more... and at least ~30 more who are RFA and UFA who will be on more than that after July.

Schwartz and Roussell are under RFA deals... they are not really that comparable. Both are going to be making quite a lot more when they reach UFA.

Nice site that's got some things I wish other sites had.

Fair enough, didn't realize Roussel was RFA when he signed his. I also don't think he'll get a big raise, his production doesn't seem to justify a large bump in pay. I guess it's not as bad a deal as I originally thought, but I just don't think Raffl is the kind of guy you want as a third liner on a cup contending team. I suppose I'm slightly biased.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

It's not a steal of a contract nor is it an overpayment. It's just about in the middle. This contract is basically in the ballpark of what guys who are identified as the higher tier of bottom six players get.

It's not Raffl's fault that the Flyers depth sucks & the coaches refuse to play him on the PK over guys like Bellemare, White, & VV. Hopefully these things change in these upcoming years.

 

[Appleyard]

Nice site that's got some things I wish other sites had.

Fair enough, didn't realize Roussel was RFA when he signed his. I also don't think he'll get a big raise, his production doesn't seem to justify a large bump in pay. I guess it's not as bad a deal as I originally thought, but I just don't think Raffl is the kind of guy you want as a third liner on a cup contending team. I suppose I'm slightly biased.

He is certainly good enough ability wise to be a #6 (ie 6th best winger on the team) winger on a contender. He would have been the 2nd best player on Tampa's 3rd line last season in the final. (he is better than Paquette and Brown.) Tampa would have killed to have him at 3LW OR 3C in last years finals.

 

[lancer247]

I don't see how you could get him for less then 2MM. I would have been happy with anything less then 2.5MM and 3 yrs.

 

[CodyTheHuman]

I like this deal and I like Raffl. I hope he can get proper usage next season, 3rd line and PK.

 

[FadeToBlack]

He is certainly good enough ability wise to be a #6 (ie 6th best winger on the team) winger on a contender. He would have been the 2nd best player on Tampa's 3rd line last season in the final. (he is better than Paquette and Brown.) Tampa would have killed to have him at 3LW OR 3C in last years finals.

He's a niche player, though. He can't score at a high rate, isn't a great passer... he just drives possession, he lacks scoring touch. He isn't a guy you want in your top 6. Third liner? Sure, but a lot of modern NHL contenders are top-heavy teams that fill in third liners with cost-controlled RFA players.

I'd really like to see guys like Taylor Leier or Petr Straka get a shot in the NHL over Raffl. I mean, we know what Raffl is, and he's good at his niche, I just don't see a spot for that niche in our top 6, and he isn't utilized properly in the bottom six to fill said niche.

Read better get traded now, Ganger can go too.

 

[Juicy Pop]

He's a niche player, though. He can't score at a high rate, isn't a great passer... he just drives possession, he lacks scoring touch. He isn't a guy you want in your top 6. Third liner? Sure, but a lot of modern NHL contenders are top-heavy teams that fill in third liners with cost-controlled RFA players.

I'd really like to see guys like Taylor Leier or Petr Straka get a shot in the NHL over Raffl. I mean, we know what Raffl is, and he's good at his niche, I just don't see a spot for that niche in our top 6, and he isn't utilized properly in the bottom six to fill said niche.

Read better get traded now, Ganger can go too.

Sure, but you can't have an entire bottom-6 of relatively young players on RFA's and expect any sort of consistent performance.