The Flyers might be less open to listening on trade deals for Shayne Gostisbehere. Replacing a player the quality of Niskanen is not a basic, quick-decision job and could need a difficult decision.
Among the Flyers, Niskanen was 2nd on the group in minutes per game (21:54) and shorthanded minutes per video game (2:38), third in plus-minus (plus-15), seventh in power play minutes (139:26) and finished with 33 points (eight goals, 25 helps) over 68 regular-season games. His winning pedigree rubbed off on colleagues and Fletcher lauded Niskanens “remarkable presence.”.
The news is substantial to the Flyers offseason decisions and 2020-21 opportunities.
Matt Niskanen, the groups constant, veteran, all-situation defenseman who was critical in the clubs 2019-20 turn-around season, has actually retired.
Not long after the Niskanen news emerged, the Flyers re-signed defenseman Justin Braun to a two-year, $3.6 million deal. The desire and need to bring back the 33-year-old Braun certainly surged as soon as the Flyers found out Niskanens decision to retire.
A interesting and challenging twist has actually been tossed into the Flyers offseason plans.
Its challenging I think for some gamers, so we talked about it … theres a lot of feeling, theres always a lot of feeling at the end of a season, we lost a tough Game 7 the night before.” Hes the consummate expert and colleague,” the Flyers GM said. Following 2020-21, Niskanen would have been a free agent in his mid-30s. The Flyers could be less open to listening on trade offers for Shayne Gostisbehere. Replacing a player the quality of Niskanen is not a simple, quick-decision job and could need a hard decision.
” We have some young defensemen that continue to grow and will continue to presume larger roles as they develop.
” Hes vital,” Scott Laughton said in November. “Hes a quiet leader for us and when he speaks, people listen.”
” Obviously been working the phones for weeks, Ive talked to every group in the league and some several times. I believe Im pretty familiar with whats available and well simply have to make some choices from here. Im certainly comfortable with our group, with our group of 7 [defensemen] that we have right now, thats returning from last year. We have some other players pressing.
General supervisor Chuck Fletcher said Niskanen called him the day after the Flyers second-round Game 7 loss to the Islanders on Sept. 5 as the defenseman was driving home to Minnesota.
The 33-year-old Niskanen, who was gotten in a trade last offseason, was set to be on the final year of his seven-year, $40.25 million deal in which he would have held a cap hit of $5.75 million in 2020-21.
In 2019-20, after the Flyers obtained the Stanley Cup champ from the Capitals, Niskanen helped make up the Flyers do-it-all, minutes-eating very first protective pair along with Ivan Provorov. Niskanen, a smart, puck-moving blueliner with 140 video games of playoff experience, enhanced the Flyers at 5-on-5, on the power play and the charge kill. Simply as importantly, he also did marvels for the rebound of Provorov, a 23-year-old who had far too much on his shoulders last season.
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” Good luck with that,” Fletcher said with a laugh when asked about finding a Niskanen replacement outside of the organization. “There are different ways to attack this.
” Thank you to the Flyers company for the opportunity to play in Philly last season,” Niskanen stated, via Flyers senior director of public relations and communications Zack Hill. ” I d also like to thank the fans for their assistance and, last but not least, I wish my teammates the very best of luck.”
It is not yet determined when precisely the 2020-21 season will begin. Following 2020-21, Niskanen would have been a free representative in his mid-30s.
” Hes the practiced expert and teammate,” the Flyers GM stated. “He certainly will not be an easy player to replace, but today should be about thanking Matt for what he did, for what he contributed to our group and were extremely grateful for the time that we had with him.
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” We have the ability to start the season as we wait and are for chances or clearly we can pursue chances now. It will depend upon the gamer, the rate, the chance and the fit.”.
” I think being away from your family, a couple months in the bubble, impacted a great deal of veteran gamers– not just ours however around the league,” Fletcher said. ” I believe its difficult when you have a young household, to be away and different scenarios, the video game became a bit different than what it was. Im sure the unpredictability of next season and a few of the changes that have actually been caused by the pandemic and how it has actually forced us to play has definitely had an effect. Matt just said to me that he wished to go when it was time, he wished to make that decision. I think he felt this was the time to do so. He loved the team, really thinks in the group.”.
Fletcher stated Niskanen “did as much as anyone to change the state of mind” of the Flyers, who ended up being a top-six club this previous season after a disastrous 2018-19 project, prior to the arrival of the accomplished blueliner.
” It caught me off-guard, definitely,” Fletcher said Monday in a video interview. “I didnt prepare for that. I understand its been a difficult year with the pandemic and coming back to play in a bubble and theres a great deal of uncertainty about next year. Its challenging I think for some gamers, so we discussed it … theres a lot of emotion, theres always a great deal of feeling at the end of a season, we lost a difficult Game 7 the night before. I just informed him to get home, see your family, invest a long time and lets talk again in a couple of weeks. Weve had a couple discussions because then and hes undaunted in his desire to retire. I completely respect that, hes earned that right and well just move forward from here. We want him nothing however the very best.”
Matt Niskanens statistical ranks among Flyers in 2019-20:.
– TOI per video game– 2nd (21:54) – Shorthanded TOI per game– 2nd (2:38) – Blocked shots– tied for 2nd (84 )- Hits– 3rd (124 )- Plus-minus– 3rd (plus-15) – Assists– 5th (25 )- Power play TOI– 7th (139:26)– Jordan Hall (@ JHallNBCS) October 6, 2020.
