The Philadelphia Flyers finished second last in the Eastern Conference last season with 61 points. They fired their entire coaching staff and look like they will be heading towards another rough season. But before that starts, Chuck Fletcher wants to lock up their best defenseman before he reaches free agency next season.
Travis Sanheim has been the Flyers best and most consistent defenseman these past few seasons. Last season he lead all Flyers players with a +/- of +9 and only one other player on that team who played more than 35 games had a positive rating. Sanheim was tied for scoring by a defenseman on the team with 31 points. He was tied with Ivan Provorov who was the only player on the team to average more ice time per game than Sanheim. To say he was the Flyers most valuable player last season would not be out of the question and that's why GM Chuck Fletcher wants to extend the 26-year-old before he can hit the open market.
There is speculation that Sanheim will want at least $6 million per season. Comparable defensemen such as Colton Parayko and Torey Krug are making $6.5 million per season and are 29 and 31 respectively. Travis Sanheim is only 26 years old. If he were to hit the open market there would be a lot of teams calling.
