Philadelphia Flyers Closing in on Extension with Top Defender
The Philadelphia Flyers are closing in on a contract extension with defenseman Travis Sanheim, per Elliotte Friedman, worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $6 million per season:
Sanheim, 26, is Philly's best player after you account for injuries, and he deserves to be paid. A true top-pair defender, the Manitoba product has proven to be resilient in defense and crafty in transition, which are the two most critical aspects to defending in the NHL.
On a team seriously devoid of talent, Sanheim stands alone in that he is one of the only players on the team whose 5v5 performance consistently impresses. In 335 games, he has posted 116 points and only a -13 in his career; considering the Flyers' goal differential was -87 last season, a negative baker's-dozen is fantastic.
GM Chuck Fletcher had better tie Sanheim down to as much term as he can, and any salary that starts with a 'six' or less is a steal. While this is great news, Philadelphia's hockey club has a long way to go in restoring itself to greatness.
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