Flyers Extend Scott Laughton with Five-Year Deal, Trade Erik Gustafsson

Some thought Scott Laughton might be leaving Philadelphia at the deadline, but instead the Flyers extended him on what looks to be a team-friendly deal:

Anthony filled me in a bit, since he’s the hockey guy, and it goes like this:

Laughton signed a team-friendly contract in terms of dollars in exchange for a slightly longer term. Normally, versatile forwards who spend most of their time on the third line aren’t signing five-year deals, but considering he will only count $3 million against the cap for the next five years, it’s a win/win for both the player and the team. He’s only getting a $700,000 raise (based on the average value), which is workable for the next two seasons because of the flat salary cap, but come years four and five, $3 million will be considered cheap for a third-line forward. And while one could argue that the term is excessive for that kind of player, the reality is, this contract covers Laughton’s prime. He will still be just 31 years old when this contract expires. If he were 30 and offered a five-year deal, then it would be a bad deal, but considering he’s still a youngish player, this works out really well for the Flyers and also gives the team a lot of flexibility, not just with the salary cap, but also within the lineup, as Laughton can play multiple positions and on multiple lines. Fans are going to be underwhelmed if this is the lone move at the trade deadline, but the reality is, this is a signing that solidifies one of a dozen forward roster spots for the next five years.

EDIT:

Hold the phone! –