The Philadelphia Flyers have re-signed restricted free agent defenceman Philippe Myers to a three-year contract worth $2.25 million per season. This deal will carry him through the 2022-23 season.
DONE DEAL: Philly Myers will be back in the 🟠& ⚫️! https://t.co/1kBgjqD1ig
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 8, 2020
Philadelphia Flyers re-signs Philippe Myers
Myers was signed by the Flyers as an undrafted free agent in 2015, after a strong performance during training camp. The 23-year-old defenceman played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL associated team. He made his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season on February 17, 2019, against the Detroit Red Wings.
During his two-year NHL career, he has put up five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 71 career games. Last season, he scored five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. He also added 30 penalty minutes.
What This Means for the Future
Myers shows promise for Philadelphia, as his growth during the past season was incredible. Even though he started the 2019-20 season in the AHL, the defenceman proved himself to be NHL-worthy, despite some ups-and-downs. Myers was scratched from the Flyers’ 2019-20 roster a few times before settling in. As a young defenceman, he has been tested by the coaching staff. He was paired with Travis Sanheim – with whom he had played before in the Phantoms – and with Shayne Gostisbehere.
Myers made mistakes and was roughly criticized by the media. However, Alain Vigneault, Philadelphia’s head coach, seemed to believe in his potential. By the time January came, the 23-year-old defenceman had entered the top-four blueliners for Philadelphia. Vigneault’s top pair was Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen but he had a strong second pairing with Sanheim and Myers.
He has some interesting qualities that will come in hand for the Flyers next season. First, the defenceman is not afraid to carry the puck through the neutral zone. His ability to create controlled zone entries and exits were ranked right behind Provorov and Niskanen. At last, Myers ranked second among Flyers defencemen in creating scoring chances in regulation time.
With Niskanen’s retirement in October, Philadelphia will need a good right-handed defenceman to play with Provorov and Myers might be their best choice.
