PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WHTM) – After a draft with two first-round picks, NHL free agency started July 1 at noon. These are the updates for the Philadelphia Flyers.
August 5
Goaltender Samuel Ersson, who was a restricted free agent, returned to the Flyers on a two-year, $2.9 million deal. Ersson played last season for the Flyers in 12 games and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League (AHL) for 42 games. With the Phantoms, the Falun, Sweden native had a 24-17-1 record with a 2.84 GAA and a .900 save percentage. Ersson posted one shutout. With the Flyers, Ersson had a 6-3-0 record with a 3.07 GAA and a .899 save percentage with one shutout. Ersson made his NHL debut on Dec. 23 at Carolina this season.
July 10
The Flyers signed defenseman Cam York to a two-year, $3.2 million contract and forward Noah Cates to a two-year, $5.25 million deal. Both were restricted free agents. York will be returning to Philly for his fourth season. Last year the Flyers 2019 14th overall draft pick played in 54 games, scoring two goals with a -1 plus/minus and 18 assists. Cates will be returning for his third season with the Flyers. Last season he played in 82 games, scoring 13 goals with a 3 plus/minus rating and 25 assists.
July 9
The Flyers have signed goaltender Alexei Kolosov to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Flyers drafted Kolosov in the third round back in the 2021 draft. Kolosov is a 21-year-old who played in 79 career KHL games from 2020 to 2023, finishing with a 28-39-7 record, 2.73 GAA, a .909 SV%, two shutouts, and three assists.
July 5
The Flyers penned a deal with defensemen Victor Mete for a one-year, $775,000 contract. The 2016 fourth-round pick is coming to the United States for the first time in his NHL career. Mete played with Montreal and Ottawa before joining Toronto for the 2022-23 season. The 25-year-old had a +3 plus/minus rating across 11 games with the Maple Leafs last season.
Philadelphia signed another defenseman Ronnie Attard for a two-year, $1.7 million contract. Attard played two games with the Flyers last season, spending most of his time in the AHL with their affiliate the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In 68 games, the 24-year-old had a +10 plus/minus rating with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists).
July 3
Defenseman Marc Staal is coming to Philadelphia on a one-year, $1.1 million contract. Staal spent 13 seasons with the New York Rangers after going 12th overall to them in the 2005 draft. In 2020 the Thunder Bay, Ontario native joined Detroit. After two seasons, Staal signed with the Florida Panthers in 2022. Last season Staal had 15 points with a +10 plus/minus rating across 82 games.
July 1
The Flyers signed forward Ryan Poehling to a one-year, $1.4 million contract. The 2017, 25th overall draft pick played in Montreal from 2018 to 2022 before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins this past season. In 53 games during the 2022-23 campaign, the center scored seven goals with seven assists.
Garnet Hathaway joined Philadelphia on a two-year, $4.78 million contract. The Kennebunkport, ME native just wrapped up his ninth season with the NHL. Hathaway started his career with Calgary where he played in the organization for four seasons before going to Washington.
After three seasons with the Capitals, the right winger split his 2022-23 season with Washington and Boston, finishing with the Capitals. Last season Hathaway had 22 points.
