Philadelphia Flyers: Jakub Voracek Set for Big Contract

It’s been reported that the Philadelphia Flyers and ring wing Jakub Voracek already started talking about a contract extension.

Flyers GM Ron Hextall confirmed things were underway with Jakub Voracek, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Voracek has 189 points in the last three seasons, 10th in the NHL. Ahead of him: Nicklas Backstrom, Jamie Benn, Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Claude Giroux, Phil Kessel, Ovechkin, Tyler Seguin and John Tavares. I looked at the contracts involved to find comparables. Throw out Crosby and Ovechkin, because he’s not going that high. Throw out Backstrom, Benn, Seguin and Tavares, because those players had several years of restricted free agency remaining, unlike Voracek. That leaves Getzlaf, Giroux and Kessel who signed on the cusp of freedom. AAVs are $8M for Kessel, $8.25M for Getzlaf and $8.275 for Giroux. Is Philly going to go there? Is Voracek? At the very least, you have to think his number starts with a 7. — Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet.

That’s a lot of money to lock up in one player. But if you look at his production, his age (he’s 25) and his ability to be a tiny shred of light in Philadelphia’s recent dark and tumultuous seasons than you have to believe that Voracek will be rolling in the dough.

It isn’t just the money that will put some strain on the Flyers, but also the years. You can’t expect that the Flyers are going to give him anything less than six years. Again, Voracek is 25 and you want to lock him up long-term in his prime. If you can, you want to lock them up until you know they are going to dry out because it always gets a little awkward when a player is north of the age you want him to be (do you offer him a one or two-year deal or just cut him loose?).

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Is Voracek worth that much? Like I’ve said before I hate commenting on what a player is worth, but if I were Hextall and would do everything in my power to lock him up. I mean, he became only the ninth Flyers player and first in 17 years to be named to an NHL First Team All-Star. That says a lot about Voracek’s skill and how desperate the Flyers are to have players like him.

Overall, Voracek is one heck of a hockey player and he acted as a catalyst for the Flyers all season. Not to mention, since the 2012-13 lockout ended, there have been exactly zero wingers in the NHL with more assists than Voracek, and only two wingers with more total points.

He’s got raw talent and his ego is still in check.

Voracek told CSN Philly: “I had one good season. It doesn’t end for me. Nothing changes. I will work hard this summer.”

He’s going to get a deal that he is worth. And that means big money, multiple years.

I am fearful of most long-term deals, when talking about a sport with a salary cap. They often don’t work out or they work out for a bit and things just start to go awry. But Voracek is young enough that even an eight-year deal will only see him through until he is 33 years old. Sure, as players get older their production declines, but Patrick Sharp is 33 and look what he has been able to do.

There are two things I know for certain when it comes to Voracek: he is an elite hockey player and Philadelphia needs him if they want to improve.