The Flyers announced today that they have extended a pro-tryout offer to center Michael Nylander. Nylander will turn 39 in October and is coming off a spinal injury from last year.
According to Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly, general manager Paul Holmgren’s interest in Nylander is to see if he still has chemistry with offseason acquisition Jaromir Jagr. The two were linemates on the New York Rangers in the 2006-07 season, when Nylander put up 26 goals and 57 assists.
Nylander spent the next two seasons with the Washington Capitals, where he put up 37 and 33 points, respectively. The combination of reduced output and age led him to sign in the AHL the following two years.
There is no downside to extending a tryout offer to Nylander, but I would not have any high expectations of him making the big club. For starters, there are questions about the long term durability of a 39 year-old Jagr, and he’s Jagr. Nylander is coming off of a very serious injury and hasn’t played in the NHL in two years.
Second, Nylander is a center. If the expectation is that he would play with Jagr, Laviolette would have to force JVR and Giroux into third line checking roles, which is not an apt use of their abilities. He could center the third line if the organization wanted to take pressure off of Brayden Schenn in his rookie year, but there are healthier and younger options in that scenario.
Third, the Flyers are still at the maximum 50-contract limit and would have to move another player to sign him.
It would be advantageous, however, if the organization signed him to an AHL only contract, as he could provide ample veteran experience and leadership to a young Phantoms team. This is the second most probable scenario behind him simply not getting any offer in September.
Then again, stranger things have happened.
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39 Years old coming off a Spinal INjury last year.. C’Mon, Holmgrem, you can’t find any other depth out of the 2000 Hockey players out there…
I am down grading the Flyers Point total to 38-31-13 to 89 Points and a 6th pace Finish and a 1st Round Playoff Exit to the rival Penguins..
I like it as the low-risk, high-reward signing it is if he can return to 2007 form. If not, he’s gone. If he does, he’ll put up points and be another veteran leader on our team. Let’s see if he can put in the work.
“return back to 2007 form” .. That’s an internity in Sports, Boyer..
should have been “eternity”.. and beyond..
I don’t know where you’re going with this Paulman, but anyway…
It is a stretch to say he’ll be ready for an 82+ game schedule. I think this move is more about paying lip service to Jagr and showing commitment to his comeback. There are younger, healthier options than Nylander as depth signings- John Madden and Kyle Wellwood come to mind.
Do the FLyers now have to appease Jagr and sign his aging buddies to play with him.. I don’t like the signing of Jagr one bit and I bet this move comes back to haunt them and creates a fractured locker room because of it.. It will be difficult for Pronger to be the Captain and assume leadership over the squad if he’s hurt and missing a lot of games which I expect that he probably will the case the 1st half of the Season… Time will tell..