The Flyers have finally entered into the free agent frenzy by inking Derrick Pouliot to a one-year contract worth $700K.
It’s a two-way deal for the former first-round pick, who has bounced around since the Penguins made him the eighth overall pick way back in 2012.
Former Penguins prospect, 26 years old. Flyers wanted organizational depth on defense and Pouliot provides it. Feels like an Andy Welinski replacement here. https://t.co/nSTOtEzhKx
— Charlie O’Connor (@charlieo_conn) October 9, 2020
Pouliot spent last season in the Blues organization, playing in just two games in late November, but was one of the higher-scoring defensemen in the AHL this year with 39 points in just 58 games for the San Antonio Rampage.
The 26-year-old spent the prior two season with the Canucks, playing in 133 games and registered 34 points in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Given the two-way nature of the contract, it’s likely that the former top prospect spends the bulk of his time with the Flyers in the American Hockey League with the Phantoms — as noted by friend of the program Charlie O’Connor of the Athletic. If that’s indeed the case, Pouliot will make $425K in the minors in a depth role for the organization as CapFriendly notes.
Derrick Pouliot #Flyers
1 year / 2-way deal
NHL: $700,000
Minor: $425,000https://t.co/tj1UiOUyxN pic.twitter.com/ujr3rTgWbA— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 9, 2020
Surely not the big move that Flyers fans have expected on the opening day of free agency, but at least we know the front office is, indeed, alive. Doesn’t help that the Pouliot news trickled in right after T.J. Brodie was announced as signing in Toronto, a much more palatable target for the Flyers defense.
More to come on Free Agent Frenzy 2020, so stay tuned in her at BroadStreetHockey.com for the all latest Flyers news and notes.
