UPDATE: 6:50 p.m. ET
Well, that was short-lived.
Less than two hours after the Flyers were reported to have interested in Brodie, it was reported that the defenseman signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs
TJ Brodie to TOR
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2020
It is a four-year, $20 million contract, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Brodie is 4x$5M
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2020
That may have been a bit too rich and perhaps a year or two too long for Chuck Fletcher with Travis Sanheim and Philippe Myers needing to get paid within the next few years.
It also contains a no-movement clause, which could have been a dealbreaker.
Brodie would’ve been a good fit for the Flyers, but now they’ll have to look elsewhere. The trio of Pietrangelo, Krug, and Barrie are still out there, but the Flyers may elect for a cheaper option.
Day 1 of free agency has been a relatively quiet one, especially for the Philadelphia Flyers. Chuck Fletcher has yet to make a move in free agency, but that could change soon.
The Flyers are among the teams interested in defenseman T.J. Brodie, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Per @FriedgeHNIC, the Flyers are among the teams in on TJ Brodie. The fit makes sense in terms of him being a right-side D (though a left-handed shooter) who plays 20+ mins a night, kills penalties, skates well and moves the puck.
— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) October 9, 2020
Brodie is a left-handed defenseman that is comfortable playing on the right side. He could be a great fit to fill the void left by Matt Niskanen retiring.
Brodie has been a top-four defenseman throughout his career with the Calgary Flames. He has averaged over 20 minutes per game in each of his eight full seasons, including an average of 24:21 per game from 2013 through 2018. He played 20:27 per game last season and 21:28 per game in the 2018-19 season.
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Three routes the Flyers can take to replace Matt Niskanen
The 30-year-old defenseman would bring skill and a great veteran presence to a young defense, which the Flyers are missing without Niskanen. Brodie had a down season with just 19 points (four goals) in 64 games, but he still has the ability to produce. Most importantly, he can eat up at least 20 minutes a night and play in all situations. That’s one of the most important qualities that the Flyers should be looking for if they bring in another defenseman.
The defensemen market has been one of the more active ones so far in free agency. Kevin Shattenkirk, a potential Flyers target, signed with the Anaheim Ducks on a three-year contract with a $3.9 million AAV. Jack Johnson also found a new home with the New York Rangers. Justin Schultz (two years, $4 million AAV with Washington) and Radko Gudas (three years, $3 million AAV with Florida) have also signed.
Alex Pietrangelo, Torey Krug, and Tyson Barrie are all still available, but their price tag will likely be too high for the Flyers’ liking. Brodie, on the other hand, is coming off of a $4.65 million AAV contract and could fit under the cap a bit easier.
It’s been a quiet start to free agency, but all it takes is one domino to fall and the rest could follow. Keep an eye on Brodie as free agency continues throughout the weekend.
TJ Brodie to TOR
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2020
