Showing one bad season doesn’t define the value of a player, the Philadelphia Flyers locked up goaltender Carter Hart for three more years on Monday. The organization announced that he’d come to terms on a deal that will pay him $3.979 million per season, a bit of a nod to his jersey number.
Related: The Blue Jackets Trade Cam Atkinson to Flyers for Jakub Voracek
The Hart deal breaks down as:
- 3 yrs, $11.937m ($3.979m AAV)
- 21-22: $3.2m ($279k SB)
- 22-23: $3.6m ($379k SB)
- 23-24: $4.479m (no SB)
Hart appeared in 27 games, (25 starts) last season and posted a 9-11-5 record to go along with a 3.67 goals-against average and .877 save percentage. It was a low mark in his still short, but impressive career. While he struggled for the first time, he’s still an incredible goaltender who at the age of 22 is going to provide full value at that number.
He was in net behind the worst defensive coverage in the NHL in 2021-22 and the Flyers made full sweeping changes to their blue line this offseason as a result. The full expectation is that the Flyers will bounce back, as will Hart who over parts of three seasons with the Flyers has posted a 49-37-9 record with two shutouts and a 2.88 GAA and .905 sv. pct. in 101 games played.
The fact that Hart in a position to sign a contract like this at the age of 22 tells you all you need to know about how he’s been received by the Flyers since joining the NHL and bursting onto the scene in 2018. This contract reflects the fact the organization has not lost confidence in the player despite it coming on the heels of one terrible season.
Hart was an RFA and will be celebrating his 23rd birthday on Friday. From Sherwood Park, Alta., Hart was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the Flyers in 2016.
Next: Bruins Willing to Trade Two Pieces for Help at Center
Pingback: Insider Suggests Rangers Likely to Trade Zibanejad as Part of Eichel Deal – Hockey 1 on 1