Flyers’ Star Travis Konecny Signs $70 Million Deal: Pros and Cons

The Philadelphia Flyers locked up star right winger Travis Konecny on Thursday, signing him to an eight-year, $70-million extension that carries an annual cap hit of $8.75 million.

GM Danny Briere called the fiery Konecny “an integral part of the fabric of our team, and we are thrilled to have him under contract for the long term.”

Konecny, 27, has one year remaining on a six-year deal he signed in 2019, one that has an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.

The two-time All-Star collected 68 points, including a career-high 33 goals, in 76 games last season. He led the NHL with six shorthanded goals.

“I couldn’t be happier to sign again with the Flyers,” said Konecny “There’s such a bright and exciting future with this team and I can’t wait to be a part of it for the next nine years and see what we will accomplish.”

In a Zoom call with the media after the signing, Konecny said he “just wanted to get this (deal) over. There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a Flyer for life. In what we’ve been working toward — and what I believe this team can be — this is where I wanted to be. It was pretty easy for me to make the decision that I was going to stay here as long as possible.”

Konecny said he and his family “enjoy where we’re at” and “how we are treated” in Philadelphia, and that made him not want to test free agency next year. He said his goal is to one day win the Stanley Cup, “and it wouldn’t feel like an accomplishment unless it was with the Flyers and the team that believed in me. And I just wanted to show the same respect. I believe in the Flyers as well. I’m in for the long haul and really excited for the next chapter here and see what we can do.”

Here are some quick pros and cons of the deal: