The Philadelphia Flyers have dealt with a pair of restricted free agents, signing German Rubtsov and Linus Sandin to new one-year, two-way contracts. Both deals will carry an NHL salary of $750K.
Rubtsov, 22, was the team’s first-round pick in 2016 but has just four games to his name in the NHL so far. This season he played for Sochi in the KHL, recording just three goals and 11 points. That’s a far cry from the player the team thought they were getting 22nd overall, but even if Rubtsov doesn’t score as much as originally expected, he could potentially still be a useful bottom-six piece.
His entry-level contract was set to expire this summer, meaning he was an RFA without arbitration rights. A minimum salary two-way deal was basically all he was ever going to get until he shows that he can be a reliable piece in the NHL.
Sandin on the other hand was an undrafted free agent signing last spring, inked out of the SHL after an excellent 2019-20 season. The 25-year-old split time this year between Sweden and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but didn’t make his NHL debut. In 26 AHL games, he scored six goals and ten points.
Incredible. Turns around the Flyers. Great use of limited cap space. Wow!!
Two-way contracts take $0 cap space unless they are in the NHL. This literally does nothing to the main roster, just keeps prospects from leaving for nothing.