As GMs around the league prepare for a busy week of moves, the Philadelphia Flyers will have a sudden need for a new right-shot defenceman to fit into their top four.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, 33-year-old blueliner Matt Niskanen is retiring after 13 seasons in the league.
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1313173193876701184
He had one year left on a contract that counted for $5.75 million against the cap, so while Philadelphia now will have to fill Niskanen’s place, they’ll also have that full cap amount opened up. Without Niskanen on the books, the Flyers would have about $10.5 million in cap room.
Drafted 28th overall in the 2005 draft, Niskanen played four seasons with Dallas, parts of four seasons with Pittsburgh, five seasons with Washington, and one with Philadelphia, who acquired him in a trade for Radko Gudas last summer.
Niskanen will walk away with 949 games played, 72 goals, 356 points, and one Stanley Cup championship.
In 2019-20, Niskanen averaged 21:54 of ice time per game, which was second on the Flyers, and his 33 points in 68 games ranked second among all defencemen on the team.
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