Coburn denies report about contract
Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn denied a report from earlier this week that him and his agent declined a Flyers offer for an extension and were opting to wait until after the season.
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Braydon Coburn said he was surprised to hear about a report earlier this week that said his agent declined to negotiate a contract extension with the Flyers this season.
The report said Coburn, due to be a restricted free agent this offseason, declined a Flyers offer and chose to wait until after the Flyers' season was over to focus on a new deal.
"I don't know where you heard that," Coburn said. "I don't think my agent and [Paul Holmgren] have discussed a contract at all this year. I'm a restricted free agent, so I'm Flyers' property.
"If it is true, it wasn't run by me. I don't know anything about it."
Since Lukas Krajicek joined the Flyers on Feb. 1, Coburn's ice time dropped nearly five minutes per game for the next 18 games. Since March 21, Coburn is closer to the 22 minutes per game he was playing before Krajicek's signing.
With six games left, Coburn is on pace for his worst season as a Flyer with 5 goals and 18 points, compared to the 36 points he posted two seasons ago. He is also a minus-6 this season compared to the combined plus-24 he was over the last two years.
Coburn, 25, is eligible for salary arbitration with more than four years of NHL service. He earns $1.3 million this season.
ALSO: Scott Hartnell will play tonight against the Islanders, according to Peter Laviolette. Hartnell missed the Flyers' practice on Wednesday for personal reasons but participated in this morning's pre-game skate … Ryan Parent will be a healthy scratch … Riley Cote will remain in the lineup.
FAST FACT: The Flyers have a 15-game winning streak over the Islanders. Former Flyers goalie Marty Biron, who will start tonight for New York, is 9-3-0 in those games (9-0 as a Flyer, 0-3 as an Islander).
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).