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Flyers sign Brayden Schenn, avoid arbitration

At first, it seemed the Flyers and Brayden Schenn were heading to arbitration Monday morning. But all of a sudden, general manager Ron Hextall surprisingly announced a new four-year contract for the 24-year-old forward.

Forward Brayden Schenn and the Flyers avoided salary arbitration at the last instant Monday morning.

The Flyers blinked before the hearing, giving Schenn a four-year deal worth a reported $5.15 million per season.

Schenn now has the fourth-highest cap hit on the Flyers, behind Claude Giroux ($8.275 million per season), Jake Voracek ($8.25 million) and Mark Streit ($5.25 million).

"To sign on for four years shows their confidence in me as a player," Schenn said.

Schenn, who will miss the first three games of the coming season because of a league-mandated suspension, had wanted $5.5 million for a one-year deal, while the Flyers reportedly countered with a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $4.31 million.

General manger Ron Hextall said he wasn't concerned about going to arbitration with Schenn, and he called it a "market deal."

Said Hextall: "We had a range. and in the end our range was close to what Brayden's camp felt the range was."

Schenn said he was "extremely happy" to get the deal done. "I don't think anyone wants to go through the arbitration process," he said.

Last season, Schenn set personal bests in goals (26) and assists (33). In three full season with the Flyers, Schenn has averaged about 21 goals and 49 points per year. He will turn 25 next month.

"Brayden has been a good player," Hextall said. "Top-six forwards are hard to find and there's a premium to pay. There's no question we paid a premium for a top-six forward who's 24 years old and essentially coming into his prime."

The Flyers next will try to sign defenseman Brandon Manning before his Aug. 2 arbitration hearing.

The Flyers were hoping to get Schenn signed to a deal in the Sean Couturier range. Last summer, Couturier signed a six-year extension with an annual cap hit of $4.33 million.

By the way, a street was named after Couturier over the weekend in his hometown of Bathurst, New Brunswick.

scarchidi@phillynews.com @BroadStBull