Schenn suspended for 3 games — next year

Flyers forward Brayden Schenn had a career year, but next season already has started off on the wrong skate.

Schenn was suspended for three games at the start of next season for charging into Washington's T.J. Oshie in Game 6 on Sunday, the NHL announced on Tuesday. The 1-0 playoff loss ended the Flyers' season.

"I know they were obviously watching me close in that series," said Schenn, who got away with a cross-check to the back of Evgeny Kuznetsov's leg in Game 4. "To be honest, I didn't even know I hit Oshie in the head. It wasn't the initial point of contact. I did hit him in the shoulder first and then hit his head after."

Schenn was not assessed penalties for the hits on Kuznetsov or Oshie. After the Kuznetsov incident, the Capitals sent a video of the play to the league office.

Before the decision was announced, Schenn said, "Hopefully nothing comes out of it and I get a warning and learn from hits like this so they don't happen again."

Instead, the Flyers, who have gotten off to slow starts in recent seasons, will begin the 2016-17 campaign without one of their top scorers.

The versatile forward scored a personal-best 26 goals this season and was one of the Flyers' most physical forwards, playing a key role in helping the team reach the playoffs.

"I think I've come a long way and I still feel like I can get better and will get better," Schenn said after he and his teammates cleaned out their lockers at their Voorhees practice facility and had exit interviews with coach Dave Hakstol and general manager Ron Hextall. "I finally felt this year like I had to be one of our go-to guys or one of the guys who tried to get the job done each night."

Now he is about to get his payday.

A restricted free agent, Schenn, 24, said he loves the team's future and wants to sign a long-term deal.

"I like it here," he said. "I think moving forward, if you look at what's coming up and what we did this year … we were able to get into the playoffs … and feel that playoff rush. I think next year will even be better. A good start would go a long way and I think year by year you're going to see a better Flyers team."

Waiting to sign a contract, it turned out, worked in Schenn's favor because of his career-high 59 points and his impressive play at three positions — center, left wing and right wing.

"You hope so, anyway," he said of delaying negotiations. "I've said it all along; it wasn't my idea that there hasn't been talks since Day 1 of the season. I guess that's what the summer is for and I guess we'll see what happens after that."

Schenn said he was "lucky enough to get a good opportunity" from rookie coach Dave Hakstol. "He let me play and gave me an opportunity to play with great players and I feel like I had a good year."

Based on the fact that second-line center Sean Couturier received a six-year, $26 million extension last July (with an annual $4.33 million salary-cap hit), Schenn figures to earn between $4.5 million and $5 million per season.

"You want to be here long-term," Schenn said. "I believe in this team. I believe in the guys in that locker room. I guess we'll see what happens, see how it plays out. I've been here for, jeez, five years now. If they want to go long-term with me, obviously I want to be a part of this team."

He just won't be there for the first three games.

Contract matters

Restricted free agents Nick Cousins, Radko Gudas (304 hits, tops among NHL defensemen) and Brandon Manning are also expected to return. As for their own unrestricted free agents, the Flyer probably will try to re-sign right winger Ryan White — who chipped in with 11 goals and led the team's forwards with 211 hits — but are not expected to re-sign Sam Gagner or Evgeny Medvedev.

In a roundabout way, fourth-line center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare campaigned for White, who, along with Chris VandeVelde, was one of his wingers.

"We had a great connection and a bond with each other," Bellemare said. "We hope \[White\] is going to be back because he's a big part of why our line was successful. If you take a piece out, it might work, it might not work."

White hinted he would take less money to remain here.

"How much is money worth as compared to being a Flyer and having opportunity?" he said.