Flyers deal Zac Rinaldo, extend Chris VandeVelde

RON HEXTALL has been a busy man since Friday. The Flyers general manager, many say, was one of the biggest winners of the NHL draft. The team entered the weekend with around $2 million in cap space and, after unloading Nicklas Grossmann and Chris Pronger's contract to Arizona, flew home from Sunrise, Fla., with more than $6 million in space.

The weekend's momentum carried right into yesterday as the Flyers dealt spunky winger Zac Rinaldo to Boston for a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. Rinaldo, a sixth-round pick in 2008, had two years left on his deal with an average cap hit of $850,000.

Rinaldo, 25, had only one goal and five assists in 58 games last season. During his five seasons in Philadelphia, Rinaldo became more known for his penalties and suspensions than his production on the ice.

"Nothing but LOVE & RESPECT for the Flyer fans, for the city of Philadelphia and for the Flyers organization," Rinaldo tweeted yesterday evening. "Philadelphia showed nothing but love when I was there. Will miss it"

But Hextall's day wasn't done. The Flyers last night re-signed Chris VandeVelde to a two-year extension with a reported annual average value of just over $700,000 against the cap. VandeVelde, a 6-2 center, played for four seasons under new Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol at the University of North Dakota. He had nine goals and six assists in 79 games last season.

Trading Rinaldo and getting VandeVelde back on the books brings the Flyers' cap space to around $6.5 million - the salary cap is $71.4 million next season - with free agency set to begin tomorrow.

Defenseman Michael Del Zotto, a restricted free agent, was sent a qualifying offer from the Flyers for the established minimum of $1.3 million for a year. The team is hopeful for a multiyear deal.

The Flyers have until 5 p.m. today to decide whether to buy out the contract of Sam Gagner, who was acquired Saturday from Arizona in exchange for Pronger and Grossmann.

Once a highly regarded prospect, Gagner, 25, has failed to produce at the level he was expected to, but his 41 points were good enough to tie for second on the Coyotes last season. He's played all three forward positions and would play wing - a position the Flyers need - if the Flyers keep him.

If the Flyers buy out Gagner, who has a cap hit of $3.3 million in the final year of his contract, the team would have more than $9 million to play with in free agency. Hextall said the week before the draft that his goal in free agency is to get a skilled forward. Gagner, who turns 26 in August, could fill that role.