Voracek signs 4-year extension
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Voracek signs 4-year extension
On Wednesday, Paul Holmgren said it was “only a matter of time” before the Flyers were able to re-sign forward Jake Voracek.
He wasn’t kidding. It took less than 24 hours.
On Thursday, the Flyers signed Voracek to a massive 4-year, $17 million extension. He will carry an annual salary cap hit of $4.25 million, a substantial raise from the $2.25 million he earned last season, his first with the Flyers.
While that may seem like a decent chunk of change up front, the Flyers are banking on Voracek’s untapped potential toward the end of the deal.
Voracek, who turns 23 on Aug. 15, could put up a staggering number of points on the Flyers’ top line with Claude Giroux, which is where Holmgren expects he’ll skate this year.
Plus, his contract is very comparable to some of the deals signed recently. Florida locked up Kris Versteeg, who is 4 years older, to a 4-year deal at $4.4 million per year. St. Louis signed T.J. Oshie, who is 2 years older, to a 5-year deal at $4.175 million per year. Voracek’s stats are nearly identical to both - and he spent the first 3 years of his career on a brutally inept Columbus team.
Voracek has missed just 9 games over his first 4 years in the league. He netted a career-high 18 goals with the Flyers last year, just missing out on tying a career-high of 50 points. He also posted a career-high 190 shots on goal and tied a career-high plus/minus at plus-11. Interestingly, all 18 of Voracek’s goals came at even-strength.
Undoubtedly, Jaromir Jagr helped Voracek immensely in adjusting to Philadelphia. Voracek grew up idolizing Jagr in their shared hometown of Kladno, Czech Republic, and the two spent quite a bit of time together.
Now, Voracek will be counted on to replace his countryman in a big way. And he has the cash to prove it.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
Good move, he is a good young player.— Paul SoTX- Great skater and a high energy guy. If he had a more accurate shot he would be a star.— Vituperator
- Great move. Happy to finally see a deal done. He is already a good player and has the potential to be truly great.— jpatt6
- Excellent move, Paul Holmgren is a great GM. It has been a disappointing off-season but not from lack of effort. I feel like the Flyers are in good hands for many years to come. I really appreciate his efforts and the people assisting him in those efforts.— feudal_nobility09
- Works for me...
— 7xChamp - I wish he can improve his shot. If he does he will score 30/30— Nitroglycerin
- Nice signing and about time the $$ a little more than I thought but 4 years is good. Now let him play with Giroux and see him score 25 goals and 65-80 points this coming season if the CBA gets done before Sept 25th.— srcdaddy1216
- Good signing. He's only 22 and should improve. Playing with Giroux will help that happen.— NYluvsPhylers
- Well said feudal_nobility09— iggles23
- It's about time. The only consistent offense Philly had in the Jersey series came after "Lavy" finally pulled the boat-anchor Jagr off of the Giroux line and replaced him with Voracek. Once those two develop some chemistry, they could be fun to watch.— icarus
- Absolutely one of my favorite players since bouncing back (almost immediately) after getting destroyed by Kronwall.— Mike Boryla
- great move, id rather the flyers extend their young players than waste millions on FAs then be unable to retain their youth— HDemetriou
- We still a goaltender.— farley
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