"We think he's got outstanding potential to become a very good player in this league," Holmgren said. "He's one of our core guys that we decided to lock up and keep him here a long time."

The Flyers did just that yesterday by signing the 24-year-old Lupul to a four-year extension, worth $17 million through the 2012-13 season.

Lupul will make $2.3 million this coming season. The extension has no effect on this year's cap, which the Flyers have nearly reached.

"The Flyers have put a big commitment in me and a lot of other young guys who have been locked up for years to come," Lupul said in a statement. "The way that we can kind of all continue to play and develop these relationships on and off the ice, it is pretty exciting."

In 56 regular-season games, the winger scored 46 points, with 20 goals. He missed 26 games with a myriad of injuries, including a spinal cord contusion caused by defenseman Derian Hatcher when the teammates collided during a game at Toronto.

But Lupul delivered perhaps the most important goal of the season, an overtime winner at Washington in Game 7 of the first round of the NHL playoffs.

"We're relying," Holmgren said, "on everything coming together for him."

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