Voracek's cap comparables

As we pointed out in today's Daily News, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has begun meeting with player agent Petr Svoboda, who negotiates on behalf of both Jaromir Jagr and Jakub Voracek.

Voracek's negotiations seem to be the most tricky.

Voracek, 22, is on pace to match a career-high of 50 points. He has 7 goals and 20 assists for 27 points through 44 games, which projects him out to hit 13 goals and 37 assists over a full 82.

He makes $2.25 million this season in a one-year deal.

JAKUB VORACEK
Age: 22 Position: RW
Height: 6-2 Weight: 214
Birthplace: Kladno, Czech Republic (Aug. 15, 1989)
Pedigree: No. 7 overall pick by Columbus in 2007 NHL Draft
International: 2010 & 2011 World Championships, 2009 World Junior Championships

So, where exactly does 50 points in a season put you? Last year, it would have tied you for 91st in the league.

What does the future hold? Let's go through and look at some of Voracek's salary cap comparables:

Blake Wheeler – 25 y/o, 1st round (5th overall) 2004, 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
  2008-09: BOS 81 GP, 21 G + 24 A = 45 points
  2009-10: BOS 82 GP, 18 G + 20 A = 38 points
  ---- 1-year deal with Atlanta: $2.2 million ----
  2010-11: BOS/ATL 81 GP, 18 G + 26 A = 41 points
  ---- 2-year deal with Winnipeg: $5.1 million ----
  Pro: Better goal-scorer
  Con: Less consistent, never hit 50-point plateau, averaged 41.3 points per season

Sam Gagner – 22 y/o, 1st round (6th overall) 2007, 5-foot-11, 191 pounds
  2007-08: EDM 79 GP, 13 G + 36 A = 49 points
  2008-09: EDM 76 GP, 16 G + 25 A = 41 points
  2009-10: EDM 68 GP, 15 G + 26 A = 41 points
  ---- 2-year deal with Edmonton: $4.550 million / $2.275 million per season ----
  2010-11: EDM 68 GP, 15 G + 27 A = 42 points
  Pro: Smaller, played on terrible Edmonton teams, similar goal/assist ratio
  Con: Missed decent chunk of season twice

Brooks Laich – 28 y/o 6th round (193rd overall) 2001, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds
  2008-09: WSH 82 GP, 23 G + 30 A = 53 points
  2009-10: WSH 78 GP, 25 G + 34 A = 59 points
  2010-11: WSH 82 GP, 16 G + 32 A = 48 points
  ---- 6-year deal with Washington: $27 million / $4.5 million per season ----
  Pro: Last season (contract year) will be pretty comparable
  Con: Two different playing styles, Laich may be more of a grinder

Ville Leino – 28 y/o, Undrafted, 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
  2008-09: DET 13 GP, 5 G + 4 A = 9 points
  2009-10: DET / PHI 55 GP, 6 G + 5 A = 11 points
                Playoffs: PHI 19 GP, 7 G + 14 A = 21 points
  2010-11: PHI 81 GP, 19 G + 34 A = 53 points
  ---- 6-year deal with Buffalo: $27 million / $4.5 million per season ----
  Pro: Both players pass-first mentality
  Con: Two different playing styles, Voracek more physical, Leino limited sample size

Most interesting, though, is how the Voracek camp will go after the precedent set by the Flyers themselves with James van Riemsdyk's 6-year, $25.5 million deal which will pay him $4.25 million per season starting next year. Van Riemsdyk's deal is almost entirely based on a dominating, 11-game run in the playoffs. Van Riemsdyk has not come within 10 points of Voracek's season high, the two are the same age and were drafted within 5 spots of each other in 2007.

James van Riemsdyk – 22 y/o, 1st round (2nd overall) 2007, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds
  2009-10: PHI 78 GP, 15 G + 20 A = 35 points
                Playoffs PHI 21 GP, 3 G + 3 A = 6 points
  2010-11: PHI 75 GP, 21 G + 19 A = 40 points
                Playoffs PHI 11 GP, 7 G + 0 A = 7 points
  ---- 6-year extension with Philadelphia: $25.5 million / $4.25 million per season ----

Stay tuned. This should be very interesting.

ALSO INTERESTING: Jaromir Jagr, who re-iterated on Wednesday he'd rather wait until the season is over to decide his future plans, was named one of six players who would be most affected by another NHL work stoppage. Jagr joined fellow old heads Nicklas Lidstrom, Tim Thomas, Martin Brodeur, Teemu Selanne and Ray Whitney on the ESPN.com list (link warning: behind a paywall).

For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers