Analyzing The Value Of The Travis Konecny Contract Extension

The Philadelphia Flyers announced an agreement with Travis Konecny on an eight-year contract extension. The deal is worth $70 million, an $8.75 million average annual value (AAV). Konecny has led the Flyers in scoring in three consecutive seasons. He’ll turn 36 three months before the contract expires in 2033. Travis Konecny: The Best Player On The Flyers Konecny has spent all eight of his NHL seasons with the Flyers. He broke out in 2019-20 before somewhat of a downturn toward the end of Alain Vigneault’s tenure as head coach. Related Content: The Real Appeal of Matvei Michkov For Flyers Fans He’s reached the level the Flyers expected when they spent the 24th-overall pick on him in 2015. His dynamic ability on the penalty kill and on the rush helped the Flyers develop a strong transition offense that kept them in the playoff hunt until the final game of the 2023-24 season.  Keith Jones spoke on Philly Sports Tonight about Konecny’s value to the organization. “I love Travis Konecny. Anyone who followed me when I was doing games would understand the appreciation I have for Travis. I think he’s a big part of what we do here. He’s a Flyer. He has Flyer blood in him. That’s not something that you find all the time, so we have to be careful with that one. He’s going to be a good leader from Matvei (Michkov) to learn from as well.” -Keith Jones on 97.5 The Fanatic A Value Contract? A quick glance at the new deal for Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers makes Konecny’s contract look like an overpay. Reinhart signed an eight-year deal worth $69 million ($8.625 million AAV) after scoring 57 goals in 2023-24. He added 10 more postseason goals on the way to a Stanley Cup. Konecny scored a career high 33 goals during the 2023-24 regular season. However, an underpay in Florida doesn’t equate to an overpay in Philadelphia. Timo Meier signed with the New Jersey Devils on an eight-year deal with an $8.8 million AAV in 2023 at age 26 with offensive numbers comparable to Konecny’s. https://twitter.com/ToNewbyginnings/status/1781349107052765685 Briere operated during the 2024 offseason with a tight budget handcuffed by the lucrative money on the books for players who won’t contribute at the NHL level in 2024-25. The front office expects increasing flexibility the next two offseasons, however. The NHL salary cap also rose $4.5 million this offseason, and it’ll likely rise continually before Konecny’s deal ends in 2033. Players of Konecny’s caliber will likely earn more than $8.75 million in AAV by the third or fourth season of his deal. "Flyer Blood" Keith Jones emphasized the notion of “Flyer blood” in Konecny’s veins during the exclusive interview with Kevin Cooney. Danny Briere, John Tortorella, and other members of the organization have also sung the praises of their alternate captain. They value the intensity and competitive spirit he brings to the locker room for a rebuilding team establishing a new culture. They have also extended Garnet Hathaway and Nick Seeler with a heavy focus on their intangible contributions as part of what it means to be a Flyer. Commitments to the two veteran role players won’t define the organization’s rebuild. Konecny’s contract could. The prime years of the deal probably won’t come during a window of Stanley Cup contention. Many high-priced wingers don’t justify their contract value on the back end of major contracts. The Flyers decided to secure their current best player with heavy consideration to the organizational culture they’re building. They waived the concern about a potential salary cap albatross years down the road. Did they lock up a key contributor with a reasonable contract value? Yes. Did they make a move in the best interests of their long-term Stanley Cup contention? Konecny will have to provide considerable intangible value in the early years of his contract to enable younger players to lead the Flyers to a Stanley Cup well after the typical prime age of an NHL player. Download the 97.5 The Fanatic app to hear Tim Saunders and Todd Fedoruk on the flagship radio broadcast of the Philadelphia Flyers.