Jakub Voracek, Flyers Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced they have signed Jakub Voracek to a 8-year, $66 million dollar contract extension.

TSN reported the deal is worth $66 million US over eight seasons, with an annual cap hit of $8.25 million. He exploded last season, racking up a career-best 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists), good for fifth best in the National Hockey League.

Last season was a significant upswing in Voracek’s seven-year career, the first three of which were spent with the Columbus Blue Jackets before the Flyers traded for him in 2011.

As mentioned by NHL.com’s Pete Jensen, Voracek was one of five players with 40 or more even-strength points and 30 or more power play points last season. Voracek managed to coax goals out of his teammates every time he stepped out onto the ice, and his goal scoring ability coupled with that playmaking value to give him an elite air about his game.

Jakub Voracek signed a long-term contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Philadelphia Flyers are looking at the future with this contract.

The other major part of the Flyers’ return for Carter was a top-10 pick that the team used to select forward Sean Couturier.

Of course, this is the final season of a four year deal for Voracek, during which he made a cap hit of $4.25 million – so fans will expect to see his production maintain itself next year, if not improve a bit, in order to justify such a hefty deal. “The Jake Voraceks of the world are few and far between and he’s certainly not a player that we’re willing to take the risk of losing”. Voracek will be 26 in August, and thus is in the prime of his career. The Flyers are paying him to stay there, perhaps the paycheck finally proving he belongs.