The Philadelphia Flyers have signed left winger Dan Carcillo to a one-year contract, according to GM Paul Holmgren.  The deal is reportedly worth $1.075 million.  Carcillo filed for arbitration earlier this month, but avoided the process with this signing.  Teams and agents usually try to avoid arbitration hearings, as they can be unflattering for players when their flaws and past mistakes are made glaring.
For the time and money on the contract, this is a good move.  Carcillo showed under head coach Peter Laviolette that he may have a more offensive upside if he can keep his temper under control.  This past season, the 25 year-old agitator brought his total penalty minutes down from 254 to 207 and broke the 20-point mark for the second time in his career.  This deal gives Carcillo another year to mature and develop into a more offensive-minded player, rather than another goon.
Carcillo told CSN, “There’s a lot of things that you can work on.  I just want to make sure that I am always in control, that when I get on the ice I can be effective. I want to put more points up and score more goals, and that’s something I’m going to focus on more this year. And hopefully, I can help the team more this year.”
Unfortunately, this signing further pushes the Flyers over the salary cap.  They will need to shed at least $1.95 million before the start of the season (assuming Riley Cote is waived) and sign one more forward.  The Flyers currently have a qualifying offer for Darroll Powe on the table.
I hope they don’t lose D Powe for keeping Garcillo who is very limited…
powe will be back once they move a larger salary
He played half the season with Mike Richards. No wonder he had so many points. When you get benched for JVR in the Stanley Cup Finals, you know you have problems.
I hope P. Lav remains the coach here for many years, even if the team “falls in the ditch” next year. I’d rather see half the team shipped out than try to make a bunch of players who can’t motivate themselves hang around on the “good ole boy” payroll. Not saying a bunch need moving now… just saying this coach has proven himself here just as he did winning a cup at Carolina. He makes sound decisions and just knows how to win and light a fire in few who need it. He won’t accept dead wood without a heart and smarts for the tough going.
JVR hit a wall well before the playoffs. Going from playing at N.H. to the Cup finals against an extremely good team in one year is just too huge a jump except but for a few… he looked like a deer in the headlights. Needs to develop stamina, strength and mental toughness; he has the skills but will take a bit of time to fully develop.