with limited cap space what will the flyers do?

Briere, the team's manager, will need to maintain a laser focus in order to create cap space, while also ensuring that the right players are signed to keep the team on track towards its goals. Given the limited increase in the salary cap, teams will need to exercise fiscal responsibility until cap growth outpaces previous losses.

In order to sign and retain the right RFA's, Briere will need to trade upcoming UFA's to alleviate cap troubles. Trading Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo could help move the process forward.

The RFAs that Briere should focus on are Cam York, Morgan Frost, and Noah Cates. Morgan Frost had a great season on a prove-it deal, scoring 69 points with an average of 16:10 TOI. He is setting himself up for success and could be an excellent 2C to Sean Courturier's 1C. A term deal of 4X $4 million would not be unreasonable.

Noah Cates is a good 2-way option who earned respectable ice time as a youngster. Although slow to pick up the offense, he put up a solid 47 points for the season. Cates could land a bridge or long-term deal, depending on Briere's conservative approach. He could end up being a cheap 3C option costing $2-$3 million.

Lastly, Cam York, the new defenseman on the block, could arguably be the second-best defenseman after Ivan Provorov. He made the jump from AHL to NHL in December and was utilized on the power-play, penalty kill, and averaged 20:00 TOI. He was also a top pair with Provy. It's hard to tell how much term is offered, but he could end up with an AAV from $2-$3 million to $4.5 million.

All these contracts combined would amount to $10-$15 million, and Briere will need to shed cap by starting with the UFA's, and trimming down until he has a new core.