R.J. Umberger’s time in Philadelphia is up.
On Thursday, Flyers GM Ron Hextall confirmed the expected -- the club will buy out the final year of Umberger’s five-year, $23 million deal -- one that carries a $4.6M average annual cap hit.
This is what the buyout would look like, per Cap Friendly:
The Flyers would rake in short-term gains (saving $3 million in 2016-17) in exchange for eating costs and spreading a $3.1 million cap hit over two seasons ($1.6 million in 2016-17, $1.5 million in 2017-18).
Hextall said he isn't second-guessing himself on Umberger-Hartnell trade...said the Flyers needed the "space."
— wayne fish (@waynefish1) June 16, 2016
This could be it for the 34-year-old veteran.
Umberger was a bit player in Philly last year, dressing for just 39 games (though he did have decent production, with 11 points). Umberger’s production has been on a steady decline over the last few seasons, and he’s a long ways away from the 20-25 goal, 50-55 point guy he was earlier in his career.
The cap space gained by the Flyers will presumably help them come to terms with RFAs like Brayden Schenn, Radko Gudas and Nick Cousins this summer.