In unexpected news, the Flyers have re-signed forward Garnet Hathaway to a two-year contract extension worth $4.8 million, the team announced Monday. It’s a slight raise for Hathaway, who has one season remaining on the two-year contract he signed last summer as a free agent for $2.35 million AAV.
Hathaway, who turns 33 in November, is now under contract through the 2026-27 season.
“Garnet has been an excellent addition to our team and we are very pleased to extend him to the Flyers for the next few seasons,” said general manager Daniel Brière in a press release. “His style of play and level of professionalism had a big effect on our group last season, and he embodies the standard that our team set out to build on and off the ice. »
Hathaway proved to be a valuable player for the Flyers last season, as one of the NHL leaders in hits while helping lead what was fourth in the league in penalty killing. He played in all 82 games, scoring seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points.
What makes this move a bit strange is that the Flyers are still rebuilding, so extending Hathaway until age 35 seems to contradict that. On the other hand, Briere has placed a high value on the Flyers’ team culture and obviously views Hathaway as someone who will contribute on and off the ice for a few more years.
