Carter will be a Flyer for years to come, just give it time.


Tim Panaccio of the CSNPhilly.com reported Wednesday that talks between the Flyers and center Jeff Carter have taken an "upswing after weeks of slow but determined negotiations."

The Flyers want to re-sign Carter in-season before he becomes a restricted free agent on July 1, something the organization usually does with key players.

For example, general manager Paul Holmgren signed captain Mike Richards to his 12-year, $69 million deal during the 2007 season. Carter, who was the 11th overall pick in 2003 by the Flyers, will be seeking his third pro contract after his three-year, $15 million pact expires after this season.

On his current deal, Carter is lined up to make $5 million in 2010-11.

Any extension will likely have Carter earning anywhere in the range of $5-6 million. Carter will almost certainly ask for a raise from his current deal based on his offensive production in the last few years.

Over the past three seasons, the 25-year-old sniper has accumulated 108 goals and 198 points in 238 games with the Flyers. In 2008-09, the first year of his extension, Carter potted 46 goals and finished second behind Alex Ovechkin for the league lead in goals.

It's no secret that Holmgren wants Carter to don the Orange and Black for a very long time, but during the offseason, rumblings around the NHL had the Flyers open to trading Carter.

Holmgren, however, continually denied them.

Now, Homer told Panaccio that "sooner or later it’s going to get done." Folks, Carter is going to be a Flyer beyond this season, whether you like it or not.

What does this mean for the best Flyer, Claude Giroux, who is also a restricted free agent this coming summer?

Don't worry, the Flyers plan on inking him to a juicy extension.

When asked about the cap situation around re-signing both, Holmgren simply replied: "We have space."