On the first day of free agency season in the National Hockey League, the Flyers signed 31-year-old goaltender Martin Jones (one-year, $2 million AAV) and brought back 36-year-old center Nate Thompson (one year, $800,000 AAV). Earlier in the day, the Flyers announced the signing of 34-year-old veteran offensive defenseman Keith Yandle (one year, $900,000 AAV).
Instant Analysis: Flyers Sign Jones and Thompson
Jones will be tabbed as the backup to Carter Hart. The one-year term and moderate cap hit as compared to some of the other goalie signings around the NHL on the first day of free agency is a reflection of the fact that Jones struggled in his final few seasons with the San Jose Sharks. He was recently bought out by San Jose, making him an unrestricted free agent.
"It was a couple of trying seasons," Jones said. "Sometimes, a fresh start can give you a little bit of life, a little bit of energy and to kind of refocus. I love a lot of the moves the Flyers have made.in the offseason so far. I think we have a good opportunity to have a good team and win some hockey games.".
How much of the problem the last few years was due to the downturn in San Jose's formerly stout team defense? How much of it was due to Jones, former goalie partner Aaron Dell and, more recently, Devan Dubnyk and youngster Josef Korenar all playing below expectations? How much was a combination of both factors? In any event, Jones will have the opportunity in Philadelphia to get back on track.
Coming to Philadelphia will reunite Jones with Kim Dillabaugh, who was his developmental goalie coach early in his career as a prospect in the LA Kings system. The two had a strong working relationship, and Jones said that it factored into his desire to come to the Flyers.
"Definitely was on my mind. We had a great relationship when I was in Manchester. He knows my game very well and we know how to work together. That was a factor for sure. Hopefully we can sort of pick up where we left off and get my game back trending where it was a few years ago," Jones said.
During his first three seasons with San Jose, Jones was a workhorse starter, playing between 60 and 65 games per season. He finished seventh in the Vezina Trophy voting in 2015-16 and sixth the next year. Jones backstopped the Sharks to the Western Conference championship in 2015-16 before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Stanley Cup Final. In 2018-19, Jones and Sharks made it to game six of the Western Conference Final before bowing out to the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.
Meanwhile, in his still-short career, Hart has been as far as Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs.
"Experience is always a helpful thing. Making the playoffs is obviously the first step. Bringing in some of these guys, like Yandle and some of these other veterans, that's always a good thing when you can lean on guys that have experience. Hopefully, that helps us move us along here," Jones said.
Come next season, Hart may get roughly 52 to 57 starts with Jones getting the other 30 to 35. Of course, this is far from set in stone and could change based on player performance, team performance and injuries.
"I think it's something you deal with as the season progresses," Jones said. "I'm coming in to play the best that I can; to push Carter. He is obviously a very talented young goalie. If we can push each other to be better, that's going to be the best thing for the team."
Fellow free agent signing Thompson is already familiar with the Flyers, having joined the team at the 2020 trade deadline after coming over from Montreal. Last season, Thompson signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Winnipeg Jets, appearing in 44 regular season games and eight playoff matches.
Wherever he's gone, the veteran of 811 NHL regular season games and 86 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs has played the same role: fourth-line center, faceoff specialist and penalty-kill regular. It remains to be seen if Thompson will still play a regular top-12 role come the 2021-22 regular season or if he will slot into a roster depth role depending on the night's matchup.
