Nick Seeler signed a four-year, $10.8 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $2.7 million, beginning next season.
The 30-year-old defenseman is in the final season of a two-year, $1.55 million contract ($775,000 AAV) he signed May 19, 2022, and could have become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
"I couldn't be happier to be stay in Philadelphia," Seeler said Thursday. "This is my third year here, and right when I got here, it felt like home. With the new management coming in and [coach John Tortorella], the direction that this group is going, it's really exciting to be a part of. To have that commitment for the next four years and to be in a place where I feel so comfortable and respected and a place that treats their players so well, and to have a fanbase like Philly, it's something special."
Seeler knew his name was being discussed in trade rumors, but with the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline coming at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, he actually got more confident he would stay in Philadelphia.
"It's a tough time of year for guys that are on expiring deals," he said. "I knew that going into the year that it was a contract year. … I just tried to stay focused on what I could do to help the team as much as I could and just stay focused on doing that job. There was a time, obviously, that you think about those things. But I think there was a mutual want to get a deal done, which was awesome, with [general manager] Danny [Briere], and we had some great conversations. As it's gotten closer to the deadline, I had a good feeling that we were going to be able to get a deal done which obviously puts a little relief in you.
"I can't express how excited I am and so, so grateful that we were able to get this done before the trade deadline so I didn't have to worry about that anymore."
Seeler has 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 63 games this season and leads the NHL with 184 blocked shots.
"He's a huge part of the competitiveness of the [dressing] room that brings that room together," Flyers coach John Tortorella said March 2. "He's one of the true competitors that I've ever coached, as far as how he handles himself."
Seeler was placed on injured reserve Wednesday because of a lower-body injury sustained blocking a shot by St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko during the second period of a 2-1 shootout loss Monday. He went to the dressing room with 2:38 remaining in the second, came out to start the third, but left with 9:22 remaining.
"It's week to week right now," Seeler said. "Took a shot in a tough spot so hoping to get back as soon as I can."
Defenseman Adam Ginning was recalled from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. The 24-year-old rookie played his only NHL game April 11, 2023. He has 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 52 AHL games this season.
Seeler and Sean Walker had been the Flyers' most consistent defense pair this season. Walker was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday with a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft for forward Ryan Johansen and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fifth round (No. 131) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Seeler has 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) in 288 regular-season games with the Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Wild, and two assists in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The Flyers (32-23-8) are third in the Metropolitan Division, four points ahead of the fourth-place New York Islanders. They start a three-game road trip at the Florida Panthers on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; BSFL, NBCSP).
Philadelphia could have forward Travis Konecny back in the lineup against the Panthers. He has missed six games because of an upper-body injury sustained during practice Feb. 23.
Konecny practiced with contact Wednesday after skating in a no-contact jersey Monday.
"I'm not sure [about playing Thursday] but I feel good," he said. "It was nice. I was out of that [no-contact] jersey, getting into contact, so it felt pretty good."
Konecny leads the Flyers with 54 points (27 goals, 27 assists) in 57 games. Philadelphia has gone 2-3-1 without him.
