Flyers sign Jeff Carter to 11 year extension

Get used to seeing Jeff Carter in a Flyers uniform. According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, Carter has signed an 11 year contract extension that will keep him with the Flyers through 2022. The huge deal is worth 58 million and will cost the Flyers a cap hit of 5.27 million per year.

While Carter is a polarizing figure to many fans, one can't argue that the Flyers just locked up a great player for a reasonable price. For at least the next few years, Carter will be the 4th highest player on the team, a good deal for a player that is entering his prime and is capable of putting up 40 goals a season.

Love him or hate him, Jeff Carter is here to stay. Sure, he isn't exactly responsible in his own end, but if Carter can average 35 goals a season for the next decade, I don't think many will care about his defensive shortcomings. While it also would be nice if he weren't such a streaky scorer, Carter doesn't miss many games due to injury and will be a weapon the Flyers offense can rely on for years to come.

The Flyers have done well to lock up the core of their team, with Carter, Danny Briere, Mike Richards, Claude Giroux and Chris Pronger all under contract through the 2013-14 season. Up next for the Flyers will be extending Ville Leino, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. With the reasonable contract the Flyers gave Carter, there should be plenty of room under the cap for a solid contributor like Leino.