Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

BUFFALO — For the past couple of seasons, the Flyers have had to treat the offseason like a small-market team out of necessity.

They were already in a precarious situation against the NHL's salary cap.

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Even though that situation is a little bit better — the Flyers have approximately $11 million before re-signing Brayden Schenn — general manager Ron Hextall doesn't see himself having a ton of money for a spending spree.

"You look at it, you’ve got to put your own guys in there first," Hextall explained. "Brayden’s not in there. You’ve got to box money out for Brayden so (Ryan White) or whoever that is, we’ll get it figured out. If we can add somebody at the right term and right price, we’ll do it."

Hextall had closer to $14 million before re-signing defenseman Radko Gudas to a four-year deal with a reported $3.35 million cap hit Thursday night. The two sides weren't close last week (money was the issue, not term) and now Hextall has a little less to spend. He'd also like to bring Ryan White back but, "the ball is in their court now."

As for players that aren't under contract from the Flyers, Hextall was more concerned this weekend with using 10 draft picks to re-stock his system with forwards. Saturday was the first day teams could talk with pending unrestricted free agents, but Hextall hadn't gotten there yet.

"This thing’s such a blur to us," he said. "It’s like every time you turn around you’re trying to trade a pick or whatever you almost lose touch with what’s going on. It didn’t seem like a real busy year, but I think the cap being where it’s at kind of restricts things. Guys aren’t easy to move and teams don’t necessarily want to add too much because a lot of teams can’t afford it."

With the money Hextall has, his biggest target may be Jimmy Vesey, the restricted free agent winger who was drafted by the Nashville Predators and told the team he would not sign and instead become a free agent. Nashville traded Vesey's rights to Buffalo last week, but his agent reiterated that he would become a free agent on August 15, when restricted players become available.

Hextall smartly wouldn't talk about Vesey specifically, the reigning Hobey Baker winner and four-year Harvard star, to avoid tampering charges. The NHL is reviewing whether or not to penalize Vancouver general manager Jim Benning for tampering with free agents earlier this week. Teams aren't allowed to speak with RFAs until June 28.

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"We’re committed to getting better," Hextall said. "Just not at all costs. At a reasonable cost."

Vesey would require the same entry-level contract wherever he lands. The base salary will be $925,000 and teams will offer to load it up with bonuses, but it won't be anywhere near what Milan Lucic or Kyle Okposo will command when free agency begins July 1.

"July 1 is a funny day," Hextall said. "With the cap flat, there might be some guys out there that are good buys, but that’s not going to happen July 1. That’s usually the 5th or 10th or 15th of July where guys realize there’s not much out there."

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479; disaac@gannettnj.com.