Compared to last year’s off-season, Bob Clarke hasn’t made nearly as many waves. He did sign Simon Gagne to a five-year deal and was able to ruffle some feathers with his Ryan Kesler experiment, but compared to landing Derian Hatcher, Mike Rathje and swapping a faltering Jeremy Roenick for Peter Forsberg, it is been relatively quiet on the Flyers front as the team works to adapt to the new style of play in the NHL.

No one will influence the style and development of the Flyers as much as coach Ken Hitchcock, who Clarke re-signed this week to a deal that extends two additional years. While Hitch’s Flyers seemed a little behind the pace of more speedy teams like Buffalo and New Jersey, he is a master of strategy and will adapt his defense-first style to a league where a new premium has been placed on special teams, scoring and speed.

If you read between the lines of what Clarke has been saying lately, the team is looking for stability. They could have traded off their future for a star like Roberto Luongo in a deal that would have sent both Jeff Carter and Mike Richards to Florida, but powers as high as Flyers’ Chairman, Ed Snyder, have said Carter and Richards are not on the block. This alludes to the next move that Clarke has hinted about, which is re-signing Peter Forsberg for a few more years. As soon as the newly appointed captain of the team shows the front office his repaired ankle is 100% healthy, expect him to get signed for at least two more years. With Gagne and Forsberg inked, Clarke will wait for Hitchcock to develop his other young talent.

Signing Forsberg is without question risky but the upside is clearly worth it. When he is on the ice, he is the best playmaker in the game, with moves that command space and respect from defenders. The question is whether Forsberg’s repaired ankle can solve the recurring groin aggravation and other maladies that keep him off the ice. If he shows the Flyers that he can be healthy and score like the Peter Forsberg of old, they will back up the Brinks truck to his condo.