Reports: Flyers add two defensemen with connections to Fletcher & Vigneault

The Philadelphia Flyers are set to add a few more depth defensemen, according to reports. Adam Clendening is signing a two-way contract, per Elliotte Friedman, as is Nick Seeler, per Michael Russo.

The Flyers already have their stable of NHL defensemen, so they should primarily spend time in the AHL and be used as injury replacements.

Adam Clendening, 28,  has bounced around the NHL (and AHL) since being drafted with the 36th pick in 2011. He started his career in Chicago, but has played for the Canucks, Penguins, Oilers, Rangers, Coyotes, and Blue Jackets since then.

Clendening has 90 career NHL games across five seasons. Over a third of those games came in the 2016-17 season for Alain Vigneault and the Rangers. Clendening had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 31 games that season. He spent the last two seasons with the Cleveland Monsters (Blue Jackets affiliate) in the AHL.

The #Flyers signed 28 y/o RD Adam Clendening to 1 year deal:

$750K NHL
$400K Minors
$425K Guaranteed

4P in 9 AHL GP

Rep'd by @ianpulver @WillSportsGroup https://t.co/cDs3UA2VWq

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 28, 2021

The right-handed defenseman will add some depth behind Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Justin Braun.

Nick Seeler was also drafted in 2011, but with a much later fifth-round pick (131st overall). Seeler was a Chuck Fletcher selection, so the Flyers GM knows the defenseman well.

Seeler played 12:20 a night across 71 games during the 2018-19 season for the Wild. He was claimed off of waivers by the Blackhawks in the middle of the 2019-20 season. He played six games for both Minnesota and Chicago that season.

Seeler should spend almost all of the season in the AHL. The left-handed defenseman is down on the depth chart below Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, and Keith Yandle –– not to mention Samuel Morin. Cameron York and Egor Zamula are also pushing for a roster spot.

Still, it’s never a bad thing to have too many defensemen. Fletcher and Vigneault have experience with each of them and they should bring some experience to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. If they have to play a game or two here and there as an injury replacement, so be it.

Photo: Zack Hill/Philadelphia Flyers