Flyers sign Chris Stewart to contract after lengthy NHL pro tryout

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article_body => "Updated: 12:40 p.m.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nThe work and the wait have paid off for Chris Stewart.<\/p>\nThe Flyers signed the veteran winger on Tuesday to a one-year, one-way contract worth $750,000. Stewart, who turns 32 years old this month, had been with the Flyers on an NHL pro tryout since the beginning of training camp.<\/p>\n\"We're happy to have Chris under contract,\" Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said in a release by the team. \"Chris came into training camp with a great attitude and a strong work ethic. He brings size and a veteran presence to our lineup.\"<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">The journey is the destination!! Thanks to all my family and friends that held me down during this whole process I\u2019m truly blessed. Let\u2019s get it <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/FlyOrDie?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#FlyOrDie<\/a><\/p>— chris stewart (@Cstew_7) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cstew_7\/status\/1184118257587896320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 15, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\nStewart projects to be the club\u2019s extra forward. However, he was in the lineup Tuesday night against the Flames.<\/p>\nThe Flyers had cap space and roster space for Stewart. Through the first three games, the team did not carry a 13th forward and had only 21 players on the roster. With the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-place-andy-welinski-nhl-waivers-cap-space-roster\" target=\"_blank\">waiving of defenseman Andy Welinski<\/a>, who is headed to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, the cap space was created to finally add Stewart, a good insurance policy for the Flyers.<\/p>\nWhen Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder) returns, there will be an odd man out in the Flyers\u2019 lineup and it projects to be either Connor Bunnaman or Carsen Twarynski, both 21-year-old rookies. It wouldn\u2019t make a whole lot of sense to have either of those two watch from the press box instead of further developing with the Phantoms.<\/p>\nMeanwhile, Stewart will welcome the opportunity after being out of the NHL last season and playing for the EIHL\u2019s Nottingham Panthers. He\u2019ll be a positive personality in the dressing room, a quality guy for practice and a capable fourth-line power forward if the Flyers need to call his number.<\/p>\nAt 6-foot-2, 243 pounds, Stewart brings size and physicality, which the Flyers value. Those traits can play well in head coach Alain Vigneault's system.<\/p>\nStewart has ties to Fletcher and assistant coach Mike Yeo, from their days in Minnesota. Stewart played parts of three seasons for the Wild from 2014 to 2018, putting up 25 goals, 20 assists and a plus-6 rating in 146 games.<\/p>\nOverall, he has played 652 career NHL games between six teams, with his best season coming in 2009-10, when he scored 64 points (28 goals, 36 assists) over 77 games for the Avalanche.<\/p>\n\u201cChris, to me, this is a guy who scored quite a few goals in the NHL,\u201d Fletcher said Sept. 26. \u201cHe\u2019s got a lot more skill I think than people give him credit for. He\u2019s a really good skater, especially in a straight line. He\u2019s lean this year. This is the best shape he\u2019s been in in years, at least that I\u2019ve seen, and he obviously brings the physical element. He brings the elements of being a pretty quality power forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&creative_id=nbcsphi1356&cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&cp_1=washington&cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&cp_3=nbcsphi1356\" is=\"\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Flyers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-place-andy-welinski-nhl-waivers-cap-space-roster\">Flyers place defenseman on waivers \u2014 what it means for cap space, roster<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-canucks-jakub-voracek-alain-vigneault-ice-time\">Is Voracek's trimmed ice time a big deal?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/prospect-joel-farabee-highlight-reel-goal-ahl-lehigh-phantoms-roster-push\">Think Farabee is motivated? Prospect scores nasty goal to begin pro career<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/2019-20-nhl-flyers-season-surprises-2-games-schedule\">Which early development has surprised us most with the Flyers?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/flyers\/flyers-playing-alain-vigneault-brand-2019-20-home-opener\">How Flyers are playing a Vigneault brand \u2014 and can they sustain it?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Flyers

Updated: 12:40 p.m.

The work and the wait have paid off for Chris Stewart.

The Flyers signed the veteran winger on Tuesday to a one-year, one-way contract worth $750,000. Stewart, who turns 32 years old this month, had been with the Flyers on an NHL pro tryout since the beginning of training camp.

"We're happy to have Chris under contract," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said in a release by the team. "Chris came into training camp with a great attitude and a strong work ethic. He brings size and a veteran presence to our lineup."

The journey is the destination!! Thanks to all my family and friends that held me down during this whole process I’m truly blessed. Let’s get it #FlyOrDie
— chris stewart (@Cstew_7) October 15, 2019

Stewart projects to be the club’s extra forward. However, he was in the lineup Tuesday night against the Flames.

The Flyers had cap space and roster space for Stewart. Through the first three games, the team did not carry a 13th forward and had only 21 players on the roster. With the waiving of defenseman Andy Welinski, who is headed to AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley, the cap space was created to finally add Stewart, a good insurance policy for the Flyers.

When Nolan Patrick (migraine disorder) returns, there will be an odd man out in the Flyers’ lineup and it projects to be either Connor Bunnaman or Carsen Twarynski, both 21-year-old rookies. It wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense to have either of those two watch from the press box instead of further developing with the Phantoms.

Meanwhile, Stewart will welcome the opportunity after being out of the NHL last season and playing for the EIHL’s Nottingham Panthers. He’ll be a positive personality in the dressing room, a quality guy for practice and a capable fourth-line power forward if the Flyers need to call his number.

At 6-foot-2, 243 pounds, Stewart brings size and physicality, which the Flyers value. Those traits can play well in head coach Alain Vigneault's system.

Stewart has ties to Fletcher and assistant coach Mike Yeo, from their days in Minnesota. Stewart played parts of three seasons for the Wild from 2014 to 2018, putting up 25 goals, 20 assists and a plus-6 rating in 146 games.

Overall, he has played 652 career NHL games between six teams, with his best season coming in 2009-10, when he scored 64 points (28 goals, 36 assists) over 77 games for the Avalanche.

“Chris, to me, this is a guy who scored quite a few goals in the NHL,” Fletcher said Sept. 26. “He’s got a lot more skill I think than people give him credit for. He’s a really good skater, especially in a straight line. He’s lean this year. This is the best shape he’s been in in years, at least that I’ve seen, and he obviously brings the physical element. He brings the elements of being a pretty quality power forward.”

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