Busy day in the NHL today.

You’ll recall in my last blog post I outlined three of the Philadelphia Flyers’ organizational needs. Let’s take a look at how they addressed them today.

NEED: Top-line right wing

The Flyers announced today they signed perennial NHL All-Star Jaromir Jagr to a one-year contract. Jagr, who has more than 600 NHL goals to his credit, last played in North America during the 2007-08 season as a member of the New York Rangers. Jagr, 39, spent the past three seasons in Russia with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Omsk Avangard.

NEED: Veteran center

The Flyers signed checking-line center Maxime Talbot to a five-year contract. Talbot, formerly of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is a solid checking-line center that will either play on Philadelphia’s third or fourth line.

NEED: A seventh defenseman.

Philadelphia signed journeyman blueliner Andreas Lilja to round out its top seven – Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Andrej Meszaros, Matt Carle, Lilja, Braydon Coburn and Oskars Bartulis.

***

Meanwhile, the Flyers agreed to terms with restricted free agent Jakub Voracek, who was acquired in the deal that sent Jeff Carter to Columbus. They also shipped winger Kris Versteeg to the Florida Panthers for draft picks.

Elsewhere, ex-Flyer Ville Leino signed a long-term deal with Buffalo.

***

So, what does this mean?

Well, let’s take a look at the handy-dandy depth chart.

LEFT WING	CENTER	RIGHT WING	DEFENSE	GOALIE
HARTNELL	BRIERE	JAGR	PRONGER	BRYZGALOV	1
van RIEMSDYK	GIROUX	VORACEK	TIMONEN	BOBROVSKY	2
SHELLEY	TALBOT	SIMMONDS	MESZAROS	LEIGHTON	3
WELLWOOD	SCHENN	NODL	CARLE	BACKLUND	4
RINALDO	BETTS	LEGEIN	LILJA	HOVINEN	5
SESTITO	HOLMSTROM	M. TESTUWIDE	COBURN		6
ROWE	PITHER	AKESON	BARTULIS		7
BROWN	READ	HARPER	WALKER		8
ZOLNIERCZYK	KALINSKI	LAPERRIERE	GUSTAFSSON		9
			BOURDON		10
			MARSHALL		11
			JANCEVSKI		12
			MANNING		13
			LAURIDSEN		14
			HOSTETTER		15
			LEHTIVUORI		16
SIGNED	RFA Q	UNKNOWN	LONG TERM IR

I’d say with Talbot signed, there’s a decent chance top prospect Brayden Schenn starts the year in Adirondack.

Schenn will be given every opportunity to earn his spot in Philadelphia during training camp, but the team now has four NHL-ready centers in Briere, Giroux, Talbot and Betts. No need to rush the kid.

Depending on whether or not Stefan Legein is signed (which you can read more about in my previous blog post), Philadelphia has 45 or 46 players under contract.

For argument’s sake, let’s say he is signed and the Flyers have 46 contracts.

The team also has outstanding qualifying offers to Wayne Simmonds and Jon Kalinski. If both of those players sign, Philly’s contract total is up to 48. The NHL limit is 50.

Barring a trade, you’re looking at maybe one more signing from Philadelphia. And with Versteeg gone, it could very well be an NHL-ready left wing.