"He gets it," Holmgren said.
Holmgren said he never discussed salary with Shanahan, who scored 23 goals for the New York Rangers last season. With the Flyers only about $700,000 under the $56.7 million cap, the club would have to be creative to sign Shanahan, even if he signed for a bargain-basement price of, say, $1 million.
"It's just very exploratory, on Brendan's part and on our part," Holmgren said. "But if you have an opportunity to add a good player who doesn't cost you any assets, you have to look into it. He's an experienced player and has been on three Stanley Cup champions, and his presence on the ice and in the locker room would be invaluable."
In their seven losses, including two in overtime and one in a shoot-out, the Flyers have allowed 4.7 goals a game.
In their four wins, they have surrendered 1.4 goals a game.
"We have to do a better job of checking," coach John Stevens said after the Flyers' 5-4 setback Sunday against an Edmonton team that had been struggling to score.
"To me, it is pretty black and white," Stevens said.
"When we don't forecheck hard, we're not a very good team," defenseman Kimmo Timonen said.
With four new defensemen, it figures to take a while for the blueliners to get in sync. For the most part, their development has been encouraging since the team's season-starting six-game losing streak.
Stevens has been particularly pleased with the recent play of Steve Eminger, who has overcome a shaky start.
"I think putting him on the power play has given him confidence and has carried over into other parts of his game," Stevens said.
Eminger and Andrew Alberts, the team's third defensive pairing, were not on the ice for any of Edmonton's goals. Oddly, the top pairing of Timonen and Braydon Coburn was on the ice for all five Oilers scores.
Said Stevens: "You just have to learn from it and move on, and gear up for the next challenge."
That would be Thursday at Ottawa.
