Flyers Notes BUFFALO - Winger Brendan Shanahan continues to explore the free-agent market.

“He’s still trying to see which is the best fit,” his agent, Rick Curran , said last night.

Curran had hoped a deal would have been made by last weekend, but he said there were “complications.” He would not elaborate.

The Flyers, one of the teams trying to sign Shanahan, are only about $200,000 below the salary cap - not enough money to sign Shanahan.

One possible solution: They will get $875,000 of prorated cap-space relief when or if Lasse Kukkonen , who has already cleared waivers, is sent to the AHL Phantoms.

Kukkonen is now the team’s sixth defenseman and can’t be sent down until the Flyers are sure Ossi Vaananen is healthy.

Vaananen, out with an injured right index finger, sat out last night’s game against the Sabres and probably won’t play tonight when the Wayne Gretzky -coached Phoenix Coyotes play the Flyers at the Wachovia Center.

“He’s making pretty good progress,” coach John Stevens said. “If we stay healthy, and we can take an extra day to help him heal up, that’s probably what we’ll do.”

The Flyers also will take a cap hit when Randy Jones and Ryan Parent come off the long-term injured list next month.

All of which may make Shanahan, 39, a tough sell to the Flyers’ bean counters.

Alberts emerging After a shaky start, Flyers defenseman Andrew Alberts has become an important contributor, especially on the penalty kill.

“It took me five or six games to get used to the system, but I feel comfortable now,” said Alberts, acquired last month from Boston for minor-leaguer Ned Lukacevic and a fourth-round draft pick.

Alberts took a plus-four ranking into last night, third highest on the team.

Jones (hip) and Parent (shoulder) have begun skating. Jones should be ready by mid-December, and the Flyers hope Parent can return for a Dec. 26 trip, general manager Paul Holmgren said.

-Sam Carchidi

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