The Philadelphia Flyers thrived at occasions underneath the management of head coach Alain Vigneault, however in the end by no means produced the deep Stanley Cup runs the workforce hoped for. Vigneault was fired in December 2021, however the franchise’s struggles continued.
Common supervisor Chuck Fletcher had made a bevy of massive signings that hamstrung the franchise, together with signing ahead Kevin Hayes to a seven-year, $50 million contract in 2019 and buying and selling for defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Fletcher additionally signed Ristolainen to a five-year, $25 contract, and Ristolainen has produced a reasonably underwhelming tenure throughout his time in Philadelphia.
The Flyers fired Fletcher from his put up in March 2023, and that was the start of the franchise’s resurgence. Philadelphia introduced in former gamers Keith Jones because the president of hockey operations and Danny Briere as the brand new normal supervisor, and Briere has since made some very daring and productive strikes.
In June 2023, the Flyers traded defenseman Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets as a part of a three-team deal that netted the franchise defenseman Sean Walker, goaltender Cal Petersen, defenseman Helge Grans, a 2023 first-round choose (No. 22 total) and a conditional 2024 or 2025 second-round choose.
In January 2024, Briere made the boldest transfer of his tenure when he traded former No. 5 choose Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Geese in alternate for defenseman Jamie Drysdale. The Flyers had been underneath the impression that Gauthier did not wish to play in Philadelphia, so that they traded his rights for a confirmed commodity in Drysdale.
The Flyers had been anticipated to be embarking on one other rebuilding yr in 2023-24. As a substitute, the franchise has overachieved in an enormous means because it’s at the moment entrenched because the No. 3 seed within the Metropolitan Division because the Stanley Cup Playoffs creep nearer.
That actually makes the commerce deadline quite a bit trickier than Philadelphia could have imagined. The Flyers determine to be postseason certain based mostly on their present place, and that may lead some to imagine the workforce ought to be seeking to purchase on the commerce deadline. Nevertheless, contemplating they’ve a really younger and promising roster, it makes a ton of sense for Briere and firm to unload a couple of veterans to acquire extra property for the longer term.
This is a have a look at a number of the Flyers that may very well be on the transfer previous to the commerce deadline.
Sean Walker
The almost definitely title to be on the transfer may very well be defenseman Sean Walker. The veteran blue-liner was acquired by the Flyers in a three-team commerce involving defenseman Ivan Provorov final summer time, and it might make a ton of sense for Walker to be dealt forward of the commerce deadline.
Walker is at the moment second on the workforce in factors (22) amongst defensemen, behind solely Travis Sanheim. The 29-year-old has a really enticing cap hit at simply $2.65 million, so contending groups should not have an excessive amount of bother absorbing his wage in a possible deal. Walker might not be an elite choice, however he is an incredible slot in a workforce’s prime two defensive pairings on the blue line. Whereas he isn’t a dynamic offensive participant, Walker nonetheless can soar into the play and put the puck into the online when he must.
Since Walker is slated to develop into an unrestricted free agent this summer time, It actually behooves Philadelphia to get some worth in return for Walker if they do not intend on re-signing him. It is attainable the Flyers may land a first-round choose in alternate for his companies, so Walker is the almost definitely Philadelphia participant to be dealt.
Scott Laughton
It is unlikely the Flyers will ship lots of their forwards out of city on the deadline. Nevertheless, one that would fetch a stable return is Scott Laughton.
This can be a state of affairs the place Philadelphia may reap the benefits of a market that does not characteristic a ton of intriguing choices on the middle place following the trades of Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan. Laughton is a really enticing choice for a contending workforce that could be in search of a third- or fourth-line veteran presence. Laughton is at the moment within the third yr of a five-year contract extension he signed again in 2021. That signifies that an buying workforce would have two extra full seasons of management in relation to Laughton, plus his $3 million cap hit is not going to hinder any workforce’s payroll an excessive amount of.
Laughton clearly is not a deadly scoring choice, however is a really bodily ahead that can offers a ton of grit. The 29-year-old did rating a career-best 18 targets a season in the past, so the scoring numbers might be there at occasions. Contemplating the Flyers have vital depth on the ahead place, it would not be surprising in the event that they moved Laughton for a stable return.
Nick Seeler
The Flyers may very well be very lively in relation to their blue line main as much as the commerce deadline, and that features probably dealing defenseman Nick Seeler.
Very like Walker, Seeler can be an unrestricted free agent this summer time, so it is attainable the Flyers elect to ship him out of city. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the 2 sides had been negotiating on a possible contract extension, however these talks weren’t “acquired overly properly” from Philadelphia’s standpoint. The Flyers are probably in search of an average-annual-value within the $2.5-3 million vary, whereas Seeler is reportedly in search of extra on an annual foundation.
Seeler at the moment has 11 factors (one aim, 10 assists) in 60 video games this season. The veteran defenseman actually discovered a house in Philadelphia after beforehand spending time with the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild. Seeler is a rugged blue-liner that is not afraid to dish out a thunderous examine or lay down to dam a shot. If the Flyers do not make any headway on a possible contract extension, it is probably the Flyers would try to commerce Seeler to keep away from being left empty-handed if Seeler signed elsewhere within the offseason.
