Does Briere Begin Flyers GM Tenure With a Bang?

With the interim tag coming off for Danny Briere all but a formality at this point. Will he begin his tenure as Flyers GM with a BANG?

Sure there have been rumors of the Flyers potentially moving on from guys like Kevin Hayes and Ivan Provorov, but do those moves HAVE to be trades to solely remove cap?

Nope. No they don’t.

While some fans are somewhat excited for Briere to take over as GM of the franchise, there are many fans who are hesitant. These fans need to be convinced still and rightly so.

What better way to show these fans that you are serious about rebuilding AND making the best moves for the Flyers and their future than by starting the offseason off with a MASSIVE trade?

Columbus a Likely Partner?

A few days ago Columbus’ General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen mentioned he wants the team to be back in the playoffs sooner rather than later. After just signing Johnny Gaudreau last season, the clock is ticking for the 29 year old star.

#CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen: “We want to get back into the playoffs. We’ve had enough of being on the outside looking in and watching the playoffs on TV. We got a taste of it for a few years in a row, and not enough taste of success. We want to get back.”https://t.co/aFi97j07Oj

— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) April 17, 2023

Most people think of a Kevin Hayes trade as a cap dump for the Flyers.

Here’s my thinking:

If Columbus are the team that is said to be trading for Hayes, why not blow up the block?

Columbus will likely have a top four pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, barring some lottery luck from other teams.

The Flyers will likely be picking towards the back of the top 10 and have a bevy of right wingers. ALL of these players could make the roster next season but potentially be top six scorers for now and in the future. Of course I’m talking about players like Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster. Add in veterans like Cam Atkinson and Travis Konecny and you have four legitimate right wingers for next season.

Before I continue I should remind you that this scenario likely only plays out if Columbus are drafting outside the top two picks.

So if they are picking three or four…look for a trade back.

OK here we go.

The Blue Jackets may already have a future top six center in the organization in 2021 first round pick (12th overall) Cole Sillinger. Add in that they may be trading for top six C/LW Kevin Hayes and the Blue Jackets may be set at the center position.

Or are they?

According the The Athletics’ Adam Portzline, the Blue Jackets really like 18 year old center, Will Smith, of the U.S. National Development Team.

I came across this yesterday on Twitter. If you read the entire article it makes it sound like Aaron was saying Bobrov loves Michkov. I just called Aaron who told me all he said is it’s his feeling that should @BlueJacketsNHL drop two spots he thinks they will draft W.Smith. He… https://t.co/m8wQfPAHv1 pic.twitter.com/AoUhk7qogu

— Tony Marinaro (@TonyMarinaro) April 21, 2023

This plus Columbus’s reported interest in Kevin Hayes would lead me to believe Columbus is looking to shore up their center position.

Now I have no idea what a trade looks like but I will say that the parts for a massive blockbuster deal are there if the two sides wish to make it happen.

Columbus Pieces

Columbus will like be picking in the top four. For the sake of this hypothetical scenario, let’s say they’re drafting fourth overall.

The Blue Jacket’s also have 19 year old Cole Sillinger. Which if they do end up drafting Will Smith, gives them a solid 1-2 punch as far as centers go for years and years to come.

Boone Jenner is another name that catches my eye here. It’s not that Columbus so much wants to trade him, but more so to balance out cap in a trade. Remember, this is a trade where the Flyers are going to be the ones blowing things up a bit here. Not so much Columbus.

Flyers Pieces

Ok so what are the Flyers potentially looking at moving here?

Kevin Hayes of course is part of this. It’s been rumored that there is a deal already in place sending him to play with his buddy Johnny Gaudreau.

Obviously the Flyers are sending their first round pick to Columbus in the pick swap, let’s say it’s the seventh overall pick.

So we’re at Kevin Hayes and the seventh overall pick right now for Boone Jenner and the fourth overall pick.

That’s not going to get it done Jim.

I mentioned earlier in the article that the Flyers have a dearth of right wingers and not all of them can make the roster next season. Add in players like Bobby Brink who will crack the Flyers at some point next season and Elliott Desnoyers who will also claim a spot, potentially out of camp.

Could the Flyers potentially trade Travis Konecny? The player who has scored the most goals in a season since Sean Couturier did in 2018? I think maybe so and here’s why.

Unfortunately…or fortunately, however you’re looking at this, Konecny’s value will never be higher. He’s a point-per-game player for the first time in his career and looks every bit of a top line talent. He’s also 26 and Konecny will be due for a new contract after his age 28 season.

Imagine a line of Gaudreau, Hayes, and Konecny? Pretty good until Sillinger and Smith are ready to take on top line duties.

Now obviously the snag here is the lack of cap space to fit both Hayes and Konecny. Combined they’re making well over $12,500,000. Even with the subtraction of Boone Jenner’s $3,750,000, Columbus will be around $7,000,000 over the cap.

That’s if the Flyers don’t retain money on Hayes, which I’m sure will also be a stipulation.

Ok so let’s go cheaper. Owen Tippett just scored 27 goals and is make $1,500,000 for another season.

How about Cam York? The Flyers essentially already have York’s replacement in Emil Andrae, who is playing very well with the Phantoms right now. York is on his ELC for another season and would bolster Columbus’s defense core instantly.

Draft Picks and Prospects

Philadelphia also has two 3rd round picks and two 4th round picks in this draft. They’ll also be receiving a 2nd round pick in either this years draft or next years 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Next year the Flyers have two 1st round picks.

Columbus don’t have a NEED for picks but they’re in a unique situation where they can improve their roster and also acquire future picks.

Prospect wise, the Flyers, surprisingly have a lot to offer. Players like Brink, Desnoyers, and Foerster are very close to being NHL ready and they’re CHEAP. But would it make sense for the Flyers to move one?

How about on the defensive side? The Flyers have Adam Ginning, who played well during his cup of coffee with the Flyers late in the season. Or what about Egor Zamula? Is there a place for him in the Flyers lineup? Ronnie Attard looks ready to make the leap to pros sooner rather than later as well.

So as you can see, whether you agree or disagree, the pieces are there to make a massive bang of a blockbuster trade to kick off Briere’s Flyers GM tenure.

Jim Iacovone is the Founder and Site Manager for HW Hockey
Photo: NHL.com
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