Flyers Off Season Updates and Rumor Mill Summary for July 17th

Flyers Off Season Updates and Rumor Mill Summary for July 17th

The NHL offseason has a lot of moving parts and It can be hard to keep up, especially with a large offseason due up for the Philadelphia Flyers. There are a lot of rumors that float around, often from both fake sources and credible sources. This is a new daily update mill that I want to start in order to provide quick updates (attached with sources/tweets) in order to address daily rumors that you might see on your twitter feed, or for those who don’t have twitter: these updates can come to your attention.

This update mill will be posted daily.

Philadelphia Flyers trade defenseman Philippe Myers and forward Nolan Patrick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Ryan Ellis

For Myers and Patrick ⤵️ https://t.co/6FDuEzfUIK

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 17, 2021

Source: EVERYONE

WOW! Huge trade that gives the Philadelphia Flyers their biggest need of the off season: a top pairing right-handed defenseman. Ellis has been heralded by both scouts and analytics, as being a top puck-moving defenseman that also knows how to get the puck out of the zone. Ellis plays in all scenarios on the ice, including the penalty kill and power play. Ellis also brings a great deal of leadership experience and will be featured as a new voice in the locker room. One big concern with Ellis is his injury history. Ellis most recently missed 4-6 weeks with an “Upper Body Injury” in this past playoffs. Ryan Ellis is 30 years old and has 6 more years left at $6.25 million AAV. Chuck Fletcher got his guy. A great trade by the Flyers.

Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly looking into trading for Vladimir Tarasenko

Tarasenko being left unprotected isn’t a complete shocker… I guess #SeaKraken could take but trade is still the most probable outcome I’m told. One interesting name on his trade list? The #Flyers… they’ve been looking into it. So far no traction but could it be revisited?

— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 18, 2021

To add more context… I’d be quite surprised if Seattle takes Tarasenko for themselves… they’d love to pick up a few more assets as a middle man before sending him to his final destination.

— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 18, 2021

Source: NHL Rumors Daily (predicted Ellis as Flyers target on July 13th)

As the Flyers were featured as one of ten teams to be included on Tarasenko’s trade list, there was no reported contact between the St. Louis Blues and Flyers until: NOW. NHL Rumors Daily reports the Flyers as one of the teams to keep an eye on in terms of the Tarasenko sweepstakes. This off-season, NHL Rumors Daily has had a terrific track record of accuracy, I would say this report is reliable.

Chuck Fletcher had a Press Conference at 4:30 PM ET to discuss the Ryan Ellis trade to the Flyers

Below are the highlights:

A. Chuck Fletcher says that the team is not done making moves, specifically adding to the defensive need to lower team’s GAA

Fletcher: "We're certainly going to continue to look at every avenue to get better."

(They ain't done)

— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) July 17, 2021

Fletcher said he is still looking to upgrade if possible, and ongoing focus is add additional help in lowering team GAA.

— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) July 17, 2021

From these quotes we can assume that the Flyers are still looking to acquire a 2nd/3rd pairing veteran defenseman to pair with Travis Sanheim. Chuck Fletcher has also noted in the past week that the Flyers’ 4th line needs an identity. We can assume he’ll be active in acquiring defensive-minded bottom six forwards, as well as getting a backup goaltender.

B. Chuck Fletcher gives in-depth praise as to what Ryan Ellis brings to the defensive core

Fletcher: "Ryan is an excellent all-around defenseman. In our eyes, he's one of the best passers in the game. He's a competitive, team-oriented player."

— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) July 17, 2021

We can surmise that based on these quotes, Fletcher and co. plans to utilize Ellis in all areas of the ice, including penalty kill and power play. We can also gather that he will be placed on the top defensive pairing with Ivan Provorov. Ellis will log a lot of TOI minutes.

C. Chuck Fletcher goes on the record to say that he wasn’t actively shopping Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick

Chuck Fletcher said the Flyers were not looking to move Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick.

Fletcher said he still believes in Patrick and feels Myers is going to be a real good defenseman in this league.

But they really needed Ellis and still have their prospects/picks.

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) July 17, 2021

The Flyers were able to keeping their 13th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft while still holding on to prospects :defensemen Yegor Zamula and Cam York, forwards Morgan Frost and Tyson Foerster, while keeping roster players like Travis Konecny and Joel Farabee and was still able to get a top pairing defenseman at $6.25 million AAV.

Philadelphia Flyers could be interested in pursuing UFA forwards Philip Danault or Alex Kerfoot

I would suspect they are thinking more along the lines of players like Danault or Kerfoot, cap dependent.

— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) July 17, 2021

Source: Bill Meltzer, NHL.com

Meltzer doesn’t officially say if the Flyers are in on Danault or Kerfoot but Bill is as connected with the Flyers as anyone and definitely could have inside information that would lead him to believe the Flyers would pursue these two-way defensive forwards for their bottom six. Danualt, 28 years old, is heralded as one of the best defensive forwards in the game and was in contention for the Selke Trophy the past two seasons. It is reported that Danault has recently rejected Montreal’s offer of 6-years at $5-6 million AAV. Kerfoot, 26 years old, played with Toronto Maple Leafs last season and is a high energy forechecker that the Flyers could utilize on their 3rd line.

Philadelphia Flyers could protect forward James Van Riemsdyk for the NHL Expansion Draft

By dealing Patrick, #Flyers will now probably protect JVR. That’s significant.

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) July 17, 2021

Projection is with #Flyers moving Nolan Patrick, they will now have the ability to protect James van Riemsdyk. Pretty big change for #SeaKraken in last few minutes.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 17, 2021

Source: Sam Carchidi, Philadelphia Inquirer and Frank Seravalli, Daily Faceoff

After trading Nolan Patrick, this opens up the 7th forward protection spot for the Seattle Kraken NHL Expansion Draft on July 21st. The Flyers options could include, Jakub Voracek ($8.25 million AAV) or James Van Riemsdyk ($7 million AAV). If the Flyers are keen on moving salary, they could protect forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel, also.

St. Louis Blues leave Flyers potential trade target Vladimir Tarasenko unprotected for the NHL Expansion Draft

Hearing #stlblues have exposed Vladimir Tarasenko in the Expansion Draft and are protecting Ivan Barbashev.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 17, 2021

Source: Frank Seravalli, Daily Faceoff

The Philadelphia Flyers were reported to be one of ten teams on Vladimir Tarasenko’s trade list and now it is reported that Tarasenko is being left unprotected for the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft. This poses the possibility that the Flyers could offer the Kraken assets (picks/prospects) to select Vladimir Tarasenko in the Expansion Draft and in turn, trade him to the Flyers. Something to keep in mind.

Potential Flyers trade partner, Calgary Flames, are expected to be active on the trade market

Told the #Flames have a bunch of balls in the air. Roster is completely unsettled. Teams should be calling GM Brad Treliving. He's open for business. #NHL

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) July 17, 2021

Source: Bruce Garrioch, TSN

As soon as you read this tweet you immediately think of names: Mark Giordano, Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk and especially, in the Flyers case, Johnny Gaudreau. The Flyers and Flames have been linked in rumors dating back several offseasons but nothing ever materializes. If the Flyers are looking to improve their top 6 forwards and are trying to seek a goal-scoring shooter, then the Flames as a trade partner would make sense.

More goaltenders become available as the Flyers look to fill their backup goaltender position

Jaro Halak’s agent, Allan Walsh, confirms that UFA netminder and Bruins are parting ways. Walsh says Halak is healthy and expects NHL interest come July 28.

— Matt Porter (@mattyports) July 17, 2021

Hearing #LAKings have exposed goaltender Jonathan Quick in the Expansion Draft. #SeaKraken

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 17, 2021

Hearing that Carey Price has waived his no-move for purpose of exposure in the expansion draft so that the Habs could protect Jake Allen in the expansion draft. The thought is that Seattle wouldn’t want to pick up the rest of Price’s hefty contract. But I guess we will see.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 18, 2021

UFA free agent goaltender Jaroslav Halak and veteran goaltender Jonathan Quick become the two latest names that could become available to the Flyers. As previously mentioned, Flyers could make a side deal with the Seattle Kraken to select Quick or Price in the Expansion Draft and then trade him to the Flyers in exchange for picks/assets. However, Quick’s $5.8 million AAV contract or Price’s $10.5 million AAV, probably deters the Flyers from doing such.

Around the League NHL Headlines for July 17th