Flyers Off Season Updates and Rumor Mill Summary for July 18th

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 release their Protection List for the upcoming NHL Expansion Draft on July 21st

Official #flyers protection list (7-3-1)

Protected: Aube-Kubel, Couturier, Giroux, Hayes, Konecny, Laughton, Lindblom, Ellis, Provorov, Sanheim, Hart.
Available: Voracek, van Riemsdyk, Braun, Gostisbehere, Hagg.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 18, 2021

Forwards (7): Claude Giroux (No-Move Clause: must automatically be protected), Kevin Hayes (No-Move Clause: must automatically be protected), Sean Couturier, Oskar Lindblom, Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton, Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Defensemen (3): Ivan Provorov, Travis Sanheim, Ryan Ellis

Goaltender(1): Carter Hart

Exempt from NHL Expansion Draft: F Joel Farabee, D Cam York, F Morgan Frost, F Wade Allison, D Yegor Zamula

Exposed Players: F Jakub Voracek, F James Van Riemsdyk, D Shayne Gostisbehere, D Justin Braun, D Robert Hägg

Doubling Down, The Flyers stay interested on moving cap space for Vladimir Tarasenko

With both JVR and Voracek unprotected, attention turns to the #SeaKraken being a broker for a Tarasenko deal for the time being… multiple teams involved but I’m told again that the #Flyers are interested in working on things. https://t.co/34UAX3iaem

— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 18, 2021

After Adding Ryan Ellis, is Vladimir Tarasenko Next on Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher’s To-do List? https://t.co/TzZu6fhjFA

— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) July 18, 2021

Back for one more tweet: Seravalli talks about the “word on the street” being the #Flyers working on a deal with #SeaKraken to take Tarasenko and flip him on to Philly…

Someone want to let him know that street was #NRD Avenue?

— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 19, 2021

Source: Anthony San FiIlippo, Crossing Broad, and Frank Seravalli, Daily Faceoff

In the past week, the Flyers and Vladimir Tarasenko have been connected in trade talks. However, in order for this to happen, the Flyers would need to clear space. At the possibility of Jakub Voracek and James Van Riemsdyk possibly being taken by the Seattle Kraken in the NHL Expansion Draft, that would open up space for acquiring Tarasenko and his 2 years left at $7.5 million AAV. The Flyers continue to be working at trying to get a Tarasenko deal done and the Expansion Draft offers a glaring opportunity to do so.

In Anthony SanFilippo’s article (DEFINITELY give it a read), he mentions this possible deal happening:

1. Seattle Kraken select Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Expansion Draft
2. Seattle Kraken will trade Vladimir Tarasenko to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Jakub Voracek and a Draft Pick (NOT a 1st round pick)
3. Seattle Kraken select Robert Hagg from the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Expansion Draft

Philadelphia Flyers are “kicking tires” on Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen

Great break down here by @AntSanPhilly on what we may see in the coming days.

To further this, hearing that Rasmus Ristolainen is on the #Flyers' radar, although it may require some salary being moved. #anytimeanywhere https://t.co/2MpTakrrJU

— Anthony Di Marco (@ADiMarco25) July 18, 2021

Can confirm what Anthony put below about Ristolainen being a defenseman that the #Flyers have kicked tires on. https://t.co/tApyLTv2KD

— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 19, 2021

Source: Anthony DiMarco, The Fourth Period, and NHL Rumors Daily

Philadelphia Flyers have apparently in contact with the Buffalo Sabres concerning defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. Ristolainen is 26 years old and has 1 more year left at $5.4 million AAV. Ristolainen is a big 6’4 right-handed defenseman that can play on the PK. Ristolainen, during a regular 82-game season, has hovered around the 40-point mark in 4/8 seasons. I can see the Flyers going after Ristolainen and pairing him with Travis Sanheim. I wouldn’t expect Ristolainen to maintain his 22:17 average minutes of TOI if traded to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Flyers free agent target UFA defenseman Adam Larsson is unlikely to re-sign in Edmonton and could hit free agency

Report: It's 'rather unlikely' Edmonton Oilers re-sign Adam Larsson, but a 'real chance' Tyson Barrie returns https://t.co/ZBC9sj1fTK

— zach (@zjlaing) July 19, 2021

Source: Frank Seravalli, The Daily Faceoff

Via the Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, UFA defenseman Adam Larsson is likely head to free agency. The Fourth Period had reported a few weeks ago that the Flyers had expressed interest in Larsson and with him now headed for free agency, Chuck Fletcher could pursue him to fill out a Top 4 or Top 6 defensive pairing role. Larsson is 28 years old and is coming off a contract where he made $4.167 million AAV.

Around the League NHL Headlines for July 18th

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