This year’s NHL Trade Deadline is March 21 and it can not get here soon enough as the lowly Flyers are sure to be sellers and they have plenty of guys that should be available.
Multiple names have been popping up in rumor circles, so lets discuss some of the more credible reports out there.
Jeff Petry
In his most recent 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman mentions that the Flyers may have interest in Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry. The Montreal rearguard is 34 years old and has a history of producing like a top pair defenseman (his metrics back that up as well). He is signed for 3 more seasons at $6.25M per year.
His contract would likely replace Rasmus Ristolainen, who Friedman also surmises will be moved. The Flyers expect Ryan Ellis back next season, but beyond that, their right side is full of question marks.
Petry would bring a productive veteran presence that could be great for guys like Cam York, Travis Sanheim, and Yegor Zamula. He could bring exactly what the Flyers lost when Matt Niskanen retired.
The risk comes in the fact that he is in the midst of a mediocre campaign and at his age, you have to worry that he could be declining. Add on his big price and the fact that the currently constructed Flyers do not seem close to contending and you have a risky proposition.
It is worth noting that Petry has looked much more like his 2020-21 self since Martin St. Louis took over as head coach in Montreal, but it is a small sample. Though he may be viewed as more of a 3 or 4 dman now, acquiring Petry can make sense and help this organization, but for that to happen, the Flyers have to make a lot more moves, trade Rasmus Ristolainen, and bank on him not declining yet.
It remains to be seen what it would cost to get him. Will the Flyers use Montreal as an opportunity to unload a contract like James van Riemsdyk? Of course they would also have to add some draft picks or B level prospects. A Petry trade would have to indicate the Flyers will be making win now moves in the offseason.
Rasmus Ristolainen
Rasmus Ristolainen was reportedly offered a 6 year $38 million contract from the Flyers… and turned it down. Thank you, Rasmus. The big Finn has been fine this season. He’s showcased his physicality and delivered average results.
There is an element of his game that is very welcomed in Philly and particularly with this current roster. However, he is still very overpaid and no where close to a $6m defender.
Fortunately for the Flyers, Ristolainen is tired of being on bad teams and wants to show off his heavy game in the playoffs before he hits the open market for the first time in his career.
The Flyers should be moving him and recouping some of the assets they gave to get him. They likely wont get back what they gave in full, but they should have various suitors and acquire at least a 1st round pick. It will be interesting to see if the Flyers try to obtain 2023 1st’s for what is supposed to be an elite draft class, or the closer 2022 draft.
Justin Braun
Justin Braun, another right hand defensemen, is on the last year of his deal. Braun, 35, has been asked to play very tough minutes and he has performed admirably. His metrics are not fantastic, but they should vastly improve on a contender, playing 3rd pair minutes.
He would be a very nice veteran addition for any team looking to make a cup run. Pierre LeBrun has reported that Carolina and Toronto are interested. Carolina just lost Tony DeAngelo to an injury and the Leafs have Jake Muzzin on the shelf for a while. Toronto did just trade for Ilya Lyubushkin, but they may be interested in adding more help.
Boston, Nashville, and Calgary are three more names to watch in the Braun sweepstakes. Flyers fans shouldn’t expect a ton in return, but he should garner a lot of interest and could lead to a couple draft picks coming back to Philly.
Travis Konecny
Travis Konecny was told in the offseason that he could’ve been moved, but the Flyers believed in him and wanted him to be part of the solution. Has that changed and is he quietly on the market?
Konecny is having an okay season and has been one of several players showing major improvement since Mike Yeo took over. It seems that TK is not the star Flyers fans hoped he’d be after his breakout 2019-20 campaign and he has become somewhat of a whipping boy amongst Flyer faithful as a result, yet he remains a young, productive, top 6 winger.
David Pagnotta, from the 4th Period, mentioned recently that Konecny may be availble again and noted that the LA Kings appeared interested.
A trade involving TK may be more of an offseason trade, but it is quietly picking up steam as more and more likely to happen. The Kings have a bevy of intriguing prospects that are close to NHL ready. Alex Turcotte, Gabriel Vilardi, Brock Faber, Sean Durzi, Helge Grans, and Samuel Fagemo are all prospects that offer varying exciting promise.
Toronto has also recently been mentioned as a potential suitor. It is unknown whether the Flyers would use Konecny as a trade to acquire prospects or as a chance to make a hockey trade. We know that the Flyers want to compete immediately, so either way, there would be a big hole that would need to be replaced in the Flyers lineup.
If he is moved for prospects, hello Johnny Gaudreau???
Claude Giroux
Claude Giroux is obviously the biggest piece that is likely on the move, not only from the Flyers, but potentially among the whole NHL.
Claude has a full No Movement Clause (NMC), meaning he will ultimately have full say on where he goes. Which teams are interested though?
According to Elliotte Friedman, Florida is a team to watch, on top of the more popular picks of Colorado, Minnesota, and St. Louis. I am sure other contenders are at least kicking the tires as well.
Giroux is yet to waive his NMC and reportedly loves it in Philadelphia, but he is expected to waive it before March 21. A Giroux trade is a massive puzzle piece for the future of the Flyers. The captain is still playing at a very high level and he brings high end skill, versatility, tenacity, faceoff prowess, and leadership to any contender.
There is a chance he could re-sign with Philly in the offseason, but those things rarely happen. Before that bridge is crossed, the Flyers have to be sure they hit on this trade, as he remains their most desirable asset to kick off a major needed retool.
Returns for Giroux
Friedman also reported that the Flyers may prioritize close to NHL ready prospects over draft picks in this trade. It has been made clear that the Flyers do not want a major rebuild – they want to ice a playoff team right away.
With that being said, these four teams offer some interesting prospects. Colorado and Minnesota control the top targets, Alex Newhook (C/LW), Bowen Byram (D), and Marco Rossi (C). These three are almost certainly off limits.
More realistically, Colorado has a couple defensive prospects who may be of interest; Justin Barron and Drew Helleson. Both are right hand shots and just about NHL ready. Barron is a higher upside prospect, but probably tops out as a second pairing guy. Helleson is enjoying a very nice season with Boston College and Team USA at the Olympics. He was also Cam Yorks partner in the World Juniors.
Sean Behrens (D) and Oskar Olausson (W) are two more appealing players, but have not been mentioned in any rumors and may also be off limits. Colorado has a couple other prospects that have nice features but aren’t all that appealing as a main piece. These include Martin Kaut, Jean Luc-Foudy, and Sampo Ranta.
Expect the Flyers to also take on a contract like Tyson Jost if a deal with Colorado happens.
Minnesota has a mix of offensive and defensive prospects they could offer. Realistically Carson Lambos and Calen Addison would be the top targets outside of Rossi but could still be too rich for the Wild’s liking.
The Flyers should push hard for Addison but the other prospects of note are Marat Khusnutdinov and Adam Beckman, 2 forwards who show exciting potential.
With Friedman mentioning Florida as a dark horse, it is worth taking a look there as well.
Florida’s untouchable would be Anton Lundell and they are not as rich with prospects but Grigori Denisenko is still an interesting player. He has not taken the next step yet but he offers an exciting package of skill and still has big potential.
Outside of Denisenko, Justin Sourdif is an intriguing prospect. Since being drafted in the 3rd round in 2020, all Sourdif has done is improve every year. He plays more of a power forward game and could bring some heaviness along with skill to Philadelphia.
Florida is also rumored to have Owen Tippett on the block, a 23 year old volume shooter who has not had it click yet for him in the NHL.
Remaining UFA’s
The Flyers have a couple other veterans that could be moved by March 21. Keith Yandle, Kevin Connauton, and Martin Jones could all be sold for mid to late round draft picks. The Flyers turned down a 5th round pick from Edmonton for Jones, thinking they can get more for him. We’ll see if they were right as he should definitely be wearing a new sweater on March 22.
Paul Pollock is Head of HW Analytics Department
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