PHILADELPHIA, Pa – With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, the Philadelphia Flyers are officially in seller mode. Philly has very few assets to trade with. Team Rebuild is still in full steam ahead mode. Eight points out of a playoff spot has them still working on a playoff spot but reality is setting in.
Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers dives to cover the loose puck. Photo by Jack.Smart@prohockeynews.com
Here are some of the assets Philadelphia will be using as trade bait for next week’s trade deadline.
Offense: With the exception of Matvei Michkov and Tyson Foerster, everyone is on the table. That includes guys like Travis Konecny. Despite his usual solid play. Losing is starting to get the best of him based on some public comments. Still, I don’t see him being moved until at least the NHL Draft. Toronto makes the most sense since he is from the area. Unless Austin Matthews is willing to come to Philly to be their number one center, don’t expect a deal. Plus the Flyers already have Toronto’s first round pick in 2027, and the Leafs without a first in 2026, a deal would have to be very complicated.
Philly is looking for a first line center. They are loaded at wing, especially on the right side. Michkov has already said RW is his more natural position. Konecny and Owen Tippett make the most sense to be moved. Both are signed through 2030. Tippett seems more likely to be moved. Bobby Brink is undersized and could be a solid pickup for someone looking to shore up their third line. Stay tuned.
Defense: The name being thrown out the most is Rasmus Ristolainen. He is only 31, right shot defenseman, and signed through next season. Detroit, Boston, Edmonton, and St. Louis, Anaheim, and Seattle are the most likely destinations. Detroit makes sense with picks and prospects to offer.
One would assume that John Gibson has a future with the team past his contract which ends in next season, but past next season their goaltending situation is uneasy. Still, I can’t see them moving past Gibson even though Sebastion Cossa is NHL ready. A first and a prospect from the Wings probably gets the deal done.
Cam York is from Anaheim. We could see him being moved there. Picks are all the Ducks have to offer since most of their top prospects are already on the roster. Anaheim has 3 second round picks in the second round next year. At least one could be moved to Philly. We can’t see the Ducks moving a first for him.
Buffalo was rumored to want to move one of their defensemen. Not until the offseason could we see this happening since the Sabres are in a playoff hunt. This looks more like a draft day trade with between the two teams. Owen Power and Bowen Byram look like top players on Philly’s eye, especially Byram since he has been rumored to go to Philly since the beginning of the season.
Emil Andrea is a package piece. Too small for Philly’s liking and wasn’t not drafted by the current administration.
Goalies: Sam Ersson’s time in Philly should be coming to an end but most likely in the off-season. Aleksei Kolosov might take over the job but even the Flyers have soured on him. Look for the Flyers to go after a backup until Yegor Zavragin can come over from Russia. Philly needs someone who can be paired with Dan Vladar through next season.
Brian Jennings covers the Philadelphia Flyers for prohockeynews.com and can be found on twitter at @Flyersfan22.
Note: Over the weekend, the Flyers did make a trade with the Minnesota Wild for AHL forwards
