If you had told Philadelphia Flyers supporters before the season that they would be in third place a couple weeks before the NHL trade deadline, they would probably have thought you were insane.
This season was meant to be another retooling year for them, but the fact that they are in the top three in the division is impressive.
When considering Philadelphia’s approach at the trade deadline, there are two questions they must answer:
Looking at the present roster, it’s difficult to identify what they could add to make them serious Stanley Cup contenders.
That’s not because they’re bad; they aren’t. Because the club is beating expectations this season, it may be prudent to hold firm or sell off players with expiring contracts.
The Flyers are a young club, so making a major statement or selling off a key piece would be counterproductive. Staying still and watching how the season plays out appears to be the best choice.
If the Flyers fall out of the playoff picture before March 8th, they must select which players to build around and who to let go.
GM Daniel Briere should consider Sean Couturier, Owen Tippett, Jamie Drysdale, and Travis Sanheim as players to build the franchise around.
Owen Tippett, on the other hand, is staying put after signing an eight-year contract extension in January. The Flyers have a decent mix of young and experienced players that are contributing.
Scott Laughton is the Flyers player who has been engaged in the most trade speculations thus far. Laughton has a very appealing 3 million cap hit with one season remaining after this one, so he may be a desirable item.
Athletic insiders Arthur Staple and Kevin Kurz published in a piece suggesting Laughton might be traded for a first-round selection, and that the New York Rangers are intrigued.
If a team offered the Flyers a first-round selection for Laughton, they would be silly not to consider it.
Sean Walker is another guy who has been mentioned in Flyers trade speculations. He has 5 goals, 15 assists, and 20 points through 56 games this season.
Walker has played about 20 minutes per game this season and would be an excellent addition to any blue line in the league. It’s unclear what Walker would get in exchange in a trade, but it’s safe to imagine something valuable.
Whatever Philadelphia decides will be based on their satisfaction with the team’s improvement this season. The future of Philadelphia is bright.
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