The Philadelphia Flyers are now third in the Metropolitan division of the Eastern Conference, exceeding preseason expectations; nonetheless, the team is still in the midst of a rebuild and is expected to be sellers at the trade deadline on March 8.
According to insider reports, the team is extremely busy, with key contributors likely leaving the franchise.
Which players should clubs aiming for the postseason and the Stanley Cup target, and which should they avoid?
Find out with our preview of what will most certainly be a watershed moment for hockey in the City of Brotherly Love.
Target: Scott Laughton
According to SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman and Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period, the Flyers have listened to offers for center Scott Laughton and have set a first-round draft pick as the asking price.
According to Di Marco, the team has received multiple calls, and “the Flyers have not wavered off that ask and are in no rush to trade the 29-year-old.”
Laughton has two years remaining on his contract, each at $3 million, so teams do not have to worry about giving up a valuable first-round pick for a player who will eventually be a rental. He is also a key member of the Flyers’ locker room, a true leader both on and off the rink.
He has been an important part of the organization’s efforts to reform its culture, but in terms of production, he has played the fewest minutes per game since the 2019-20 season and scored only nine goals to far. His shooting percentage is also down three points.
Trading him would allow him to play more often and maybe for a true contender, rather than spending the next few seasons rebuilding. It would be a new beginning for someone who has meant a lot to Philadelphia but may not have much of a future there as his playing time decreases.
Interestingly enough, it is a divisional foe,The first-place New York Rangers are interested in acquiring Laughton, according to Arthur Staple and Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.
“His style of play is conducive to playoff hockey, and considering Laughton is signed through 2025-26, he could help the Rangers for multiple seasons when the games count the most,” Kurz said in a statement.
The main stumbling block in the deal would be if the Rangers want to give up their first-round pick with the NHL Draft taking place in Madison Square Garden this year, or if the Flyers will take a 2025 first-round pick and expect a player in return from their bitter rival.
The Flyers do not have to sell Laughton, but given the weak center market and the demand for one by contending teams such as the Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Red Wings, he appears to be the Flyers’ most valuable asset as the deadline approaches.
Target: Sean Walker
Sean Walker is a defenseman on an expiring contract in Philadelphia, and David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said that the team is more likely to move him than re-sign or extend him, while also mentioning the possibility of a package deal with fellow defender Nick Seeler.
Walker is having one of his best seasons yet. His six goals are the most he’s ever scored in a single season, and his 6.0 shooting percentage is also a career high. According to Hockey-Reference.com, he averages 19:29 on the ice per game, which is also a career high, and his defense has resulted in 3.6 goals.
He is also a sought-after right-hander, which makes him even more intriguing to potential suitors.
In a piece for The Athletic, Kurz wrote, “Walker has helped the Flyers play that fast transition game they’ve displayed on many nights, while Seeler still leads the league in blocked shots, recklessly and effectively throwing his body in front of anything that moves.”
The Flyers may be playing the long game, but trading Walker immediately affects the team, especially given how well he has performed this season. He provides stability to a defense that lacks it, despite the depth that exists beyond Walker, at least on paper.
That depth is made up of youth and inexperience, and while Walker and the Flyers may not agree on the numbers to sign a new contract, there is no denying the impact he has had on the ice, where he and fellow defenseman Seeler have combined for 25 of the Flyers’ goals and only 21 of their opponents’ goals.
Toronto, Tampa and Dallas are all clubs who could use an upgrade on the right side of their defense, and Walker is likely the finest option available.
As a pending unrestricted free agent with no sign of a new contract, Philadelphia will likely be more eager to trade him than to let him walk away with nothing in return. This will benefit the teams looking to add Walker’s abilities and experience.
Avoid: Morgan Frost
Morgan Frost, a former first-round pick in Philadelphia, has a track record of inconsistent play.
He has yet to live up to his draft status, and after being benched 11 times earlier this season by coach John Tortorella, who then sought him out for a one-on-one chat, Frost’s future with the Flyers appears to be hazy, at best.
Frost has played substantially better since the All-Star break, with 18 points since January, but it’s unclear whether this is just one of the 24-year-old’s hot streaks or a genuine turning point.
In either case, Frost may be considered a trade candidate, especially if the team believes it can capitalize on his current performance and receive a valuable player or selection in exchange.
Teams should not give them this opportunity.
As previously said, the young player’s inconsistency is a defining characteristic. While some teams may reach for him with the expectation that they can help him with coaching, they should reject the desire.
His youth will make him an intriguing asset for Philadelphia, as the Flyers believe they can entice a team to bite on his potential and maybe give up more than he is worth.
Frost has 29 points (9 goals, 20 assists) this season, and while his ice time has increased as his skill has improved, there is no evidence that any of this is sustainable. Even after the heart-to-heart with Frost, Tortorella noted that the young player’s play was inconsistent, which he needed to work on.
Laughton is a better, more experienced player with potential to contribute in the locker room for teams seeking for a center at the deadline. Dealing for him and allowing Philadelphia to keep Frost and either sink or swim with the too-often inconsistent center is the greatest option.
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