What’s Next For The Flyers?

When the Nashville Predators said they would match any offer thrown towards Shea Weber, they weren’t kidding.

Yesterday, general manager David Poile and company made a huge statement by matching the Philadelphia Flyers offer sheet. This locks up Weber for the next 14 years, unless a trade is made. But that can’t happen for at least a year.

The Flyers really had their hearts set on Weber, and they were one day away from claiming him.

So, after missing out on Rick Nash, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, and now Shea Weber, what can possibly be the next move for Paul Holmgren to make, if any?

First things first; re-sign Jakub Voracek! He is a very promising young winger, with an impressive skill set. Nice hands, good speed, terrific passer.

Also, let’s not forget the Flyers still have a very good, young team.  Their offense is one of the most explosive in the league, and despite not having any big name players, their defense is deep and solid. They have a boatload of young talent, still growing.

I do not believe they need to panic and force themselves to make a deal. However, there are a few players that would make sense to target, especially if they want to compete in the powerhouse that is the Atlantic Division.

Shane Doan visited Philadelphia a week ago, indicating that there is some interest from both parties. However, now that Weber is not in the Flyers mix, that may affect Doan’s decision. Doan could be a great fit for the Flyers. He can still put up numbers, although at age 35, and has had leadership qualities his entire 16 year career.

Bobby Ryan has been involved in Flyers discussion for a while now. The Cherry Hill native stated he would like to play for the Orange and Black, but there are obstacles in the way. Anaheim wants a second line center in return for Ryan, but the Flyers are not interested in moving Sean Couturier or Brayden Schenn.

Phoenix also has another player that may strike interest to the Flyers. Defenseman Keith Yandle has been a name on the trading block recently. While Yandle is an overall solid defenseman, he does have his issues. He is not very physical, rarely blocks shots, and actually had 20 more turnovers than Matt Carle last season (take that Carle haters). I don’t believe Yandle fills the holes defensively.

The Canucks’ Alex Edler could also be another trade possibility, but Schenn or Couturier might have to be in the mix. Most likely a no-go for the Flyers.

P.K. Subban is also a restricted free agent, which means the Flyers could trade for him or go through the offer sheet process again. Subban isn’t liked by many Flyers fans, however, if he came here, fans would love his physical play. In my opinion, the Flyers do not make a run at him though.

With a general manager like Paul Holmgren, it is difficult to imagine what the next move will be. Homer has tried a few times this offseason to land a big name guy. This upcoming season could very well be a developing year for some of the younger guys. Again, the Flyers are still a very good team, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make another move. Having said that, I also wouldn’t be surprised if Holmgren did pull the trigger. If they do want to bring someone in to keep up with their division, these are just some of the guys that would make sense.

I personally feel that the Flyers need to be patient and not panic. What do you think?

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