Who Are The Philadelphia Flyers Untouchables In A Potential Trade?

The Philadelphia Flyers shouldn’t budge to move roster players if the trade is right, but there are a few who should be deemed untouchable in a realistic scenario.

With the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs already reaching the Conference Finals stages, it won’t be long until the league-wide offseason officially starts and trade rumors start to heat up. The Philadelphia Flyers are widely expected to be active in both the trade and free agency markets, so as far as trades go, who should General Manager Chuck Fletcher consider untouchable in a potential deal?

In my opinion, there are only three players on the current Flyers roster who the team shouldn’t move under any realistic circumstance. Beginning with the most obvious, Carter Hart is easily one of them. The 20-year-old single-handedly dug Philadelphia out of the bottom of the league standings and put them in the playoff picture, even if they were on the outside looking in. His presence finally gives the Flyers a sure-fire starting goaltender for the future, which is something the team hasn’t had in a long while.

The next guy I’d deem untouchable is Captain Claude Giroux. Giroux still produces at a high level when he’s on the ice, but that’s not the main reason why I’d keep him around. The Hearst, Ontario native has a cap hit of $8.275 million for the next three years, with a full no-movement clause on top of it. If the Flyers were to deal Giroux, the value they’d receive in return would be nowhere near the leadership and skill he brings on the ice. Fletcher also said he would “absolutely not” trade Giroux before the deadline this past season, and I have to think that sentiment still holds true for this summer.

Lastly, the third and final Flyers untouchable player is Sean Couturier. Coots exploded on the scene in the 2017-18 campaign after undergoing scrutiny for lack of offensive production in the early part of his NHL career.  Couturier was able to match that production this past season, proving he’s an elite top-line centerman for Philadelphia. The Flyers, as they’re currently constructed, already have an issue with depth at the center position and moving the far-and-away best one you have would be extremely foolish.

Does this mean I want Fletcher to move players like Shayne Gostisbehere, Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, or Travis Sanheim this offseason? Absolutely not, but if the correct trade came along for one of their, or any other player not mentioned above’s services, I wouldn’t immediately say no.