Aside from the teams looking to make their last run or the teams who are possibly one step away from being contenders, there is one last group. These are teams who may be desperate enough to make a deal with the Flyers. They are the teams who might see Claude Giroux as one of their last opportunities.
These are teams that seem to be in their primes, and poised to contend, but have stalled in the playoffs. Teams like the Panthers, Maple Leafs, Wild and Golden Knights, who seem to have the pieces but can’t quite get to the promised land. In addition, there is some urgency for these teams.
Be it due to cap constraints or players ages and health, their window is smaller than normal. Better still some of these teams have emotional baggage from catastrophic playoff failures. It makes these teams ripe to overpay. Fletcher should have these teams on speed dial as leverage to get what he wants.
Florida Panthers
For some reason, I feel like the Panthers are going to be one of the team’s that will be most interested in Giroux, though I admit it makes little logical sense on paper. Florida is loaded up front, and has a ton of people scoring this season. Aleksander Barkov is in his prime and is one of the five best players on the planet right now. The Panthers should be more interested in Ristolainen than Giroux, but somehow, I think that the Cats will be deep in the hunt for Giroux as the trade deadline approaches.
Flyers Target Prospect: Forward Mackie Samoskevich
University of Michigan’s sparkplug winger Mackie Samoskevich would give the Flyers needed speed and scoring from the wing. While Samoskevich has nearly elite straight line speed, he is really nasty on his edges and is able to pivot sharply to escape defenders. He is going to embarrass a lot of NHL defensemen.
The way that he plays the game off the puck looks remarkably similar to current Flyer Cam Atkinson, some guys can just sniff out where to be. I am not sure he has the tools to be an elite NHL scorer, he does not have a lethal shot, but he already looks like a player that could create opportunities in the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Knights have secured the future, landing Jack Eichel from the Sabres, but could be looking to solidify the present with the addition of Giroux. Giroux will give the Knights reinforcements this regular season and add instant support for Eichel when he returns. The Golden Knights have done a good job at setting up their forwards to succeed even without elite talent. They have done a nice job of surrounding their top players with compliments, but have never really had a superstar talent up front. Giroux and Eichel change that calculus immediately and would make them a real threat to win the cup.
Flyers Target Prospect: Center Brendan Brisson
The price the Knights paid for the injured Eichel was pretty steep and included two draft picks, Alex Tuch, a big quality NHL center, and Peyton Krebs who fell in his draft year to 17th overall due to an Achilles injury. That said, the Flyers should look to acquire Michigan forward Brendan Brisson. Brisson is a smart forward who can really score and projects safely in the top six of the lineup. The Flyers lack a dominant scorer in their system and Brisson could be just that.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs and their fan base are a special case. Their recent history, seasons with such promise ending with multiple gut-wrenching playoff failures must have driven the fans and management insane. Toronto is hyper-pressurized, their playoff history makes them so desperate that they can be talked into just about anything. Chuck Fletcher has a chance to get two players who will be in the NHL in under three years.
Flyers Target Prospects: Topi Niemela AND Forward Matthew Knies
Topi Niemela has been a stud for Karpat in Lliga this season, grabbing 27 points, seven goals in 38 games this season. He is the definition of a puck moving defensemen and the former third round pick has been making great strides, particularly offensively. His cool demeanor and decision making with the puck allows the Fin to succeed in the face of heavy forechecking pressure.
Niemela may never be a shut down defender but is dedicated and competent in his own end. He projects as a top four RHD but I think he has an excellent chance to be a long term top pair piece.
Matthew Knies is a 19 year old power forward that is playing for the University of Minnesota, and we know that Chuck Fletcher loves him some Minnesota boys. Knies is a man among boys in the NCAA where he uses his 6 foot 3 inch frame to shield the puck from opponents and dominate in the offensive zone. He has a plus shot and shows surprising coordination and finesse for such a physical specimen.
Right now, Knies is a safe bet to play in the NHL as a productive third liner, but I think his game will translate across lines and he could be the puck retriever on a top line.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have gotten a lot of scoring from a lot of players this season, and the team just seems to be clicking. If there is a weakness on the team, it is at center. They have no one the caliber of Claude Giroux. The old adage ”If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may apply to the Wild. The players know their roles and execute them with pleasure.
On the other hand, the Wild have to contend with the buyouts of Parise and Suter, which hit in force next season in the form of 12 million in dead cap space. This may be the Wilds’ best chance at the cup. With a full compliment of draft picks and an extremely deep prospect pool, the Wild can address any gap, acquire any player to pull out all the stops in their quest or the cup. If I am Minnesota, I look seriously at Giroux as the finishing piece in a very special season.
Flyers Target Prospect: LHD Carson Lambos
Lambos was selected in the first round, 26th overall, in 2021, the draft the Flyers traded out of for Rasmus Ristolainen. Lambos has been playing lights out in the WHL and could be the Winnipeg Ices’ most important player. He is a smooth skater who can usually escape the first wave of forecheckers and distribute the puck. He has increased his efficiency in controlled zone exits as his decision making has improved.
His skating is technically sound, though he seems to lack explosion. He is a plus defender and is able to use a variety of approaches to force turnovers. Lambos’ defensive projections range from very good to elite. With enough development of his offensive skills, he could be a true number one defensemen.