Top 5 most likely Flyers traded at the 2022-23 deadline
Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher will have his hands full in the next few weeks. The Flyers are good enough that they might be able to make the playoffs based on their post-Christmas surge. If that is the case, they will need to add a few pieces while navigating the salary cap. The Flyers are also bad enough that they will most likely miss the playoffs. If they do make it, they will most likely be a one-and-done against a team like Boston or Carolina.
There are a lot of names on the market right now. Erik Karlsson is this year’s biggest prize. Some of the rumors have him coming to Toronto. It looks as if the Canes and Devils may end up in a bidding war over Bo Horvat.
So, while we are a month away from really seeing how the trade market will shape up, we are also about a month away from realistically seeing where the Flyers will go. Will they be a seller? Will they be a buyer? Right now, it could go either way. But IF the Flyers are sellers, these five players would most likely be the ones finding themselves in a new uniform.
Flyers – #5: Ivan Provorov
The recent controversy aside, there have been rumors for a while that perhaps he and/or the Flyers are not happy with him being here. Maybe he has asked for a trade. Maybe the Flyers are shopping him. Everyone denies it, but the rumors are still floating around.
With that said, he has two years on his contract at over $6 million each. If the Flyers are buyers, I could see him being a piece in trying to get someone. With the rise of Cam York and with Egor Zamula waiting in the AHL, it is possible, however unlikely, you could see a defender like Provorov or Rasmus Ristolainen traded away. The contracts would be the hard part to move.
Most like, he’ll stay on the Flyers, as will Risto. Both of them are in kind of the same boat: they show flashes of defensive brilliance, they can show that they can contribute on offense, but they can also make crucial mistakes on defense and they are not consistently good enough to warrant their high salaries.
However, if the Flyers are selling off pieces, they have to look to the future. Every team needs good defense. The question remains: Are the defensive pieces they have now adequate enough or can the team spare one of the mainstays to acquire a goal-scoring forward and bring up some young prospects?
Flyers – #4: Felix Sandstrom
The Flyers have three goalies right now. One is really good: Carter Hart. Another shows shades of being really good: Samuel Ersson. The other shows he is a fairly capable backup in this league: Sandstrom.
Having one standout goalie is something every team wants. Having two is a luxury. Having three who can play at he NHL level is special. Someone will have to go and it looks like Sandstrom would be that guy. There is an outside chance the Flyers could trade Ersson if the return is something really high or if the Flyers become buyers.
Most likely, there is a playoff bound team that could use a backup just in case. If that is the case, they will probably have Fletcher on their hot line. Sandstrom could be a good fill in for a team that needs him. He may not fetch much…maybe a mid tier (third or fourth round pick) unless goalies start dropping like flies around the league. Hey, you never know. A team could get desperate.
Flyers – #3: Kevin Hayes
When he got benched, the cries from the hockey media world declared he would demand a trade and/or the Flyers would move him. It was obvious he didn’t agree with being benched and was unhappy.
However, then he was named to the All-Star team and has been one of the hottest players during the recent surge. He has had one hat trick and has been a major part of the surge.
This one could go either way. The Flyers may part with him and his contract and hope to get something in return. If the Flyers are buying, he could be a piece to sell off to get a younger forward from some other team (like a Horvat or Tino Meier). It could be that Hayes wants out and will demand a trade.
At the same time, as he has gotten hot, so has the time. There is a very good chance he will still be in the long-term plans of this team. We’ll just have to see.
Flyers – #2: Justin Braun
This should not come as a shocker to anyone. Braun hasn’t played since January 2nd in a win against Anaheim. He’s been a healthy scratch for a few weeks now. He’s 35 and will be 36 in a few weeks. He’s a veteran defender that any cup-bound team could gladly lose. Much like relief pitching in baseball, you can never have too many defenders.
Because of how little he has been used lately, he won’t command much. Maybe a lower-level prospect or draft pick. Last year he brought a nice haul in. Don’t expect a third-round pick this year. But his time as a Flyer is pretty much over.
Flyers – #1: James van Riemsdyk
Much like Braun, this should not have come as much of a surprise. Rumors of JVR’s departure from Philly have been going around since the Kraken was selecting a roster. There were many rumors the team was trying to ship him out in the offseason to clear up cap space. That also didn’t happen. The Flyers were left with him and his bloated salary.
There were a lot of expectations that he’d be a hot commodity for a team that is bound for the playoffs. Anybody could use a veteran sniper like him. And then he broke his finger. But he returned to play and it was hoped he could showcase his talents.
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Since Christmas, the Flyers have been surging. However, JVR has not been one of the players performing well. In his last 13 games, he has just two goals and three assists. If he is to be a tradeable asset, he has to perform better than that. Not too many teams will line up at the door and pay top price for a 33-year-old who can’t score. His seven goals and 12 assists in 28 games aren’t good enough.
Still, the Flyers will likely part with him. What will the return be? It’s too early to say. If he gets hot, the return will too. If he stays cold, we’d be lucky to get a seventh-rounder in return.