#3. Flyers copy the Matthew Tkachuk model
When the older Tkachuk bro was traded, he had indicated to the Calgary Flames that he would not be re-signing with them. And, despite this, they were still able to fetch Jonathan Huberdeau (coming off of a 115-point season), MacKenzie Weegar, prospect Cole Schwindt, and a conditional 2025 first-round pick. Huberdeau only had a year left on his contract at that point, and then proceeded to swindle then-general manager Brad Treliving into giving him an eight-year, $84 million contract with a no-movement clause for the first six years. He’s signed until he’s 38 years old.
The Flyers have to give up a lot in this trade, but you have to give in order to get – that’s the cost of doing business. Travis Konecny is the team’s best offensive player, while Farabee is a 23-year-old winger who already has 250 NHL games under his belt but is yet to take that next step. Cam York can help the Canucks fill out their blueline, and has shown the capability of playing both the left and the right sides at the NHL level.
The Flyers can consider this a win by not having to give up Michkov or Cutter Gauthier, and one less defenseman means more playing time for their other young defensemen such as Emil Andrae, Yegor Zamula, and Adam Ginning. They still have 2023 draftee Oliver Bonk, so they aren’t completely blowing this thing up on the blueline.