The NHL trade deadline is just days away as things will begin to heat up regarding actual moves. The Flyers have a few names that could be involved in those deals.
The two biggest are Scott Laughton and Rasmus Ristolainen. The latter has become more and more likely to be traded as other teams shift their focus based on available players. Trent Frederic was recently traded, while a contract extension for Jake Evans takes him off the board. Things have quieted significantly on Ristolainen, but there's always a chance.
The Flyers have two games left before the deadline. A playoff push is not impossible, but they must be realistic about how many teams they'd have to overcome. Even if they believe they have a shot, there are a few players they could trade off that wouldn't hurt them as much.
Erik Johnson
The veteran defenseman came to the Flyers at the deadline last year, only costing a fourth-round pick. He re-signed early in the offseason to continue being a mentor to the young defensemen. Johnson is at the point in his career where he's accepted that he's not an every day player anymore. He's appeared in just 22 games this season.
The Flyers wouldn't get much for him, possibly the same thing they gave up to acquire him. But Johnson almost certainly has a ton of respect around the league and would be a good mentor to another team with a young blue line.
Moving him wouldn't necessarily open up a spot on defense as Johnson was the seventh man. But it could allow Emil Andrae to stay up with the NHL team and fill in when needed.
Garnet Hathaway
This one has a caveat attached to it. Hathaway recently took a bad hit from Boko Imama last week. He appears to have avoided a serious injury, but he will miss his second game since the injury occurred. If he is still hurt leading up to the deadline, moving him is unlikely.
But if Hathaway is healthy, there could be teams interested in bringing him aboard. He brings a ton of energy and physicality to the bottom of the lineup. He's not afraid to stir it up when needed. That is a quality that teams always look for come playoff time.
Hathaway can also chip in on offense every once in a while. He has 18 points, his best total since the 2021-22 season with the Capitals. His eight goals are his highest since 2022-23. Hathaway signed a two-year extension this past summer, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be moved.
Andrei Kuzmenko
Kuzmenko has fit in rather well since coming over from the Flames. He has three points in five games and has provided a spark on the power play. He also waived his no-trade clause to come to Philadelphia so he must have seen something he liked.
It's not a ton of time for the Flyers to determine things. Even if they hold onto him until Friday, that's only seven games to make a decision. With the way he has produced and even just looked on the ice, there's a good chance he will remain for the rest of the season.
The Flyers could flip him to a contender looking for added depth, though. Unless they believe Kuzmenko will be open to re-signing him, losing him for nothing this summer isn't the most ideal option. It wouldn't be the biggest deal as Jakob Pelletier is the piece the team is more excited for. But you'd still like to get something if possible. It may only be a draft pick, but those can always be used as part of bigger deals.