We are just a little over a month away from the NHL's trade deadline. What are the Flyers going to be doing? They aren't necessarily expected to be buyers, but could if the right player becomes available. They aren't necessarily expected to blow the team up and sell lots of players for future assets. However, if the right price is paid, some guys could be expected to be moved.
One of the many decisions that could be a factor at the deadline is the length of the contracts these players have. A player with a long-term contract could be harder to move than someone who is "just a rental", though Farabee was able to be moved along with Morgan Frost. At the same time, a team looking for a player for just a playoff run may only want someone on an expiring contract; much like Colorado did last year with Sean Walker.
Let's take a look at some of the players who will have a contract that expires this year. Some may be RFAs and others may be straight-up free agents. Still, these guys could be attractive to other teams. Now, this doesn't mean that the Flyers will move ANY of these players.
Noah Cates
Cates will be an RFA. He is making $2.65 million, so he still is fairly cheap and controllable. However, the Flyers seem to love him and will most likely re-sign him at the end of this season. While he could fetch a lot on the trade deadline chopping block, the Flyers like him too much. He'll be extended at some point between now and the summer.
Tyson Foerster
This is an interesting one. Has Foerster regressed this year? Is he just starting to turn it on? Is the best still yet to come? As of right now, he is making $863,000. That's pretty cheap. As an RFA this summer, he could earn himself a sweet bridge deal.
However, if the Flyers moved him, they could probably get multiple first rounders/top prospects. That could be nice, but could that set the rebuild back another year or two? Most likely he is staying unless someone offers something totally awesome.
Cam York
York is making $1.6 million right now on his contract. This would be his bridge contract year. So far, it looks like the Flyers are happy with his body of work. Considering that their defensive prospects down below are still untested, the team will most likely stick with what they have. It's one of the reasons they are sticking with Rasmus Ristolainen. Much like Cates, watch him get that next deal with a nice pay raise this offseason. York's not going anywhere
Erik Johnson
Johnson is just one of two unrestricted free agents the Flyers have on their roster. If Johnson wants to be traded, the Flyers could find someone who would take on a veteran with Stanley Cup-winning experience. He hasn't played much this year, mostly embracing his role as a player/mentor with the young defenders. It is possible he could be flipped for a mid-level third or fourth-round pick, much like he was purchased last year for. It comes down to if Johnson wants to be moved and if there is a demand for his services.
Cal Petersen
Petersen is buried in the AHL. His numbers with the Phantoms aren't great, though he is now out until at least March due to a lower-body injury. With his hefty price tag and his poor stats, nobody was going to inquire about him anyway, especially not now with his injury. The Flyers will just as likely not re-sign him this offseason when he becomes an unrestricted free agent. We'll just have a few more months left to deal with him on our books.