There are a lot of top free agents who could make Flyers fans drool. While a top-tier goalie isn't one of them, there are still some quality players the team could place in between the posts. If you want a power forward who can score, there might be some available (Mitch Marner, perhaps?) The Flyers need a top-line center. An aging John Tavares or Sam Bennett could be picked up. With the Flyers hopefully having over $19 million to spend, maybe a few of these guys could be picked up.
All of these guys would be great additions for a club that hasn't seen a top-name free agent arrive since James van Riemsdyk's return to the team in 2018....dang that's a long time ago. Ugh. Now I'm slightly depressed thinking about that.
Anyway, if the Flyers are going to splurge on a free agent, there is one name that Daniel Briere should bust that piggy bank open for: Aaron Ekblad
Flyers should have their eyes on Aaron Ekblad
Ekblad is 29 and has played his full career in Miami. He was the first overall pick in 2014 and has lived up to that billing. He was the Calder Trophy winner in the 2014-15 season and helped guide the Panthers to their first-ever Stanley Cup Championship last year.
He's not a major scoring threat, although he did score a career high of 16 in 2017-18. Excluding last year, Ekblad has been good for at least 20 points a year since breaking into the NHL. His 33 points this past season (while playing in just 56 games) would have placed him in eighth place on the Flyers and would have led all defenders. His 11 assists on the power play also would've led the team.
His value isn't on the offensive side of the game, although it doesn't hurt. Rather, his defensive skills are far better than what the Flyers currently have. He could immediately slide into a top-line role, sharing the duties with Travis Sanheim. With Rasmus Ristolainen out, he'd be a solid contributor while the team relies on Nick Seeler, Jamie Drysdale, Cam York, Emil Andrae, and Yegor Zamula. It is also possible that Ekblad could make one (or more of these players) expendable during the summer.
In 56 games, Ekblad delivered 90 hits. Only Seeler and Ristolainen had more this past season among defensemen. He had 23 takeaways, which pales in comparison to Sanheim's 51; however, Ekblad did miss 26 games. Even then, his 57 giveaways are a far cry from many of those on Philly's roster. He averaged over 23 minutes on ice. Only Sanheim (24 minutes) can boast those numbers.
Ekblad also has something few on the Flyers' current roster have: playoff experience. He even has one goal during this year's playoff run for the Panthers, as they knocked out Tampa Bay in five games.
Yes, the Flyers need a scoring forward. However, shoring up a leaky defense has been a necessity for years. Perhaps if the defense were better, the goaltenders' stat lines could be a lot better. The leadership he could provide for this team could be immeasurable. Right-handed defenders like him are highly coveted. So, for that reason, it's reasonable to expect that the Panthers will do everything they can to retain his services.
However, if he hits the open market, he could command somewhere between $8-$9 million. That would still leave the Flyers enough money to snag another top free agent like Marner, or snag one or two on the old RFA market. This team needs a scorer, but a strong defense would go a long way in helping to put this team back where it needs to be. Ekblad is the best defender on the market. He needs to come to Philly.