K'Andre Miller. Pytor Kochetkov. Shayne Gostisbehere. Most recently, Seth Jarvis. Yes, the Carolina Hurricanes are getting banged up left and right. After starting the year 5-0 and being the last unbeaten team in the NHL, they have gone 2-4 since. Injuries are taking their toll, and they have tumbled into third place. Granted, the NHL season is long, and they'll have more than enough time to bounce back.
However, we all know that former Flyer Rod Brind'Amour played a style of hockey similar to current Flyers' head coach Rick Tocchet. They were both physical, fundamentally sound, and capable of scoring. And like Tocchet, he wasn't afraid to throw down.
As of right now, the Hurricanes are being slammed around. They are losing people left and right. One of the things that will help Carolina is having a big, physical guy protect their players. Long term, that is something that could help them in the playoffs when they have to face their recent playoff nemesis, the Florida Panthers. As it turns out, the Flyers have a guy who could fit their needs.
Flyers Could Trade With Carolina
Nicolas Deslauriers has appeared in just four games this year and has averaged 7:23 minutes of ice time. He's doled out 11 hits and has had one fight this year against Marcus Foligno.
To be honest with you, his role is reduced. If you need a physical guy, the Flyers have others who can do it. Garnet Hathaway is a better skater, has appeared in every game so far, and has given out a team-leading 33 hits. He can also fight, as seen here with Scott Mayfield.
Rodrigo Abols is younger, can also hit, and plays center. Nikita Grebenkin is younger, loves to play physically, and has a couple of assists. Basically, Deslauriers doesn't have a role anymore on the team.
In a recent article, Todd Matthews suggested that the Flyers ship Deslauriers to the Islanders. Yes, he'd make a great fit there protecting their young stars. However, as banged up as Carolina is, they could make a good trade partner, too.
Let's be honest, Deslauriers wouldn't bring much. Luckily for Carolina, they also have about $8 million in cap space, so they could take on the remained of his $1.75 million salary easily. Even if the Flyers took on half of that, that wouldn't be hard to do.
The return would be minimal. You're going to get one of two things. The first is either a low-level prospect that may not do much. The second is a lower-end draft pick (a fifth through seventh). Now, the Flyers could sweeten that pot. Carolina only has three picks this year: a 1st round and a pair of sixth-rounders. The Flyers could offer Deslauriers and a 2026 seventh-round pick for a 2027 4th or 5th round pick. Yes, that would drop Philly's draft picks from five to four this year, but it would also give them an extra mid-term pick in 2027.
Deslauriers has been a fan favorite the last few years. However, he's wasting time and bench space that a younger guy, like Grebenkin or Abols, could use. Might as well get something for him while you can.