Top-line centers are not easy to acquire, considering they don't often become available on the market. And even if they do, teams are going to want a haul for them. It's up to the other side to determine whether they are willing to pay the cost. That's the nature of the business.
There are always pros and cons to making these kinds of deals. You have to figure out if what you're giving up is actually better than what you're acquiring. And that isn't always easy, especially when it's not a known commodity at that time. The Flyers were put in that position at the deadline after discussions with the Blues on Robert Thomas.
Kevin Kurz of The Athletic dropped the tidbit of information in a recent article.
"One center that the Flyers don’t believe is available anymore is the Blues’ Robert Thomas. Although the Flyers checked in on Thomas before the deadline, the ask on the 26-year-old was a non-starter for them — one Flyers source mentioned that in March, the Blues wanted Martone, Nesbitt, and a first-round pick for Thomas, which was completely unreasonable in their view."
The reported asking price was steep, but that's the reality of pursuing a 26-year-old top-line center in his prime. Players like Thomas rarely become available, and when they do, teams generally have to overpay to acquire them. But the Flyers weren't willing to do so, banking on what their assets can turn into.
Flyers put their faith in the future over Robert Thomas
The Flyers didn't know in March whether Martone would become an immediate contributor. Their decision was based on projection, despite his success at Michigan State. After finishing his collegiate season, he played well in his nine regular-season games, posting four goals and 10 points to help the playoff push. His postseason numbers were among the best on the Flyers, as he had two goals and five points in the 10 games. Martone's early success has strengthened the Flyers' belief that holding onto him was the right move.
Jack Nesbitt's inclusion is the interesting part. The Flyers traded up to draft the center 12th overall last summer. His selection, at least the trade-up to do so, was met with some backlash. He posted 25 goals in 55 games after 25 in 65 games the prior year. While he didn't necessarily take a step forward, he has shown promise.
Nesbitt recently committed to the University of Michigan, which should be a good stepping stone. Having access to higher-level coaching and better training facilities is invaluable. He stands at 6'5", but his 185-pound frame needs some work if he wants to be able to compete at higher levels. And while he remains years away from proving himself, his inclusion in the reported ask illustrates how highly the Blues valued him. He wasn't the key piece of the trade, but rather another asset that would've been lost on top of it.
And lastly, the exact first-round pick involved is unknown, as it could have been the Flyers' pick this summer or even the Leafs 2027 first-rounder, which is now unprotected. But regardless of which selection the Blues wanted, it would have represented another premium asset on top of Martone and Nesbitt.
The Flyers had a chance to fill one of their biggest needs with a proven top-line center, a move that could've accelerated their path toward contention. But it would've meant sacrificing a significant portion of their future. By refusing to meet the Blues' asking price, the Flyers doubled down on their belief in their young core, aligning with the patient approach Danny Briere and Keith Jones have taken throughout this rebuild.
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