J.R. Avon fell out of favor with the Flyers, leading to trade for Tucker Robertson

In not so big news, the Flyers made a prospect for prospect trade on Thursday afternoon. Teaming up with the Kraken, Philadelphia acquired Tucker Robertson, sending J.R. Avon to Seattle.

It's not much to write home about as both players have struggled to carve out a role for themselves with their respective teams. Often times teams will get together on trades like this to give each player a fresh start in a new organization.

Avon was an intriguing prospect, coming to the Flyers as an undrafted free agent. With the 2020-21 season being cancelled, Avon didn't have the pedigree to hear his name called that summer. Instead, he went the invitation route, hoping to turn that into a contract with Philadelphia.

After impressing the team with his speed and playmaking ability during development and rookie camp, Avon turned that invite into an entry-level contract ahead of training camp in 2021. Going back to the OHL, he became a point-per-game player in the next two seasons.

An assistant captain in 2022, Avon helped lead the Peterborough Petes to an OHL championship. His 15 postseason points were sixth on the team, while his nine goals were third. He finished his OHL career with 62 goals and 138 points in 179 games. It wasn't "blow you out of the water" stats, but Avon became an integral part of the Petes.

But since then, he hasn't been able to find the same amount of success. In his rookie season for Lehigh Valley, he posted nine goals and 18 points in 65 games. Last year, he had two fewer goals and one less point in 60 games. Avon did not appear in any games during the Phantoms' postseason run. He showed flashes of speed and offensive creativity, but struggled with consistency.

The Flyers need for depth at the center position is an obvious one, but Avon was a long way from being any kind of NHL contributor. Nor was he a regular at the position, despite being listed as a center. Like the Flyers, the Phantoms don't have a strong cast of centers in the organization either. Not being able to break into the position full-time at the AHL level didn't help.

Having a strong prospect pool is another part of the Flyers' rebuild as they look for players that can help them now and in the future. Avon had been passed by numerous players and saw his stock take a major hit. A fresh start with the Kraken could help raise it back up.

Robertson is in a similar spot as Avon, but has more of an offensive upside than his counterpart. A teammate of Avon's with the Petes, Robertson excelled at the junior level. After an 18-point rookie campaign, he broke out with 81 and 90 points, respectively. His 22 points during the Petes' championship run were eighth amongst all players and second on the team.

However, that production hasn't arrived at the AHL level yet. In parts of two seasons, Robertson has 10 goals and 19 points in 77 games. He did play well at the ECHL level in 2023-24, posting four goals and 14 points in 10 games. Robertson played down in the lineup for Coachella Valley, and could see himself higher up in the lineup with the Phantoms.

Robertson, listed as a center, was also not a regular at the position. Maybe the Flyers believe his outlook at center is more certain than Avon's was. It's tough to say, as, on the surface, this trade gives both players a chance to reinvent themselves in a new place.

If Robertson can turn himself into a viable center option, all the better for the Flyers.