3 Flyers players who won’t return in 2024-25
The Philadelphia Flyers could spend this offseason accumulating draft picks and assets, which would include seeing a few players either walk or get moved.
The Philadelphia Flyers have reached the “down the stretch” period of their surprising 2023-24 campaign, but they recently relinquished third place in the Metropolitan to the Washington Capitals.
It’s also worth noting a few teams remain six points or even closer to Philadelphia, so this season isn’t over yet. But regardless of what happens between now and the final game of their 82-game slate, we can confidently say this group exceeded expectations.
As underdogs all season, the Flyers will enter the NHL playoffs with a chip on their shoulders should they make it there, and that could carry them to an upset (or two) in what would turn into an unprecedented deep playoff run. But it won’t stop general manager Daniel Briere from continuing to tear this team down, something that started at the trade deadline last month.
Some notable Flyers players won’t return for 2024-25
Plenty of Flyers players entered the rumor mill during the start of the calendar year, and those rumors persisted until the deadline came and went. Morgan Frost was a youngster who may have heard his name mentioned a time or two, but unlike the three players listed in this slideshow, it’s hard to see him going anywhere now.
For a while, Frost looked like a disappointment, scoring just 16 points and five goals in 2021-22, albeit displaying a hitter’s mentality and breaking up plays. Last season, he showed more potential with 46 points and 19 goals in 81 games, and that upward trend productivity-wise has continued well into this season with 40 points and 12 goals.
At even strength, Frost has been on the ice 40 times when the Flyers have scored, which is just a shade below his 41.8 xGF and 10 more than the number of goals allowed with an xGA of 26.7. This gives him a possession quality of plus-15.1 at even strength, which is nearly 12 higher than what we saw last season.
That said, you should be surprised if Frost didn’t return because Briere traded him elsewhere, but that won’t be the case with the following three players.
Scott Laughton should bring in a first-round pick this summer
Scott Laughton’s time in Philadelphia would have ended back in March at the trade deadline, but the right price for Daniel Briere to move him never materialized. This summer, some teams looking for a proven player capable of providing depth scoring and solid play regardless of what zone they are in should call Briere and negotiate a deal for Laughton.
Thanks to the season he enjoyed this year - and one that isn’t finished quite yet - his value has only sailed north. Laughton’s 37 points in 75 games at the time of this writing is well within striking distance of reaching last season’s career-high when he parlayed 18 goals and 25 helpers into 43 points.
Even if he doesn’t get there in the next seven games, Laughton has nonetheless proven his 43-point outing was no outlier. His advanced metrics don’t look as sharp, with a low 45.6 Corsi For at 5-on-5 despite an offensive zone starting percentage of 47.9 and just 35 on-ice goals compared to 43 allowed.
Further, Laughton’s 38.6 xGF to 39.7 xGA ratio at even strength looks good on paper, but his on-ice goals against at even strength sits at 52 while goals for is just 43. But Laughton’s career-best scoring production and his ability to once again contribute on all special teams units will keep him high on the shortlist in quite a few front offices, meaning a trade is on the horizon.
Cam Atkinson is playing his final games in what was a short stint in Philadelphia
Heading into the 2024 offseason, Cam Atkinson will have one year remaining on a deal that involves an AAV of $5.875 million, and it’s one that would otherwise be tough for Daniel Briere to move elsewhere if he didn’t have room to retain 50 percent of the 34-year-old’s salary.
Atkinson came to Philadelphia in 2021-22 following a long stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He can still be productive, so this would be the opportune time for Briere to send one of his older players elsewhere during this rebuild while Atkinson gets a chance with a more serious contender.
Barring some unforeseen run of success, it’s hard to see the Flyers going far in the playoffs before they continue to rebuild this program, so sending Atkinson elsewhere, even for a mid-round pick, makes sense.
He has a 10-team modified no-trade clause, but that shouldn’t be too difficult to navigate should Briere find the correct trading partner. Like Laughton, Atkinson holds special teams value, and his overall possession quality sits at plus-6.5, which could be enticing to some front offices.
But his actual on-ice goals for at even strength vs. on-ice goals allowed sits at a meager 30 to 50, and that can be a problem. However, from a possession quality standpoint, it does show that moving Atkinson to a better team will result in more respectable numbers.
The Rasmus Ristolainen trade will occur sometime in the offseason
Had Rasmus Ristolainen stayed healthy, we would have seen the trade occur in March, but a long-term injury kept other organizations from calling Briere. Despite playing in just 31 games this season, someone will be willing to acquire the seasoned veteran who can log minutes on the top-four, even if his overall ice time took a hit this season.
Ristolainen isn’t a scorer, and a high-profile offensive game has rarely been the case throughout his NHL career, but he will provide help as a stay-at-home blueliner. Someone who figures to contend next season and is looking for a complement for a two-way player will be interested in Ristolainen, regardless of his upcoming $6.5 million base salary and overall contract length.
A team wishing to acquire his services will be getting a bonus if they need help on special teams, as Ristolainen can give them a hand on the power play and when they are short-handed. One interesting stat line is that in 27.2 short-handed minutes in 2023-24, the Flyers never gave up a goal with Ristolainen on the ice. It’s also worth noting his overall possession quality at even strength sat at plus-5.6.
Ristolainen may not be a flashy player, but he will provide value to a serious contender looking to boost their top-four with a stay-at-home player or even their bottom-pairing.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)