3 gamebreaking players the Flyers must try to trade for in the 2024 offseason

Few teams are in a more curious situation than the Philadelphia Flyers, as they were supposed to be rebuilding in 2203-24, but instead, they decided to make an entertaining run at the NHL Playoffs. They didn’t get there, but it stops no one from labeling them as a surprise team and one who could be a few trade assets away from breaking into the playoffs. 

Sure, they can add more talent to the team via free agency, but the Flyers also have quite a few draft picks that they can move to rebuilding teams and bring in more than just serviceable talent. Their cap situation is currently a major issue, so any of the potential trades listed below would require general manager Daniel Briere to move some of his current players around to make room, and the same would go with any potential free agent signing.

But since all of the players listed below are still in their 20s, why not try trading for one of them while giving up a draft pick or two, plus some older players who currently don’t have a no-trade or no-movement clause attached? Doing so would make one of the following three players possible to acquire for what should again be a decent Philadelphia Flyers team. 

Andrew Mangiapane, Calgary Flames

Okay, so Andrew Mangiapane hasn’t necessarily been a gamebreaker over the past two seasons, but he’s also been forced to play for a Calgary Flames team that has done nothing but continually sell or lose talent since July 2022. That’s not an easy situation for anyone still with the Calgary Flames, but we have also seen what Mangiapane can do when he has even a solid group around him. 

Let’s flashback to the 2021-22 season when Mangiapane, despite posting just 15:44 of average total ice time, logged 35 goals and a healthy 18.9 shooting percentage. Put Mangiapane on a team like the Flyers, who, despite finishing 27th in the NHL with 235 goals scored, would immediately benefit from his presence. 

That said, I wouldn’t worry too much about Mangiapane’s numbers over the previous two seasons, and if you want more encouragement, check out some of his possession metrics. He was on the ice for 62 goals scored last season, and in 2022-23 at even strength, his Corsi For was over 50 percent - 59.2 percent in 2022-23. 

And if you want more fun, Mangiapane’s offensive zone starting percentage at even strength last year was just 44.4, so a 51.3 Corsi For shows us he played a sound role in helping the Flames get the puck up the ice and creating chances. That’s what would be coming to the Flyers if Daniel Briere found a way to trade for a player like Mangiapane. 

Mario Ferraro, San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks continue to be a strange team since, as bad as they look on paper and on the ice, they had more than a few hidden game-changing gems scattered about their lineup. Anthony Duclair looked sensational during his short stint in Tampa Bay, Kaapo Kahkonen did the same in New Jersey, while Tomas Hertl gave the Golden Knights some decent returns early in his tenure, even if it didn’t carry over into the playoffs. 

Now, Mario Ferraro has hit the rumor mill, and he, too, could factor in as a player who could augment a very average defensive rotation. And he’s someone the Flyers can use, considering the fact they moved Sean Walker at the deadline in March and lost Rasmus Ristolainen after he appeared in just 31 contests. 

Mario Ferraro would add another young piece to Flyers blue line

Ferraro factored in first-pairing minutes with 22:52 of average total ice time with the Sharks, but he wouldn’t need to be on the ice for so long in Philadelphia. He will bring even more physical play to Southeast Pennsylvania, and his 195 blocks this past season were by far the best in category among Sharks players and second when you compare that number to the Flyers roster. 

Despite the Sharks poor scoring units, Ferraro still finished with 18 assists last season, a number that would have ranked third among Flyers blueliners, with only Travis Samheim and Cameron York snagging a higher number. 

You may cringe if you check out Ferraro’s advanced stats, but remember, he was forced to play for an awful San Jose Sharks team. I already mentioned plenty of examples of former Sharks players who fared much better when they had gotten out of that situation, and Ferraro would likely be no different.