How the NHL trade deadline helped the Flyers

The Flyers were part of a blockbuster transaction a few days before the NHL trade deadline when they sent Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche for Ryan Johansen and a conditional first-round pick. Johansen immediately went to waivers, so to get a conditional first-rounder for Walker in 2025 was huge for a franchise looking to build its prospects pool. 

Another blockbuster occurred during the Noah Hanifin trade when they helped facilitate the move, retaining 25 percent of Hanifin’s contract, getting a 2024 fifth-round pick in return, and trading Mikhail Vorobyov to Vegas. While this move wouldn’t help the Flyers, they also weren’t giving up anything of worth in the trade, so it also didn’t hurt them.

Flyers helped at the NHL trade deadline with future and current assets

Just because the Flyers “sold” a fantastic blueliner in Sean Walker and didn’t get much while helping to facilitate the Hanifin trade, they were still thinking about the present when they spent a fourth-round pick to acquire Erik Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres. After trading away Walker and the injury bug striking the teams’ blue line, Johnson was a necessary add. He’s a good stopgap in the short term, but if he proves to be a good system fit, he may be more than just a rotational piece when the Flyers blue line gets healthy again.

Philadelphia also made an under-the-radar move when they sent Wade Allison to the Nashville Predators for Denis Gurianov, a forward who brings size and operates as good insurance should injuries keep striking the Flyers. 

Overall, Philadelphia took part in a pair of blockbusters, both of which involved “selling,” but they also picked up unspectacular but necessary pieces for what will be an unprecedented playoff run. They also didn’t “sell” anywhere near as much as they may have, confirming they are indeed serious about seeing how far they can go as the 2024 playoff race is officially underway. 

(Information provided by Cap-Friendly)