3 under-the-radar prospects the Flyers cannot afford to trade at the deadline
The Philadelphia Flyers could buy at the trade deadline, but there are some prospects they just cannot afford to sell off.
The Philadelphia Flyers continue to find themselves in the thick of the playoff race as the 2024 trade deadline sits just over one week away. Since they are still a top-three team in the Metropolitan Division, there is a good chance they will add at least one quality player to their lineup, but that doesn’t mean they need to sell off their best prospects to land a top talent.
We all know there are at least a few who the Flyers should not trade away under any circumstances unless they’re getting a deal so lucrative involving a player who can help them win hockey games beyond the 2023-24 season and for years to come.
However, players like Matvei Michkov and Oliver Bonk aren’t the only prospects who should be off-limits, or at least off-limits for the most part. There are other names out there that, unless the Flyers believe they can acquire and extend a potential star or big-time contributor at the deadline, they need to say a hard ‘no’ to non-contending teams.
The Flyers have some under-the-radar prospects they can’t afford to trade
The names mentioned in the above section will, unless something unforeseen occurs, remain in the organization. Others like Carson Bjarnson and Alexei Kolosov are a pair of names that also come to mind, and it almost goes without saying that they won’t be expendable at the March 8th deadline.
But there are more under-the-radar prospects in this talented pool whom fewer fans may think about could become more than just solid contributors for the organization within the next few seasons.
In the following slides, you will meet three players the Flyers cannot risk trading away despite the fact they could be just a blockbuster trade from becoming strong contenders for the Stanley Cup. The first is a forward who has shown a lot of promise at the University of Denver, and he could parlay such play into a reputable spot with the big club in the next few seasons.
Massimo Rizzo’s productivity has been commanding attention for a while now
A former seventh-round draft pick for the Carolina Hurricanes who remains unsigned with the Flyers should find himself with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms next season. Don’t let Rizzo’s late-round draft status fool you, as he’s been working his way up the rungs over the last three seasons at the University of Denver, enjoying steady increases in productivity with each passing season.
Through just 28 games this year, Rizzo’s production has soared to another level, with 44 points, 10 goals, and 34 assists, putting him on a 1.57 points per game pace. His 34 assists this season show us that he has factored in as a prolific passer who can find linemates with ease, and it should surprise nobody if he hits the 40-assist milestone at his current pace.
Despite the outstanding points production, his game isn’t all-out offense, so expect him to break up more than a few would-be plays in the defensive zone to help his team retake puck possession.
We won’t see Rizzo on the Flyers next season or potentially even the year after sans injuries or if he enjoys an outstanding camp. But he will become, at worst, a solid role player who the Flyers will be glad they kept.
Denver Barkey is a young player with hordes of scoring potential
Denver Barkey’s size (5’9, 154 lbs) could be a concern to some, but we have seen smaller prospects not just become solid NHL players, but excel as top scorers. This is something the Flyers third-round pick in 2023 has a ton of potential to be when he eventually reaches the big club later in the 2020s.
Barkey is in his third season with the OHL’s London Knights, and his solid points production has been on display, starting with his breakout performance last season when he scored 59 points and 22 goals in 61 contests. So far in 2023-24, he has 82 in 53 games, good for 1.54 points per game. There is a chance he hits the century mark this season, and regardless of whether he reaches that milestone, Barkey is nonetheless a name to get familiar with.
Tenacity is another distinguishing trait Barkey possesses. It’s one thing to put up awesome numbers, but given his ability to engage in puck battles time and again, it also means he has more than just a sound game offensively. Barkey also holds value on special teams, whether it’s on the power play or if he’s with the PK unit.
Sure, Barkey is smaller and still very young, so you won’t see him in Philadelphia yet, but when you combine his productivity with his work ethic, it makes him an under-the-radar prospect you want to keep in your system.
Samu Tuomaala is finding his game in the Lehigh Valley
The last few years have been a roller coaster for a player like Samu Tuomaala, a 46th overall pick with high expectations a few seasons ago. Unlike the other two players on this list, Tuomaala struggled often since he was drafted, whether he made a cameo appearance in the AHL or if he spent time in Liiga.
However, after he figured things out last season playing for Kettera over in Finland, it was only a matter of time before he made his way to North America full-time. He put up 46 points in 29 games in 2022-23 before parlaying that performance into a 19-point effort in 17 postseason outings.
So far in 2023-24, Tuomaala has 37 points and 13 goals in 49 contests, and he will only get better. His decision-making when shooting the puck needs a lot of work, but once he figures out his overall slot selection, Tuomaala will be hard to stop. And given his overall fast-paced approach, he will dare opponents to keep up with him.
Tuomaala must improve his overall game to make it to the big club, but he has too much potential to trade elsewhere at this point. If he keeps figuring things out like he’s had over the past two-and-a-half seasons, he will be a tremendous asset on one of the league’s 32 teams.
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(Statistics provided by Elite Prospects as of February 28th)