Teams are scrambling as we are within 24 hours of the NHL trade deadline becoming official. Some are doing everything possible to find the perfect player or two to add to their rosters and make that playoff push. Others have seemingly given up on this season and put up a for sale sign. Outside of the Frost-Farabee trade, the Flyers have been quiet (as far as we know) so far.
The trick at the trade deadline is not pulling the trigger too soon or too late. If you make a deal too soon, you could miss out on a better deal. If you wait too long, you may find nobody buying what you are selling. As Flyers fans, we saw this two years ago when Chuck Fletcher stood pat during a rebuilding year.
The Flyers have some assets that some teams are potentially looking at. Rasmus Ristolainen is having, perhaps, the best year of his career. Scott Laughton has a skill set that just about every team needs. Andrei Kuzmenko offers intriguing possibilities. Others on the team could be had if the price is high enough. There are no sacred cows here.
HOWEVER...
There are 31 other teams in the NHL. They also have needs, wants, and desires. And so far, they have been moving. What this means is that other potential suitors may be going to the prom with another team. Let's take a look at what's going on.
The Rangers are unloading everyone just a year away from being one of the top teams in the East. Reilly Smith was moved after they dealt Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey. Before he got hurt, they were shopping Chris Kreider. The Bruins are taking calls on Brad Marchand. Carolina, after acquiring Mikko Rantanen, may be trying to move him.
The Penguins have traded Michael Bunting for Luke Schenn and Thomas Novak. Are the Pens trying to get back into the race or are they going to sell these players off too? Meanwhile, the reigning Cup Champion Florida Panthers have acquired a bottom six center in Nico Sturm. The Devils, after losing Jack Hughes for a while, have acquired defender Brian Dumolin and are allegedly in negotiations to snag Flyers-killer Brock Nelson from the Isles.
The Flyers have to consider if they are selling or trying to make a move up. It's enticing to try to make a playoff run when you consider that some of the teams above them (Rangers, Devils, Bruins) are struggling. However, this Flyers team has been uber-inconsistent all season. They can't win more than three in a row. They'd have to make up a lot of ground to get into the playoffs and it doesn't look promising.
But if Daniel Briere is serious about trading guys away for future assets, be it prospects or picks, the contenders are starting to fill up their needs. Soon, the Flyers are going to be left without someone to do business with. Don't make a bad deal, but this franchise can't survive another Fletcheresque performance from the front office.