The Philadelphia Flyers are experiencing a "better than anyone expected" season. Entering Dec. 1, they are 14-7-3 with 31 points through 24 games, sitting in the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. The teams' offseason moves have hit tremendously with Trevor Zegras being the forward they needed and Dan Vladar finally being their solution to their goaltending woes.
Due to their positioning in the standings (although it is a crowded playoff field), there is some expectation they can make a move to improve their chances of contending for the Stanley Cup. it just so happens that one team is open for business.
The Vancouver Canucks rank near the bottom of the entire NHL, and instead of trying to put a band-aid on their struggles, they are ready to rebuild. Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Canucks were willing to trade any veteran player not named Quinn Hughes to help build a younger roster. The Canucks confirmed this report and said they would be open to dealing their veteran players.
Friedman followed up on this report on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, saying that the Canucks have players that Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet likes. After all, Tocchet previously coached the Canucks.
"I had a couple of people tell me that Vancouver's got players that Rick Tocchet likes, and I don't know if it's [Kiefer] Sherwood, it would fit, but nobody knows the Vancouver players better than Tocchet does, right? And so a couple of people said to me, 'you better keep an eye on Philly when it comes to Vancouver's players'"
Which Rick Tocchet-era Canucks players are the best fit for Flyers?
Flyers fans will, of course, be interested in the team making a big splash and acquiring Quinn Hughes. The issue is that Hughes holds all the cards, and he's expressed no desire to be traded. So, as of now, Hughes isn't an option.
When looking at the Flyers' needs, they need a center in the worst way. They are getting decent play from Noah Cates and Sean Couturier, but they need more help, especially if they want to contend for a playoff spot. Luckily for the Flyers, the Canucks do have some centers that could fit the bill.
Yes, the most obvious player would be Elias Pettersson, but he doesn't feel like much of a fit. Tocchet was the head coach as the relationship between Pettersson and J.T. Miller deteriorated. Pettersson also came off a bad season statistically in 2024-25, which Tocchet called out and said the center's "preparation has to get better." While Pettersson has become a point-a-game player this season, he doesn't feel like much of a fit.
The Flyers also need some more scoring help. They average 2.83 goals per game, ninth lowest in the NHL. Kiefer Sherwood fits the Flyers mold due to his ability to dish out hits to opposing players, and he's having a strong scoring season with 16 points (12 goals, four assists). Tocchet had Sherwood for just one season, where he recorded 19 goals and 21 assists in 78 games.
But if there is one player the Flyers should target, it's Brock Boeser. Under Tocchet, Boeser had the best season of his career in 2023-24. In 81 games, Boeser scored 40 goals and recorded 33 assists for 73 points. His numbers were good enough for Boeser to earn his second All Star Game nomination. This season, Boeser has recorded nine goals and seven assists in 24 games.
While there was drama regarding Boeser having the "A" patch removed from his jersey last season, it was a nothingburger since the alternate captain tags were in rotation. Bringing in a player who made the All-Star team under Tocchet should be a priority for the Flyers, especially if they want to pull away from the pack in the crowded Metropolitan Division.
If the Flyers are to bring in some Canucks veterans, Boeser and Sherwood should be the priorities.