It's only three games into the season, but concern is mounting for the Flyers right now. They're being handily outplayed and don't look like the same team that went to the second round of the playoffs last year.
Despite Danny Briere's efforts, the Flyers didn't make any big moves in the offseason. The Leo Carlsson offer sheet was worth a shot, but it would've been a surprise if the Ducks didn't match. Otherwise, the team brought in Joseph Woll, Simon Benoit, and Noel Acciari. The Woll acquisition is paying off thus far, but that's about it.
And now, with a potential injury to Rasmus Ristolainen, the Flyers are at a crossroads early in the season. Any possible move will depend on the severity of Ristolainen's injury. If it's a short-term absence, the team could roll with the six they have and bring up a defenseman from the AHL. Or, if Helge Grans is healthy, he could be the seventh for now.
But if it becomes a long-term thing, it opens up a few doors. The Flyers could call up Oliver Bonk, who nearly made the team out of camp. He was sent down to get the playing time he needs to continue developing. The Phantoms just opened the regular season, though, so it's only been one game.
If the Flyers want to keep him developing for now as they find their way, there is something they could do to shake things up and add another infusion of young talent to the roster.
The Flyers should be calling about Simon Edvinsson
Big news broke in the NHL on Saturday night when Elliotte Friedman reported that Edvinsson, who is still without a contract, prefers a trade out of Detroit.
"The team and the agents are not talking, but there is word today around the league that unsigned Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson prefers a trade from the Red Wings," Friedman reported on his Saturday Headlines segment. "He went to camp with no contract. On the eve of the season, he went back to Sweden, where he's skating now."
The Red Wings were easily a better team when Edvinsson was on the ice. While the indication is that they would prefer to keep him, the situation has deteriorated quickly. Only a few months ago, Edvinsson spoke about the honor it would be to sign a long-term deal with the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2021. Steve Yzerman stepped down as GM in July, and Detroit is still looking for a permanent replacement, naming Shawn Horcoff as the interim in September.
Even with the instability of Detroit's front office and without a contract, Edvinsson purchased his own insurance and came to training camp on a PTO. Now, he's back in Sweden as the situation in Detroit continues to get worse.
Edvinsson is everything the Flyers could want in a defenseman. He has emerged as a top-pairing defenseman alongside Moritz Seider. He can play big minutes, averaging over 22 minutes per game last season, and has the size factor (6'6", 222 lbs) Philadelphia covets on the back end. Five of their defensemen are at least 6'3". Edvinsson is 23 and has shown marked improvement in his young career.
He posted a career-high nine goals last season and finished with 25 points after a season in which he had seven goals and 31 points. He may not be the power-play weapon they're looking for, but they could use more offense from the back end regardless.
The Flyers have been bleeding scoring chances in every situation and look completely out of sorts. They need an answer, and they need one fast. They will need to keep a few things in mind, though. The trade cost is number one. With the priority still being on signing him, the actual trade cost is unknown. If the Red Wings do decide they have no choice but to move on from Edvinsson, then things get interesting.
The Flyers have plenty of options at their disposal in a deal, but a trade for Edvinsson would certainly require giving up something meaningful. Is that a Cam York or Jamie Drysdale? Is that a future asset like Bonk? Would draft picks come into play? Those questions can only be answered if Briere is willing to make the call, and he should be.
The contract ask comes next, but that won't matter if a trade never materializes. If it does, there are reports about what Edvinsson is looking for. Multiple sources suggest the young defenseman would like a max seven-year deal with an AAV between $9 million and $11 million. The Red Wings, on the other hand, appear more comfortable with a shorter, bridge-like deal.
That's where the crux of the issue lies. The Flyers have about $12.7 million in cap space right now. Matvei Michkov is their only big name who will be a free agent next summer, so they would need to keep that in mind. But as it stands, they have room to make the reported deal work.
Edvinsson fills a clear need for the Flyers, so they need to be willing to find out what it would take to bring him in. There should be no hesitation from Briere in making the call.
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