Many times, when you see "the ___ should trade ___" stories, they follow a specific formula. The team in question should trade the player in question because A) They want off the team and are a distraction, B) Not good anymore, C) Cost too much and the team needs a salary dump, or D) The team is bad and needs to get some prospects or draft picks. In the case of the Flyers and Nic Deslauriers, that isn't the case.
The Flyers have played in two games so far in this new season. They dropped the Vancouver Canucks before falling to the Calgary Flames. In both games, the lineup was mostly the same. There was one difference. Jett Luchanko was absent in the second game whilst Noah Cates made his season debut. In both games, Deslauriers was a healthy scratch.
This is something that went back to last season. As the Flyers began to stumble and fall, Deslauriers played less and less. It got to the point that you pretty much never saw him.
Much of that reason is that he has been replaced in his role as enforcer by big-time. Hathaway is a big time hitter and will fight. The biggest difference between him and Deslauriers is
that Hathaway has more of a scoring touch. When last year began, both Hathaway and Deslauriers
served on a line with Ryan Poehling. This year, Poehling and Hathaway have been playing alongside Scott Laughton in what should become a solid fourth line.
Despite being a fan favorite for his old school. Broad Street Bully style of play and a team favorite for his ability to stick up and defend his teammates, Deslauriers may not have a place anymore on this team. It wouldn't be fair to keep scratching him. He's only making $1.75 million, so he'd be cheap to move.
He wouldn't fetch much more than a low-level draft pick or prospect. Still, it might be the best move for the Flyers and him. If the team isn't going to play him, then why hold onto him? If they are committed to a youth movement, having a 33-year-old guy on the roster doesn't make a lot of sense when you could use that roster space for another young forward or defender. I hate to say it, but it might be time for the team to move on from Deslauriers.