There are a few players Chris Johnston at The Athletic listed as "Early NHL Trade Candidates," and a team in transition like the Philadelphia Flyers should be in on a few of them. Not only are there young players available, but the Flyers would also have a chance to send aging veterans packing as they continue to get younger.
Those acquiring some players from Philadelphia would get short-term benefits should they factor in as good fits. As for the Flyers, every player listed below gives them long-term benefit potential, and that should excite fans.
So, who should general manager Daniel Briere go after, and what should he give up to get them? Here are three players fans must keep an eye on.
San Jose Sharks - Mario Ferraro
The Flyers are further ahead in their rebuild than the Sharks, and Mario Ferraro has had the thankless duty of spending his entire career in San Jose. Ferraro, though, has showcased that he can be a building block for a team closer to contention than the Sharks, who look like they're at least two seasons away, if not longer.
One player the Flyers can send to the Sharks for Ferraro is Rasmus Ristolainen, who doesn't look like he'll be playing again until December. In recent seasons, Ristolainen has been beyond injury-prone for the Flyers, and is in the final two years of his contract, meaning he's not likely going to be there when Philadelphia is winning consistently.
Ristolainen, though, would provide value and leadership to the rebuilding Sharks. He also lacks a no-trade clause of any kind. By dishing him off for Ferraro, the Flyers would get a younger, hard-nosed blueliner who can put up top-four minutes and block over 100 shots a season.
Toronto Maple Leafs - Nick Robertson
Trevor Zegras looks like he's on the road to rejuvenation in Philadelphia, and the Flyers could snag another one in Nick Robertson, who never had a chance to maximize his potential in Toronto. But Robertson could always be on the move if the team trading for him is in a transitional phase, given his potential.
Robertson has scored often, despite finding himself relegated to fourth-line and occasional third-line minutes, with a 13.9 shooting percentage and 29 goals over the past two seasons. Give him middle-six minutes, between 13:30 and 14:30 per game, and watch his production skyrocket over 20 goals a year, making him a sound depth-scoring piece.
So, who to trade? Why not give up Nick Seeler? Seeler is a shot-blocking machine, with over 400 blocks in the last two seasons. He can also add the intimidation factor, given his physical style. Since the Leafs are cap-strapped, the Flyers may need to retain some of Seeler's contract here, but long-term, it would be worth it.
Seeler has a full no-trade clause, but he should have no problem going to Toronto, if the Leafs accept this "hockey trade." But in the end, the Flyers would end up with far more potential for long-term value while the Leafs would get an older blueliner who will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2027-28 season at age 34.
New York Rangers - Brennan Othmann
This would be a sneaky-good one if the Flyers could pull it off. While Brennan Othmann hasn't impressed in the points category across his 25 NHL games, he's been embracing a role as a pure hitter and has shown off incredible defensive forward capabilities.
Not only did he log 43 hits across 22 games in 2024-25, but Othmann finished the year with a plus-7. Further, he was on the ice for 12 goals at even strength, good for a solid 11.1 on-ice shooting percentage. And if you want more fun, Othmann's on-ice save percentage at even strength was a wild 95.0.
That's not bad for a Rangers team that struggled, and, like Nick Robertson, Othmann could be more than just a good defensive forward. He shows a lot of effort, and the potential he brings could mean a middle-six role or more for the winger.
Since Othmann is still primarily an AHLer, the Flyers shouldn't need to give up a ton for him. But Garnet Hathaway would make this deal sweeter, adding even more of an intimidation factor in Manhattan.
It would mean giving up a fan favorite, but if you're a rebuilding team in this business, you need to think long-term. And if the Rangers wanted more? Flip them a second-round pick. It will be worth it. In the end, the Flyers would be more likely to win this one, since Othmann is only one organization away from seeing his production take off.