With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, multiple deals have begun to be finalized. There have been no major blockbusters yet, but several of these deals could affect the Philadelphia Flyers.
Some of the deals so far include Nick Blankenburg being traded to the Predators for a fifth-rounder. Utah and Calgary flipped defenders Olli Maata and Mackenzie Weegar. Three second-round picks also went to Calgary for Weegar in the deal. According to a report, the Sabres are going to offer one of their top prospects and a first-round pick to St. Louis for Colton Parayko.
Why This Matters to Philly
So, all of these trades involve defenders going to playoff-bound teams. Calgary has been floundering for the last few years. Trading Weegar, one of their few good pieces, for Maata, a prospect, and three second-rounders is a pretty good haul. As for the Sabres, they've been connected to Rasmus Ristolainen more than anybody. If they felt the Flyers' price was too high, I gotta say that a first-rounder and Mrtka are a great return. If Daniel Briere were offered that, he should jump all over it.
If the rumors about Buffalo end up being true, that is one less team that will want Ristolainen. If you are even a basic student of economics, this brings us to the law of supply and demand. The Flyers have a valuable defender that some playoff-bound teams (including the Flyers themselves) could use. That is the supply.
But what is the demand? How many teams want him? If there is a bidding war, the Flyers can keep the price high. If there isn't a demand for Ristolainen, the Flyers would either trade him for scraps or have to hold onto him, which isn't altogether a bad thing. For example, last year, the Flyers traded Scott Laughton to Toronto after playing the Maple Leafs, and others, off each other. This year, Laughton is on the block again, and it looks like they aren't going to get much.
So, there are two scenarios here. Either the Flyers can play some teams off each other and get a good deal for Ristolainen, or they hold onto him. If Chuck Fletcher were still here, he'd unload Ristolainen for a Zamboni, a 2035 seventh-round pick, a bag of used pucks, and a prospect playing in the lower levels of the Slovakian Hockey League. Thankfully, Briere is not Fletcher.
Philly's recent win streak is giving us hope again. Much like Michael Corleone, "Just when we think we are out, they pull us back in." So, could the Flyers make the playoffs? Maybe. Do they need to make a move? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll have to see what Briere has up his sleeves. If there is one thing we can guarantee, Briere won't make a move unless he gets a good return. He won't do it just to do it.