The NHL season is almost halfway over. The trade deadline is March 7th. That seems like a far time away, but granted it will come up quickly. The Philadelphia Flyers will be in an interesting position this spring. There is a possibility that they could be in contention for a playoff spot. There is also the possibility that they will be out of a playoff race and looking to sell off assets. Either way, it will be interesting to see what path Daniel Briere and the Flyers admin decide to take.
With that in mind, let's look at the Flyers defense. Which players could the Flyers move and which ones could they hold onto? We'll rank each player on three categories: chances the Flyers would trade them, chances the Flyers could get something of good value, and the desirability of them on the market.
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen is the popular candidate all the time. For some, it is because he has never lived up to expectations here. For others, it is because he is playing better and is a hard hitter. He's never been the offensive defender he was promised to be. He also has two years left on his contract at $5.1 million.
However, some teams don't want to overpay for a two-month rental. The idea of having him around for two more years could be appealing. He's not a star but is decent. You know what you are getting with him. He can bring a physical forecheck to a playoff team and could be around for a few years longer. And these days, his salary isn't too expensive. Perhaps the Flyers could be enticed to eat some of that salary if the return is greater. If there is a bidding war, he could bring in a high draft pick and/or a close-to-NHL-ready prospect or two.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 5 of 10
Get Good Return: 6 of 10
Desirability: 5 of 10
Erik Johnson
If you are like me, you probably forgot he is on the team. The 36-year-old has played in 15 games and has one goal and one assist. He's this year's version of Justin Braun or Marc Staal. He's here as an assistant assistant coach. Most of the time he sees ice when one of the young defenders is a healthy scratch.
That being said, he is embracing that role well. If he is traded, it likely comes down to him. If he wants out, he will be traded and there are probably enough playoff-bound teams that would want a savvy veteran like him as insurance for a playoff run. It also helps that he is cheap and comes with no long-term commitments. The Flyers traded Braun a few years ago for a second-rounder. Johnson could bring in a third-round pick for a desperate team.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 3 of 10
Get Good Return: 4 of 10
Desirability: 5 of 10
Cam York
York is a tricky one. He still is young and has a lot of potential at almost 24 years old. He shows flashes of great offensive prowess and then goes cold. He shows great ice vision in some games and then makes some boneheaded plays. There have been a lot of times that he has run afoul of John Tortorella and was recently scratched because of his play.
This one can go either way. If the Flyers feel that he has reached his maximum potential, this could be the time to move him. You'd get the most in return for him. He would still be controllable by the new team as he is an RFA after this season. He could fetch a first founder and/or a struggling prospect somewhere else. At the same time, the Flyers are equally like to extend him and give him more opportunities to prove his worth here in Philly.
York is most likely staying here, but if the offer is too good to pass up, watch for Briere to pull the trigger on a deal.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 5 of 10
Get Good Return: 7 of 10
Desirability: 6 of 10
Jamie Drysdale
Honestly, a lot of what was just written about York could be copied and pasted about Drysdale. Both are first-round picks that have yet to rise to their full potential. Both have shown flashes of greatness and have made some plays that make you scratch your head. Because of this, they each have received praise and criticism from Tortorella as he keeps trying to get the best out of these young players.
Drysdale does have two things on York. The first is that he is one year younger. The second is that he is tied to Cutter Gauthier. Briere will want to give him every opportunity to show off his skillset before he gives up on him. To trade him now would be almost a surrender. He is also under one more year of control.
However, I think because of Drysdale's injury history, York could bring in more for a trade. Between the two, I think York has more upside because of the injuries. Again, York was drafted by Philly, and Drysdale was traded for. This might be the best time to trade him, but I think he is sticking around. Most likely, he'd be a toss-in to get something really good.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 3 of 10
Get Good Return: 3 of 10
Desirability: 3 of 10
Egor Zamula
Zamula's not a big hitter. He's not going to jumpstart the offense. He's tied with Drysdale for the worst plus/minus rating for a defender on the team with a -12. Only Erik Johnson has played less average ice time (16:16 min per game). And yet, Zamula hasn't been facing the same scrutiny that Drysdale and York have had to face. This isn't to say he hasn't been scratched, but he hasn't had the controversies that they have had.
Zamula is an interesting case. He doesn't do anything particularly well or awful. He's a decent bottom-pair defender who is 24 years old. He could be moved, mostly as a tag-along piece, but not as the main piece. Alone, he's not going to bring in much (5th rounder at best?). He's here mostly because he is a hard worker and because he is better than the Lehigh Valley options.
For an undrafted player, he has defied the odds. I also think he'll be around because he is Russian and that gives something Matvei Michkov can relate to. To be honest, that could be his true value for the next year or two.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 2 of 10
Get Good Return: 0 of 10
Desirability: 3 of 10
Emil Andrae
At this point, Andrae is the Flyers' eighth defender. He has already shown more promise than Ronnie Attard and has played well enough in fill-in roles for Philly. Is he perfect? No. Is he better than last year? Yes. Is he better than the other defenders waiting below at Lehigh Valley? Much better.
There is always a chance he could be a toss-in in a deal. This would have to come if Briere and Tortorella really feel comfortable with the blueliners they have (or just acquired) to move on from Andrae now. Alone, he'd bring in very little. In a package deal, he could help bring in more. Still, he's probably sticking around for a while longer.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 1 of 10
Get Good Return: 2 of 10
Desirability: 4 of 10
Nick Seeler
Seeler is steady, reliable, and cheap. Those are three things that most teams love in a defender. Because of that, he would get a lot in return. However, after Travis Sanheim, his contract is the longest on the blue line. Briere and Tortorella love him. He is a hard worker and does everything asked of him.
Seeler is a workhorse. I have no doubt the Flyers could cash in and get at least a first-rounder for him, especially if they got one for Sean Walker. I just can't see this team dealing him away. Now in a year or two, that is a different story. For now, he is a Flyer and will thus remain so.
Chances Flyers Will Trade: 0 of 10
Get Good Return: 8 of 10
Desirability: 8 of 10
Travis Sanheim
Sanheim is the Flyers' top defender and has greatly improved in both his offensive and defensive games. He is signed through the rest of the decade, which will make him hard to move, and he is the highest-paid defender. Unless a team were to offer a bunch of first-rounders and he is demanding a trade to a new team, he is going nowhere. Even then, the Flyers would probably have to eat a lot of that salary. If he were to demand a trade, that would also diminish his returns. Nothing is ever off the table, but let's be honest, he's not being traded.
Chances Flyers Will Trade 0 of 10
Get Good Return: 1 of 10
Desirability: 6 of 10