The Philadelphia Flyers stand at the precipice of the unknown heading into the 2023 offseason. Danny Briere hasn’t been afraid to use the word “rebuild” as he takes over as interim GM and it has sparked conversation as to who exactly is on the chopping block this summer.
The biggest problem with a Carter Hart trade in both reality and fantasy land is that nobody seems to know the value of someone like Hart because there’s very little precedent for a 24-year-old franchise goaltender getting moved. Though some Flyers fans are eager to ship him out and other fanbases mouth’s water at the idea of acquiring the 24-year-old goaltender. So we scoured though CapFriendly’s Armchair GM tool to find the best trade scenarios featuring Carter Hart.
Hart will turn 25 in August. He’s played in 54 games during the 2022-23 season recording a 2.94 goals against average and .907 save percentage with 21 wins. He’s played 200 games in his career with a 2.96 GAA and .906 SV% with five total shutouts.
You’re the GM of the Philadelphia Flyers and the trade scenarios below come across your desk, do you make the trade?
Unlikely Help by GuentzelvaniaUSA
The Ron Hextall-led Penguins are desperate to squeeze the last little bit of success out of the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era and their goaltending has been a prime suspect in their failures to do so.
Casey DeSmith is a 31-year-old goaltender has has served primarily as Tristan Jarry’s backup for the last few years. He played 38 games this season with a 3.17 goals against average and .905 save percentage. He has 138 games of NHL action under his belt in total.
Bryan Rust is a 31-year-old forward who has 316 points in 503 career games, eclipsing the 20-goal mark in each of the last four seasons. He’s under contract for five more years at a $5.125 million cap hit.
Jeff Petry is a 35-year-old right-handed defenseman who has a $6.25 million aav for two more years, but they’d retain $2.25 in this scenario, so he’d only cost $4 million against the cap.
The creator’s theory was that the Flyers could further flip both Petry and Rust for more assets, rather than the Penguins giving up the few assets they possess these days.
Would you make this trade?
Goalie Overlode by Random2152
No matter what the outcome the Leafs face in the 2023 postseason, they are going to do whatever they can to stay competitive in the near future, and a big missing piece is a star goaltender to keep them afloat.
Joseph Woll is a 25-year-old goaltender who has played primarily in the AHL since 2019. His numbers have been rather pedestrian through most of that time, but enjoyed a nice breakout campaign this season with 2.37 goals against average and .927 save percentage in 21 AHL contests and played five NHL games with a dazzling 2.02 GAA and .932 save percentage.
The Flyers could have a new young-ish backup with upside to Ersson if they also decided to move on from Sandstrom, whom they clearly don’t like very much. They’d also land an extra first round pick this year, but considering it’s Boston’s it may be a very late round pick.
Would you make this trade?
Big Trade by Lancebmx
The rebuild coming to a close in Ottawa would be sealed by the acquisition of a young franchise goaltender, something they’re dearly lacking right now.
Norris is a 23-year-old former 19th overall pick in 2017. He posted 35 goals and 55 points in 66 games in 2021-22. He suited up for just eight games in 2022-23 before being sidelined with a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery.
The Flyers get a much needed young, top-six center, but it costs them their young franchise goaltender.
It may be a fair place to start, but is it enough of a package for the Sens to land Hart?
Would you make this trade?
Question to Philly fans by Habitantlecolon
Another team in the grasp of a rebuild can have that process expedited by adding a young top goaltender to the mix.
Riley Kidney is a 20-year-old forward who was drafted in the second round in 2021. In 60 games in the QMJHL this season he scored 28 goals and 110 points. He signed his ELC with the club in May of 2022 and will make his jump to the AHL next season.
Cayden Primeau, the son of former Flyers captain Keith, is a 23-year-old goaltender. He’s played primarily in the AHL for much of his young career, though does have 21 games of NHL action to his name sprinkled over the last four years. His numbers have been rather weak in the AHL, rocking just a 3.04 GAA and .908 SV%, winning just 17 of 39 games and posting nearly identical numbers last season as well.
The Panthers are desperately holding onto a playoff spot, so the official position of their firs round pick is not known just yet, but it will be at least well into the teens if not higher.
Would you make this trade?
Philly blow up by DongLord23
LA and the Flyers have been theorized to be potential partners for the last little while for either a deal involving Hart or defenseman Ivan Provorov as a team in the up-and-up looking for a few missing pieces.
Cal Peterson is a 28-year-old goaltender that originally took the NHL by storm a few years ago and appeared to be the successor to Jonathan Quick, but is currently in the AHL after a sub-par conclusion to last season and even worse start to 2022-23. The catch is, he’s got two years left on his contract at a $5 million cap hit.
Alex Turcotte is a 22-year-old forward and former fifth overall pick in 2019. He’s played a bulk of his professional career in the AHL. He played just 29 games for the Ontario Reign this season scoring 17 points, missing a chunk of time with a lower body injury.
They’d also throw in a first round pick and two seconds, but none are in 2023.
Would you make this trade?
Stuff by littlejerryseinfeld
In another case of not being sure exactly what Hart’s value is, the Sabres would surrender just their 2023 first round pick in exchange for the 24-year-old goaltender.
If the season ended today, the Sabres would actually have the 13th overall pick, and it’s assuming this deal takes place post-lottery.
Would you make this trade?
A lot of little things by Random_internet_guy_1967
The Kraken are a young team on the rise and could use a young goaltender to stabilize and continue their building process.
Philipp Grubauer is a 31-year-old goaltender. He formed a tandem with Martin Jones this season and recorded a 2.87 GAA and .895 SV%, both numbers slightly better than his output from last season. He’s got four years left on his current deal at a $5.9 million cap hit.
Jaden Schwartz is a 31-year-old forward. He’s got three years left on his contract at a $5.5 million cap hit. He hit the 20-goal mark this season with 39 points.
Jani Nyman is a 18-year-old winger listed at 6’2 and 212lbs. He was a second round pick in 2022 and currently does not have an entry-level contract.
Seattle made the playoffs this season, so their 2023 first round pick will be at the bare minimum 17th overall.
Would you make this trade?
Looking at it after some time by Lights
The Golden Knights are going potentially to be in the goalie market this summer looking for a cheap starter with only Robin Lehner and Logan Thompson under contract for next season.
Brisson is a 21-year-old center and was the 29th overall pick in 2020. He’s in his first full AHL campaign recording 34 points in 55 games with the Henderson Silver Knights.
The Flyers would also receive a first and third round pick, but both would be in 2025, two drafts from now.
Would you make this trade?
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: capfriendly.com / espn.com
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