March 9, 2024 | By: Dylan H. Robillard
After a downplayed NHL Trade Deadline last season from former General Manager Chuck Fletcher and company, it was on the new regime to have an adequate March 8 “trade fair” while adding and subtracting to stay in the playoff picture.
Over the past week, GM Daniel Briere made four roster moves in addition to extending Nick Seeler at four years, $2,700,000 AAV. Brought in were three “depth” pieces and two picks in next year’s NHL Draft for retaining on a contract and moving an equal amount in the process.
Overall, the club had a successful week. Expectations were on a teeter-totter, very back-and-forth building up to deadline week for the rookie General Manager and Keith Jones, the new President of Hockey Operations. Some fans may have even expected more from the Flyers front office, but the off-season is still to come.
With that in mind, taking a deep dive into what exactly the Philadelphia Flyers did given their unexpected situation from a playoff push to injuries. Here is a breakdown and my grading of how everything unfolded:
Sean Walker Trade, Grade: A+
Sean Walker and a 2026 5th Round pick to Colorado for Ryan Johansen and a 2025 1st Round Pick.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 21: Sean Walker #26 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Chicago Blackhawks on February 21, 2024, at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
The first domino to fall had to be and always was going to be defenseman Sean Walker, 29, who was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche two days before the Trade Deadline in a deal in which the Flyers gave up a 2026 fifth-round pick along with Sean Walker for Ryan Johansen, 31, and a 2025 first-round pick.
In a surprising move — before the Flyers’ PR could even announce the trade — Johansen was put on waivers and has been asked to report to Lehigh Valley in the American Hockey League. Reportedly, Flyers bench boss John Totorella and Johansen did not meet eye-to-eye during their brief time together in Columbus. While the two have reconciled and are apparently now on the same page, that wasn’t enough for Briere who put him on waivers and began shopping the 31-year-old centerman at 50% retained salary but found no takers.
The Flyers were firm on their asking price for Walker and got it from the Avalanche. Although taking on a cap dump of $4M to do so, getting another 2025 first-round draft pick was crucial for the club’s scouts who believe the 2024 draft will not be as deep as the year to follow.
Noah Hanifin Retention, Grade: B-
Flyers acquire 2024 5th-round pick for retaining $1.2M in Noah Hanifin deal from Vegas Golden Knights.
Mikhail Vorobyev, Philadelphia Flyers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Late Thursday night, Briere found himself playing broker between the Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames in their trade for Noah Hanifin. For taking on $1,200,000 of Hanifin’s contract, the Flyers were granted a 2024 fifth-round pick as compensation.
In addition to complete the paper transaction, 2015 Flyers draft pick Mikhail Vorobyov, 27, and his rights were sent to the Golden Knights. Vorobyov played 35 games for the orange and black between 2017-19 before returning to Russia in 2020 where he has skated in the KHL since.
A Ron Hextall draft pick, Vorobyov was held in high regard by the organization but never reached his pinnacle so it was time to move on from the Russian. In doing so, Briere was able to take on a low sum in a 3-way deal and add to a stockpile of draft picks already in place.
Erik Johnson Trade, Grade: C
2024 4th-Round pick to Buffalo Sabres for Erik Johnson
Dec 13, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson (6) before the game against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Briere felt he had to reward his club after pouring their hearts and souls out this season while pushing for the playoffs. After losing Walker, those were big shoes to fill especially with the current spate of injuries on the back end. Management addressed these issues while staying focused on the future by bringing in Erik Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres.
Briere made it clear he does not expect Johnson to play to the level Walker did. That, however, is not what they are asking of him, but to be a “locker room presence” and a stable figure on the blue line.
“It’s mostly [for] his experience, what he can share for the younger guys,” Briere told the media. “Bring some stability…it’s an asset. He can help a group that’s on the younger side.”
The Flyers’ GM was very open about Johnson and said he was here to be a rock and help the team on and off the ice. Becoming now the only player in the Flyers’ locker room who has won the Stanley Cup, that aura will go a long way. A fourth-round pick might seem high in hindsight, but the Flyers still hold a comfortable amount of draft picks over the next three years.
While Johnson is having back-to-back down years production-wise with just 3 points in 50 games this season in Buffalo, he should nonetheless be a reliable lockdown defender in Philadelphia for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign and into the playoffs.
Denis Gurianov Trade, Grade: B-
Wade Allison to Nashville Predators for Denis Gurianov
Following the Johnson acquisition, the Flyers dealt former top prospect Wade Allison to the Nashville Predators for 2015 first-round draft pick Denis Gurianov, 26, in a deal that was surprising to most but made sense on paper.
Tortorella had a short leash for Allison and felt as if it would never work out in Philadelphia. The training wheels had fallen off for the 26-year-old a long time ago, and it was unlikely he would be recalled from Lehigh Valley after being sent down on a one-way trip.
Gurianov is the forward piece the front office was looking for after reports came out that they were shopping for a depth forward and defenseman at the deadline. Albeit the 26-year-old has not necessarily played up to the standards of a 12th overall pick, he still plays a fast game, earning second-line minutes as a Nashville Predator.
The left winger is on an expiring contract with a $850,000 cap hit through 2023-24. At a cheap price, he could be a versatile middle to bottom-six forward during the final playoff push.
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