The 2024 trade deadline has passed and the playoff push is on. And while that experience has gotten off to a rather tense start on the ice, the front office has to be monitoring the situation closely in order to make the proper adjustments during the offseason. But what exactly will the Flyers’ front office be doing this summer? Well let’s make some predictions!
Number 5: Sean Walker Returns
The Flyers dealt 29-year-old defenseman Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche at the deadline, but that may not be the end of his story with the team. Rumor had it they were negotiating a new contract but the sides were just too far apart to settle on an extension yet. So the Flyers got the first rounder and Walker gets his chance to compete for a Cup, but could the two sides revisit a return during the summer? Considering the Flyers already seem to miss him, Walker could be in line for that big extension after all.
Number 4: Everyone Gets a Buyout!
The Briere-led Flyers have proven they are unafraid to eat some money if it means bettering the team (more specifically the culture) and there are a few early buyout candidates that could be considered during the offseason. Cal Petersen, Ryan Johansen and Cam Atkinson all have favorable buyouts individually, but combine the three (alongside Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo’s dead caps which are still on the books) it’s nearly $10 million the Flyers would be paying folks to not play for the team. Do they buyout all three of them? Time will tell, but how they handle their dead cap situation will show quite a bit of their financial plan moving forward.
Number 3: Landing a Top Goalie
In a position that once seemed stable (and has a hopeful future) the here and now of the Flyers goaltending has some serious question marks. Sam Ersson is turning in mixed performances after he was thrust into the team’s number one role, Cal Petersen absolutely sucks, and Sandstrom clearly doesn’t have the trust of the coaching staff, plus he’s a pending UFA at season’s end. Sure, they could just sign a band-aid to help them through another season and just hope Alexei Kolosov can not only adapt but succeed at the North American game immediately, but if they want to remain competitive, they’re going to have to address the backup role with some kind of legitimacy this summer.
Number 2: Zegras Trade
The Flyers have been loosely tied to Zegras since the rumors first emerged, considering the Flyers desperately need a young dynamic center and the teams recently did business during the Gauthier trade. The center market is pretty much non-existent during the 2024 offseason and it’s not like there are plentiful options to pursue. What will the Ducks want in return? That part seems up for debate, but whatever it is -draft picks, prospects or young main roster talent- the Flyers can match pretty much any asking price Anaheim could put together. So will the Flyers make a second blockbuster deal with Anaheim? It’s been nearly 15 years since there was a deal of this caliber for the club, so it’s unlikely, but maybe this is the summer things actually change for the better.
Number 1: Trading TK
The Flyers’ rebuild was pretty much DOA before it even got started, and they’ve deferred on just about every option they’d have to face thus far, but the next (and last) big question they will have to face is the fate of 27-year-old forward Travis Konecny, whose current contract expires during the 2025 offseason. Chances are they re-sign him to a monster extension, but what if they part ways with the fan favorite in a last big to garner key assets to build around? It’s probably the best move for future success, but the front office has shown they’re more interested in preserving the mediocre present. So will they pull the trigger on a trade this summer? Or do they pull out the checkbook and make another long-term mistake?
Honorable Mention
Morgan Frost Trade
Despite a late-season resurgence from Frost, there are still the lingering tensions with Tortorella, and with the lack of high-end talent at center but overcommitting to players like Couturier, Poehling and Laughton, Morgan Frost is still the most likely option to leave if the franchise actually pursues a upgrade at center.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Getty Images
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