As the dust begins to settle on the 2024 offseason, not every storyline got a conclusion as the dog days of summer approach. There are still teams and players around the league that didn’t get all their business done during the draft of the first few days of free agency. While a blockbuster move grows less likely by the day, there may be a late opportunity or two to reverse their sleepy summer, so who are some leftover dance partners for the Flyers?
Number 5: Nashville Predators
The Preds were easily the winners of the offseason as they snagged Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei in free agency. They also re-signed their star goaltender Jusse Saros, which has left their top prospect, Yaroslav Askarov on the outside looking in. Askarov, the 22-year-old former 11th overall pick in 2020, has spent a vast majority of his two seasons in North America in the AHL and his results has been all over the map, from flashing starting goalie potential to losing playoff opportunities to veteran backups, his future is anything but certain.
While adding a goalie may not be of critical need for the Flyers, there’s definitely a reason worth checking in on his availability. The duo of Sam Ersson and Ivan Fedotov in the NHL is anything but a sure thing, and there’s an even bigger question mark around Alexei Kolosov in the AHL… if he even comes back to North America this year. Adding another blue-chipper to the mix may seem like overkill at the moment, but it may not be the worst decision in the world to consider all their options because if the price is right in a trade scenario, it’s the kind of thing that could quite literally save them down the road.
Number 4: Carolina Hurricanes
As the smoke dissipates from the 2024 offseason one of the names remaining on the board is restricted free agent forward Martin Necas, which is a bit surprising considering he arguably drew the most intrigue around the league heading into the summer. The Flyers were one of the many teams rumored to check in on his availability, but clearly to no avail. He still remains an RFA with the Canes.
Now, we’ve covered the Necas-to-Philly rumors a few times over the offseason and it really only made sense as a swap for someone of similar age and with a contract in tow like Joel Farabee. Back in early June, a lateral moving of middle-six deck chairs seemed like a waste of time, but with the Flyers’ real life followup being miserably unexciting, a Necas-for-Farabee trade in the hopes that Necas could play center would actually be a big move by default.
It is still an unlikely move as rumors indicated Necas could be seeking around $7 million a season, which is way too rich for the Flyers’ blood even when factoring in Farabee’s $5 million, but one new face on the roster would be better than no moves at all.
Number 3: Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg had a main roster body circle the trade mill before the offseason began, as well as an eye raising prospect wanting out. Nikolaj Ehlers, a 28-year-old veteran forward is supposedly available for the right price. He’s got one year left on his current contract at a $6 million cap hit before becoming a unrestricted free agent. Admittedly, at his age and contract status, he isn’t nearly as fascinating an addition as he would’ve been a few years ago, and there’s no way the Flyers make a main roster upgrade anyway.
The more interesting name is 20-year-old, 14th overall pick in 2022 Rutger McGroarty. He is apparently refusing to sign a contract with the Jets, just as his BFF Cutter Gauthier did to the Flyers. The rebuilding, not quite rebuilding, totally rebuilding Flyers having a drab summer when it comes to adding young talent and should be scoping out an opportunity to scoop up a top forward prospect to add to the mix.
It probably won’t be cheap, but it’s not everyday someone like McGroarty becomes available. The Flyers’ forward pipeline is about as poor as it could be, so if they get an inkling that a top prospect would be willing to sign a contract with the team then it should be a price they’re willing to pay.
Number 2: Anaheim Ducks
On the east coast, the Flyers have virtually no cap space left, currently sitting in negative dollars after re-signing Bobby Brink and Egor Zamula. And on the west coast, there’s the Anaheim Ducks, who are struggling to even get to the cap floor of $65 million. Trevor Zegras remains a Duck after being in rumor mill forever and the cash-strapped Flyers still need a top six center.
What a trade between these two teams could look like is anyone’s guess at this point. It all depends on how much cash is being exchanged, but if the Flyers can somehow add Zegras and clear (at least) a couple million in cap space along the way, it’d be a worthwhile trade to pull off. If they could, say, swap Farabee, Ristolainen and a pick for Zegras, would it be a deal Anaheim would consider?
Number 1: Buffalo Sabres
Much like the Flyers, the Sabres had a pretty rough summer when they were expected to step up to the plate and finally turn their team around. There have been loose rumors connecting the two teams for months now, with names like Travis Konecny, Scott Laughton and Peyton Krebs floating about.
After the Sabres just gave up ninth overall pick Matthew Savoie for Ryan McLeod, Danny Briere should be calling Kevyn Adams every hour on the hour offering his Scott Laughton in exchange for Zach Benson or something. Just imagine what they’d pay for a legit forward like Travis Konecny!
Even if it’s just a Krebs-for-Laughton swap, it may not be overly sexy, but Krebs is nearly a decade younger and probably a couple million cheaper as a young RFA.
It sure feels like these two teams would be prime dance partners, and the pressure on both from their chosen inactivity could turn the pressure up and make for an interesting trade that could ultimately push both teams further in their desired direction of competition for the Sabres and a much closer to textbook rebuild for the Flyers.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nhl.com
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