As the Flyers eclipse the quarter point of the season, they have found themselves struggling to keep their heads above the .500 plateau. While there are some excuses for their diminished play such as injuries and shaky goaltending, the “we’ve got heart” storyline is starting to lose it’s luster and fans are starting to call for some action. We’re still over three months away from the deadline in March, but the group of players most in danger of being dealt have already risen to the top. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not they actually get traded away.
Joel Farabee
Joel Farabee will turn 25 shortly before the 2025 trade deadline rolls around, and the odds at a meteoric rise are losing more and more steam as he’s settled in to the “just a guy” status once again during the 2024-25 season. While he may be the odd man out among the vast winger corps, his contract keeps him around for three more seasons at a $5 million cap hit, making it a real challenge to deal him away.
Unless some team desperately wants the player for whatever reason, expect Farabee to stick around until at least the offseason when it’s slightly easier to move term.
Decision: Stays until the offseason
Scott Laughton
At this point there’s probably a better chance of a meteor hitting Earth and wiping out all life on the planet than there is the chance the Flyers trade Scott Laughton, but on the list of players that should *theoretically* be on the trade block on a normal team, he would be high on the list. He’s still got one year left on his contract at a $3 million, which may hinder a deadline deal if they actually considered it, but there’s a good chance some playoff team would like to add him for forward depth and leadership.
A few summers ago there were some pretty high valued rumors around Laughton, but as his play has declined and he’s now approaching his 31st birthday, one has to assume that if they do actually trade him, those days of landing a first and second round pick for the guy are long gone.
Decision: Stays
Morgan Frost
Frost’s time with the Flyers has been tumultuous at best and, as a pending RFA, a decision will have to be made about his future soon. The problem here is that all his trade value has been stomped out and he can’t even crack the lineup as of this writing. So it’s not like they’re going to deal him away for even a semi-decent replacement at this point. Maybe he’s part of a bigger trade. Maybe they just don’t qualify him during the offseason, but either way, Frost’s tenure in Philly is coming to an end soon.
Decision: Goes
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen represents the team’s biggest trade chip heading into the 2025 trade deadline, and even that isn’t saying much. There’s two sides to the Risto coin right now- do they trade him if the Flyers are lingering in a playoff spot? And, just like everyone else, his contract isn’t the most appetizing for a deadline team to take on.
If if they can’t make a deal work at the deadline, there’s very little chance Ristolainen makes it though the 2025 offseason in Philadelphia. The Flyers need to clear some cap for Cam York’s extension and moving Ristolainen’s $5.1 million is the easiest way to do that. It may not be a pretty trade, but he leads the likelihood board for now.
Decision: Goes
Noah Cates
Despite a solid rookie season two years ago, Noah Cates hasn’t done much of note since. Considering he’s still very much on the outside looking in when it comes to a secure roster spot (although he recently beat out Frost for a middle six center gig), it’s highly unlikely he returns to the Flyers in 2025-26 despite being a restricted free agent. Does he have any trade value? Probably not. They may just have to hang on to him, not qualify him and let him walk in the offseason.
Decision: Goes… if they can
Egor Zamula
Zamula is a absolute rollercoaster of a defenseman. Sometimes he holds his own, sometimes he’s scoring on the powerplay, sometimes it looks like he’s never played hockey in his life. And there’s no rhyme or reason for which version shows up on any given night.
Stop me if this sounds familiar, but Zamula has term left on his deal, one year at $1.7 million to be exact. He’s still just 24 so maybe some team may have rehab project interest, but if Brad Shaw can’t whip him into form defensively, it’s going to be difficult for any coach to do it.
With Emil Andrae’s breakout and Oliver Bonk showing up next season, some choices are going to have to be made on the blueline, and ditching Zamula would be one of their first and easiest options to pull off right now… but is it a deadline move? Guess it just depends on whether or not the injury bug lightens up between now and then.
Decision: Stays
Erik Johnson
Erik Johnson is the only pending unrestricted free agent on the entire roster. Is anybody gonna want him? Probably not. Do the Flyer love his presence for culture reasons more than a sixth round pick for trading him? Probably. They didn’t move Marc Staal last season, so don’t expect Johnson to go anywhere at the deadline either.
Decision: Stays
Bobby Brink
It’s no secret that Brink isn’t a Tortorella favorite, but he does seem to have some untapped offensive skill. It’s unlikely that Brink would get moved by himself, but rather he’s be part of a deal to help move either Frost or Farabee. So Brink’s tenure all depends on if (or when) the Flyers attempt to move some of their unmovable players.
Decision: Stays
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Getty Images
brotherlypuck.com 