The NHL trade deadline is just over a week away, so it’s time to make our final predictions for how the Flyers play their cards on March 7. Who stays and who goes?
Scott Laughton
The Flyers have been threatening to trade Scott Laughton for like five years now, so even though the rumors indicate that the Flyers are for real totally serious this time, we’ll definitely have to see it to believe it.
With the Flyers on pace to miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season and the stale 2024 offseason, the front office should definitely be feeling the pressure to make some notable roster changes in 2025 and the easiest way to start that would be by trading Scott Laughton at the deadline. Do they have the courage to pull the trigger this time? The answer seems to be trending towards yes, but this certainly wouldn’t be the first time they backed away from making the call.
Decision: Maybe goes… probably stays.
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ristolainen is probably their most valuable trade chip before the deadline, but it sure feels like his contract (two years left at $5.1 mil) is going to be more of a hinderance than finding value for the player himself. If a team isn’t wiling to eat the full salary or lowballs the Flyers in order to take on the full contract, Briere may just be better off waiting until at least the offseason when teams may be more willing to absorb money.
The right side of the defense is weak, but if they’re missing the playoffs it doesn’t really matter anyway. Oliver Bonk is coming next season and an opening on the blue line means they can give Emil Andrae (who’s a lefty) an unfettered look down the stretch.
Ultimately, they gotta deal at least one of Ristolainen or Laughton to keep the pitchforks and torches from an antsy fanbase at bay, and if they get cold feet with the latter, it could mean the end of Ristolainen in Philly.
Remember when folks used to cherry pick random stats to make Ristolainen look like the worst defenseman in the NHL and now he’s too valuable for a rebuilding team to trade for some reason? Good times.
Decision: Goes
Andrei Kuzmenko
The Flyers recently picked 29-year-old forward Andrei Kuzmenko up in the Frost/Farabee trade, and while it’s already unlikely they re-sign him this summer, some rumors indicate he could be flipped at the deadline.
The reality is the Flyers traded Farabee to clear cap space to address their center depth, so it’s highly unlikely they bring Kuzmenko back unless he really blows them away down the stretch. So if there’s a playoff team out there that wants to give the Flyers even a mid-round pick for him at the deadline (and Kuzmenko agrees to the trade), the Flyers can retain part of his $5.5 million cap hit and they’d essentially bank an extra asset for free.
It feels a bit odd the Flyers would flip him, it’s just not something you see very often in the modern day NHL, but if he’s not in the future plans there’s no reason not to either.
Decision: Goes
Noah Cates
There has been a surpassingly limited amount of talk around pending restricted free agent Noah Cates ahead of the deadline. He was on a hot streak in December but has faded back into the shadows and was riding an 11-game pointless streak before recording a three point night against the Penguins on February 25. He’s one of the few centers in the entire organization in the moment, but that didn’t stop them from moving Morgan Frost without a replacement.
The biggest fear with keeping Cates is that the Flyers offer him a new contract that far exceeds what he’s worth, either in term or financially or both. Giving him an extension because he had six weeks of above average play in the last two seasons is a very believable outcome based on other bloated contracts Briere has handed out. So while Cates isn’t necessarily a bad player, the last thing the Flyers need is another depth guy getting paid multiple millions of dollars.
Decision: Probably stays, but should go.
Cam York
The fanbase has largely turned on York after what has been an underwhelming season, but there hasn’t been any indication that the front office is quick to part with their 24-year-old defenseman. There’s a good chance York gets re-signed this summer, but his status as a restricted free agent becomes intriguing when thinking about him as a trade asset. If the Flyers go on the hunt for a bonafide top center, adding him isn’t going to be cheap, and basing a deal around York, who is pretty easily the Flyers’ best trade asset at the moment, makes sense.
Unless the Flyers try and wrangle Elias Pettersson away from Vancouver at the deadline (which is unlikely based on the fact Vancouver is fighting for a playoff spot) York probably survives until at least the summer where the opportunities for main roster change are a bit more plentiful.
Decision: Stays
Bobby Brink
For a long time it seemed as though Bobby brink was the top name on the chopping block if the Flyers were to ever make a move. Then he was included in Dan Hilferty’s letter to the fans, and Briere mentioned him as one of the players that has taken a big step forward this season. He’s still struggling to overcome the Tortorella effect, but getting praise from the GM and Governor of the team means they’re theoretically invested in him for the foreseeable future.
But it is hockey, saying one thing then doing the opposite tends to be the norm. If the Flyers look to make an upgrade, Brink could very well be a throw-in, but considering they’ve got plenty of bigger fish to fry over the coming months, it wouldn’t be surprising if Brink flew under the radar either.
Decision: Stays
Egor Zamula
For some reason, John Tortorella really loves Egor Zamula. He’s one of the only younger guys on the roster that gets multiple chances to prove himself and not immediately punished if he makes a mistake. He does have one more year left on his contract, but an overcrowded blue line with Emil Andrae knocking at the door means something is going to have to give sooner or later. Would there be a lot of interest in the 24-year-old individually at the deadline? Probably not. Maybe he’s be a decent piece as part of a bigger trade though.
Decision: Stays
Erik Johnson
Johnson is the only pending unrestricted free agent on the entire main roster (until they added Andrei Kuzmenko.) Though at this point he’s only played seven games since November 20 and is serving as the locker room leader. Nobody is going to want him and the Flyers probably wouldn’t consider trading him anyway.
Decision: Stays
Adding a Center
If the Flyers are serious about a center upgrade, they need to keep their eyes peeled at every opportunity, including being buyers at the deadline for potential restricted free agents or players with term left on their contracts. Players like Elias Pettersson, Brayden Schenn, Trevor Zegras or Dylan Cozens are among the most interesting contracted players available at the deadline. It’s probably something they’ll save for the summer, but being proactive is key for the Flyers to dig themselves out of the hole they’re in, so if there’s an opening to make an addition at the deadline even if the playoffs are a long shot, they have to consider it.
Decision: Probably an offseason move.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Getty Images
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