The Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche haven’t directly interacted much since the latter moved to Denver in 1995. Yet Colorado’s dynasty years through the late 1990’s and early 2000’s were built on the back of the Eric Lindros trade, which took place when the franchise was still based in Quebec. The two clubs have only made two trades since the turn of the millennium and four overall since the summer of 1995.
7/12/95 – rights to Garth Snow for 1996 third round pick (Shawn McNeil) and 1996 sixth round pick (Kai Fischer)
Snow was the 117th overall pick by the Quebec Nordiques in 1987. He only spent seven games with the NHL squad as he was entering his collegiate career University of Maine when he was selected. In Philadelphia, he primarily played backup to Ron Hextall. The tandem helped carry the Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final. He was dealt to the Canucks at the 1998 trade deadline.
The Avalanche would trade their new 1996 third round pick to the Capitals in exchange for defenseman John Slaney (who would later become an AHL legend with the Philadelphia Phantoms). Forward Sean McNeil never played in the NHL, but was a journeyman through various minor leagues until 2015.
Kai Fisher, a goaltender, was drafted 160th overall in 1996. He was not signed by the Avalanche and spent his career in his native Germany.
12/12/98 – Keith Jones for Shjon Podein
Shjon Podein had become a reliable depth forward for the Flyers for five seasons and would help the Avalanche secure their second Stanley Cup in 2001, where he had a career-best 15-goal, 32-point campaign.
Keith Jones played 131 games for the Flyers over the following three seasons serving mainly as a depth forward and retired midway through the 2000-01 campaign. He’d later serve as the Flyers’ TV broadcaster and their President of Hockey Operations.
2/7/03 – 2003 sixth round pick (Ville Hostikka) for Chris McAllister
The Flyers selected goaltender Ville Hostikka 193rd overall in 2003. He would not sign with the club and spent his career in the Finnish Liiga.
Chris McAllister was 6’8, 250lb depth defenseman. He played parts of the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons with the Avalanche before being traded 13 months later to the New York Rangers at the 2004 trade deadline.
10/31/13 – Steve Downie for Max Talbot
Over ten years after the last time the two teams carved out a deal, the Flyers and Avalanche reunited for a minor swap of depth players. The Flyers wanted a shakeup to their roster after a 3-8-0 start to the 2012-14 season, so they reacquired Steve Downie from the Avalanche in exchange for Max Talbot.
Downie, originally drafted by the Flyers 29th overall in 2005, played with the organization for parts of two seasons from 2007 to 2008. He played 51 games with 70 penalty minutes to conclude the 2013-14 season and signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins the following season.
Max Talbot had a career best season with the Flyers in 2011-12, posting 19 goals and 34 points, but wasn’t able to reach those peaks over the following season before this trade. He would go on to spend two seasons with the Avalanche and a couple years in the Boston Bruins organization before leaving North America in favor of the KHL and retired shortly after.
3/6/24 – Ryan Johansen and a 2025 first round pick (Bill Zannon) for Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth round pick
Ending another decade-long drought, the Flyers and Avalanche made a deal at the 2024 trade deadline. The Flyers shipped defenseman Sean Walker to Colorado in exchange for a 2025 first round pick and forward Ryan Johansen.
The Flyers would immediately put Ryan Johansen on waivers and after he went unclaimed, it was announced he was dealing with an injury that would keep him from joining the team and possibly end his career. He had played every game of the season with the Avs before the trade.
Sean Walker was unable to retain the magic he had in Philly during the Avalanche’s playoff run and was not re-signed during the summer. He joined the Carolina Hurricanes during 2024 free agency.
The Flyers traded the Avalanche’s 2025 first round pick (22nd overall) to the Penguins in exchange for the 12th overall pick they used to select Jack Nesbitt.
3/7/25 – Givani Smith for Erik Johnson
After nearly 11 years between their previous two trades, the Flyers and Avalanche wait just 366 days making their next deal.
The Flyers traded depth defenseman Erik Johnson to the Avalanche, where he spent most of his career and won a Stanley Cup in 2022. He played 16 total games upon his return to Colorado.
Smith played 10 regular season games and seven playoff games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but never suited up for the Flyers.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
brotherlypuck.com 