Another Trade Destination Suggested for Flyers’ Travis Konecny

Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny’s name keeps popping up in various trade scenarios.

The latest is Washington. The website Clutch Points over the weekend suggested Konecny would be “an ideal trade target” for an aging Capitals team, saying he would “become the youngest of the Capitals’ top-six forwards.”

Washington won the 2018 Stanley Cup behind Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie and Evgeny Kuznetsov. All are in their 30s. Washington undoubtedly wants to make another Cup run with its core. Integrating a younger, skilled player in their lineup could help that cause.

But trade rumors are that — rumors. Sometimes, there is simply idle chatter between teams. Maybe there’s something to the talk. Sometimes, it’s pure speculation. With an underwhelming free-agent market this summer, the best way to land a potential impact player likely would come in a trade.

That’s why Konecny is mentioned so frequently in trade rumors. He would fit in many places. He’s young, he can score goals and his contract is quite manageable.

The reasoning was logical, at least. The Flyers are looking to rebuild and trading assets is part of that. Philadelphia general manager Daniel Briere has said the team would listen to trade scenarios involving any of his players.

The Athletic’s Pierre Le Brun reported in June: “The Flyers have continued to listen on Travis Konecny, and I know they’ve received a few trade offers of late, but unless something changes, GM Danny Briere is likely to keep Konecny in the fold to start the season.

“Nothing that’s come the Flyers’ way has made them blink. It needs to be an overwhelming offer for Briere to move him. If Konecny isn’t moved this summer, all eyes will be on him at the trade deadline.”

Destinations?

Before the draft, Edmonton, Detroit and Pittsburgh were floated as possible destinations. After the trade, Ottawa was suggested.

Before the draft, The Daily Faceoff had eight trade destinations to watch for Konecny — Calgary, Detroit, Edmonton, Ottawa, New York Rangers, Seattle, St. Louis, Toronto.

In July, Seattle, Buffalo and Ottawa were mentioned as possible Konecny landing spots. Another site mentioned was Washington.

Valuable Player

Konecny, the Flyers’ leading scorer last season, would seem to have more value at the trading deadline when teams are desperate to add assets to make that playoff push. The return to the Flyers potentially would be greater by holding onto him until spring.

Konecny is valuable to the Flyers, as well as to potential trade partners. He is only 26 years old and is owed a reasonable $5.5 million in each of the next two seasons.

He scored 31 goals and 30 assists in 60 games of a breakout season for him in 2022-23. He has 141 goals and 191 assists (332 points) in 488 games. Konecny was the Flyers’ first-round pick in 2015, the 24th player selected.

The Flyers were 29th in scoring in the NHL last season. They were last in power-play goals. Trading their leading scorer — and helping division rival Washington — likely isn’t on Briere’s to-do list. Speculation notwithstanding.