Flyers Defensemen Fill TSN’s First Trade Bait List

The Philadelphia Flyers trade wheels keep on turning.

TSN released their first Trade Bait list of the 2023-24 season, and on it includes three Flyers defensemen. They aren’t the top choices at their positions, though, as Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev of the Calgary Flames occupy the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively. Nashville Predators defenseman Tyson Barrie also makes it at No. 5, so no Philadelphia Flyers managed to crack the top-five of the Trade Bait list. They’re still well-represented though.

By now, most of you have probably heard about the Sean Walker rumors, and what it’s going to take to for another team to get him from the Flyers. Walker is the Flyers’ highest-rated player, charting in at No. 6 on TSN’s board. Fellow defenseman and teammate Nick Seeler is right behind Walker at No. 7.

Seeler, like Walker, will be a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season. The primary conundrum with these two players is their age and their place on the Flyers. Seeler will turn 31 on June 3, while Walker will turn 30 at the beginning of next season. The other issue is that these two players make up Philadelphia’s second defense pairing, which means head coach John Tortorella will be without his two mainstays. Alternatively, this can be seen as an opportunity for prospects like Emil Andrae, Adam Ginning, and Helge Grans.

Ristolainen Is One-Of-A-Kind

Rasmus Ristolainen also makes an appearance on TSN’s Trade Bait list, coming in at No. 15 and rounding out the Flyers’ representation. Ristolainen’s mention is so unique because he is the only player in the top-20 with three or more years remaining on his contract after this season.

For further reference, Andrew Peeke and Michael Matheson are the only two other players with two or more years remaining on their contracts beyond 2024. Former Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo also made the list at No. 16, though that shouldn’t come as a surprise to most.

Marc Staal did not make the top-20, though he’s missed some time due to injury. However, it would be hard to argue that he has more trade value than Matheson, for example, who slotted in at No. 20.

There’s nothing new to report on potential trade negotiations involving any of these players, though this does show that the feeling is that the Flyers are indeed open for business.

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