Minnesota Wild Emerge As Likely Flyers Trade Partner

If there’s one team with whom a Philadelphia Flyers trade makes sense, it’s the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild got some devastating news Thursday evening, announcing that captain Jared Spurgeon would be done for the 2023-24 season in order to undergo hip and back surgery. Per The Athletic‘s Joe Smith, Wild general manager Bill Guerin revealed that Spurgeon had been dealing with his ailments for months and that the plan was for the captain to improve with rehab. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and the team will return to a familiar modus operandi by exploring the NHL trade market, this time with Spurgeon’s LTIR pool.

Just talked with #mnwild president and GM Bill Guerin. Said Jared Spurgeon has been dealing with his lingering injury for months. Tried his best to improve w rehab but didn't take. Ready for next season. Will explore trade market with cap space, unsure if they'll make move yet

— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) January 19, 2024

Why a Flyers Trade Makes Sense for Wild

Right now, the industry’s worst-kept secret is that Flyers defensemen Nick Seeler and Sean Walker are two of the most coveted defensemen on the NHL trade market this season. Both players are pending unrestricted free agents, and both players have cap hits that are more than manageable. As teams continue to accrue cap space ahead of the trade deadline, the prorated cap hits of the two Flyers defensemen become even smaller.

If the Wild are after a 1:1 replacement for Spurgeon in terms of both size and profile, Walker fits the mold. Before his Flyers days, Seeler spent parts of three seasons with the Wild. Philadelphia had already rebuffed some trade interest in the form of a package deal very early in the season, though the NHL trade deadline is just over a month away. Furthermore, the Flyers are not particularly eager to part ways with these players, as their asking price is through the roof, but after the Jamie Drysdale trade, it’s crystal clear what age group the Flyers are targeting in this rebuild.

If the Flyers wish to keep this rebuild rolling, they will have to make some tough decisions, especially if a desperate team like the Wild comes calling.

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