Flyers Trade Sean Walker to Colorado Avalanche for Ryan Johansen

According to multiple reports on Wednesday afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers have traded defenseman Sean Walker to the Colorado Avalanche. Walker practiced with his Flyers teammates on Wednesday but was quickly out of the locker room following the conclusion of practice.

Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reported shortly after the news broke that Walker would be fetching a 2025 first-round pick for the Flyers in the trade.

Other reports have suggested that there’s more to this trade than the Flyers getting a 2025 first-round pick, or the Avalanche getting Walker. Forward Ryan Johansen was one of multiple moving parts in the deal; the veteran center will be joining the Flyers as part of this trade.

Full trade, per sources:

To #Flyers: Cond. 2025 1st Rd Pick, Ryan Johansen
To #GoAvsGo: Sean Walker, 2026 5th Rd Pick

Condition: 2025 1st is Top 10 protected, in which case it would slide to 2026.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2024

Johansen, 31, was in his first year with the Avalanche after leaving the Nashville Predators, scoring 13 goals and 10 assists in 63 games so far this season.

Walker, 29, was in his first year with the Flyers after being acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings, scoring six goals and 16 assists while logging heavy minutes on a formidable defense pairing alongside Nick Seeler.

Johansen may not even play for the Flyers, as there has been some reports that the team would be putting him on waivers upon arrival. Johansen has struggled a fair bit this season, hence the Avalanche’s need for and pursuit of a different option for a second-line center.

With Adam Henrique headed to the Edmonton Oilers, he’s no longer an option for Colorado.

In a corresponding move for the Avalanche, defenseman Bowen Byram was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for center Casey Mittelstadt. This was a result of getting Walker in a trade with the Flyers; this deal was one-for-one.

The Flyers officially placed Ryan Johansen on waivers; he has one year remaining on his contract after this one at a $4 million cap hit.

The full Flyers trade reads as follows: Flyers acquire a conditional 2025 first-round pick and Ryan Johansen in exchange for Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick, per Frank Seravalli. The condition on the first is top-10 protection; if the pick is in the top-10, the Flyers will instead receive a 2026 first-round pick.

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