Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers Officially Fleeced Avalanche in Sean Walker Trade
The Philadelphia Flyers traded defenseman Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche on March 6 in exchange for forward Ryan Johansen and a 2025 first-round pick. Initially, the decision brought some criticism up against the Flyers, as they had acquired a draft pick in next year’s draft, and at the cost of one of their own draft picks and a salary cap dump in Johansen.
Just over three months later, the Walker trade seems to have panned out just fine for the Flyers.
In his short time with the Avalanche, Walker was good, but not great. The 29-year-old pending free agent had seven points in 18 regular season games, though his average ice time dropped nearly two full minutes from what he was getting with the Flyers.
In the playoffs, though, Walker was less effective. The former Flyers rearguard had an on-ice goals percentage of 30.8%, which ranked 94th out of the 166 defensemen that appeared in a game during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s worth noting that his on-ice expected goals percentage was 54.5%, which implies Walker might have been a victim of bad luck at both ends of the ice.
On the other hand, no other Avalanche defenseman placed outside the top-60 in on-ice goals percentage.
Overall, Walker finished with zero points in 11 playoff games this year and wasn’t necessarily a difference-maker as the Avalanche’s No. 5 defenseman. And, for the price of a second-round exit at the hands of the Dallas Stars, the Avs have forfeited their first-round pick in a 2025 NHL Draft that is generally expected to be deeper and better than the 2024 NHL Draft. Players like James Hagens, Porter Martone, Roger McQueen, Caleb Desnoyers, Michael Misa, Filip Ekberg, and Adam Benak figure to command significant draft plaudits this time next year.
The Flyers will, amazingly, have two first-round picks in each draft.
As for Walker, the right-shot defenseman is expected to be a coveted piece on this year’s free agent market. Likely destined for a big contract, the Keswick, Ontario native could be playing for his fourth team in three seasons in 2024-25.
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Whatever you have to tell yourself to get through the off-season I guess
It was a positive trade for the Flyers and if the team doesn’t think that Jaime Drysdale will be a good partner with Nick Seeler, I would attempt to get Walker back in the Orange and Black.
I wouldn’t want him back, he’s to old and I think Drysdale is a bust.
You also have to factor in that the Flyers playoff spot was lost after the trade too. We all know that wasn’t their goal but it wouldn’t have hurt the development or the pocketbook.
It was a good trade, but it did cost them the playoffs. That’s what you do when rebuilding.
Fleeced is strong word they got #1 from CO late 20’s ? Which is ok, but Missed playoffs because of it, and stuck with Johansson nonsense and contract , yeah fleeced is a little strong
These articles seem to be click bait anymore. The Johansson debacle isn’t close to ending, tying up salary and a roster spot. Walker was not given a top four role with Colorado, he couldn’t do the same things he was allowed to do on the Flyers. Understandable as Colorado already had players in that role but makes you wonder why they traded for him.
Most likely, Walker will compete for a 2nd or 3rd defense pair as Jack Johnson will probably retire or not be back with the Avs. Still – – for Colorado, getting rid of RJ was a huge move as he was 100% dead weight and was a complete failure for the Avs. I don’t see anyone picking up RJ in the future and good luck to the Flyers if you think you can get any juice out of him at this stage of his career.
Acquiring Walker allowed the Avs to afford to trade Byram to Buffalo to acquire an actual 2C in Mittelstadt. RyJo was a waste in CO and they couldn’t go a whole other season with that contract on their books if they wanted any kinda chance in the playoffs.
So Johansen plays every game with the Avalanche as healthy and all of a sudden is now injured with Flyers stuck with his large contract. And we missed the playoffs! Yeah what a fleece!
The 1st rounder was as much to dump Johansen’s contract so they have room for Mittelstadt next season as it was to acquire Walker but if it makes you feel better to pretend it was just for Walker I guess that’s your prerogative.
Yeah, definitely not a fleece job. I do like getting a 1st rd pick for 2025, even if it is a late one. Yeah, Johansen being injured, can probably use air quotes, probably just to stash him on LTIR next year and/or hopefully trade him somehow! GM Briere will probably have an interesting/busy summer and also pull off some stuff at the draft table?! There is already some dead cap being carried, so, I don’t know about another buyout candidate as well? A lot of decisions….
Fleeced might not be strong enough word for what Anaheim did to us in Cutter G trade, hope to hell I’m wrong but Drysdale doesn’t look like a solid player , let alone an all star hoping I’m wrong , walker trade with Ellis on books and the total nonsense of this Johansson injury I’m not sure how we fleeced anyone I would rather have gotten Milstadt and that’s what clearing the books of RyJo let them do I’m more skeptical of that trade than most I guess, if we turn #1 into anything in that trade will be deciding factor for