Flyers Trade Talk
Flyers Want Big Moves; Trades, Free Agents, & Names to Watch

The Flyers’ trade of Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost was a direction-defining move. While that direction is seemingly down, the Flyers’ cap-dump looks like it is setting the organization up for something bigger.
Not getting a center back from Calgary left the Flyers’ roster even more bare. Now, the Flyers have a Grand Canyon-sized hole at the center position.
With the Flyers creating more cap space and the NHL Salary cap jumping from $88 million to $95.5 million this offseason, Philly will have about $26 million to resign four restricted free agents and make a splash. That is as things stand currently; with the trade deadline yet to pass, Philly could create even more space.
The salary cap jumps to $104 million ahead of the 2026/27 season and $113.5 before the 2027/28 season.
The Flyers have made their need for centers, not just a true 1C, abundantly clear. Daniel Briere went on the NBC Sports Philadelphia broadcast before the Flyers’ game in Colorado on Sunday and said the newfound cap space will help them make a move for a center. Could they be gearing up for a big move?
Briere said the Flyers were big game hunting and a team to watch. So buckle up, it seems we’ve reached the next phase of the Flyers rebuilding.
Trade
If the Flyers aren’t comfortable sitting still and waiting until the draft or free agency to find a center solution, they could explore the trade market. They could make a move now or wait until the offseason to make a team-changing move.
Elias Pettersson, C, VAN (Trade)
The first name that comes to mind when thinking about centers available for trade is Elias Pettersson. While a trade may be a bit more challenging to negotiate after the J.T. Miller trade, Vancouver was said to be still able to trade both of its feuding stars.
Pettersson is in the first season of an eight-year extension where he will earn $11.6 million a year. If the Flyers wanted to make a move now, they would have to move more contracts to make it work (Ristolainen to start).
With Miller now out of the picture, it is hard to see how the rest of the situation will unfold in Vancouver, but it is worth keeping an eye on. Maybe they lean into the rebuild and trade Pettersson. Or perhaps they keep him around. If they are still open to moving Pettersson, the Flyers should be in line.
Dylan Cozens, C, BUF (Trade)
Dylan Cozens was a name the Flyers were linked to earlier in the year and was named as a possible player that could be dealt by Buffalo. The 23-year-old centerman is in year two of a seven-year $49.7 million contract ($7.1 million AAV). In 50 games this season, Cozens has 10 goals and 16 assists (26 TP).
His best season was 2022/23, when he scored 68 points, and he is coming off a 47-point season in 2023/24.
While he may not seem like the flashiest of pickups, Cozens would be an immediate upgrade for the Flyers. The only thing making me skeptical is how much it would cost to get Buffalo to move him. At that point, you may as well ask about his teammate, Tage Thompson (Buffalo would not budge).
Sam Bennett, C, FLA (Trade or UFA)
Sam Bennett is currently in the Mikko Rantanen position. He is due for an extension, but given the other talent on his team, he may not be able to agree with Florida on a contract that meets his value.
Not many top-six centers are available in free agency, and an even smaller number will likely even make it to July. With that said Bennett could be a name to keep an eye on. If he is unable to reach an agreement with Florida, he could be someone dealt at the trade deadline so that Florida retains some value. If not, he could become a name to watch in free agency.
Bennett will be 29 when the 2025/26 season begins and has 31 points (15 G, 16 A) in 51 games this season. Despite being the immediate best center on the Flyers’ current roster, Bennett’s ceiling with Philadelphia should be a high-end 2C. That should be enough to warrant a conversation.
He can score goals and produce points, but most importantly, he plays a solid 200-foot game. Bennett will be a name to watch moving forward.
Free Agents
Mikko Rantanen, RW/C, UFA (CAR)
Not many “franchise centers” are available in the unrestricted free-agent market this season. Honestly, I don’t see Mikko Rantanen making it that far, given what Carolina coughed up to get him. However, let’s play devil’s advocate here. Let’s say Rantanen does get there, and the Flyers suddenly have some wiggle room in their cap space.
As I mentioned earlier, assuming they let UFAs walk, the Flyers will have about $26 million in cap space to play with. With four RFAs and likely needing to sign, the Flyers could have just enough to make something work with Rantanen.
Rantanen, the electric 28-year-old forward, can play the wing and center at a franchise-altering level. He is expected to command a Leon Draisaitl-level contract (8 yr/$14M AAV), and the Flyers could have the space, though tight, to bring him in.
Do I think this will happen? No, but it would be neglectful to say there is no chance.
Mason McTavish, C, RFA (ANA)
Look, it will take a pretty substantial offer sheet to get Anaheim not to match an offer sheet for Mason McTavish. The 22-year-old centerman is in an interesting situation. Anaheim had seemingly built around Leo Carlsson and McTavish down the middle for a long time. However, McTavish has been playing the role of 3C for Anaheim lately, with the 31-year-old Ryan Strome getting the top-line minutes. I am unsure if the Ducks would prioritize a 31-year-old who has never eclipsed 60 points. McTavish is still a big part of the future in Orange County, but everything is an option for a specific price.
AAV | 2024 Compensation |
$1 – $1,511,701 | None |
$1,5111,701 – $2,290,457 | 1 3rd-round pick |
$2,290,457 – $4,580,917 | 1 2nd-round pick |
$4,580,917 – $6,871,374 | 1 1st-round pick, 1 3rd-round pick |
$6,871,374 – $9,161,834 | 1 1st-round pick, 1 2nd-round pick, 1 3rd-round pick |
$9,161,834 – $11,452,294 | 2 1st-round picks, 1 2nd-round pick, 1 3rd-round pick |
$11,452,294 or more | 4 1st-round picks |
This table shows the compensation offer sheet for 2024. The numbers should rise with the cap, but the Flyers would most definitely have to overpay to pry McTavish away from the Ducks. The fit is there. McTavish’s net-front abilities could make him a dangerous linemate of Matvei Michkov’s for years to come. His young age also directly aligns with what the Flyers are building.
The overpay would be in salary as well as draft compensation. It is an interesting option, and the fit is there, but of all the possibilities, I don’t think Anaheim will let him slip out of their hands.
Marco Rossi, C, RFA (MIN)
One name the Flyers have seemingly been linked to is Marco Rossi. From the offseason and even early into the 2024/25 season, Rossi seemed like a guy the Wild could move on from to get some veteran players. In his age 22 season (2023/24), Rossi produced 40 points in 82 games and earned himself some attention as a future star at center.
Fast forward to where we are now. Rossi has 46 points (18 G, 28 A) in 53 games for the Wild this season, and his play has him removed from the Wild’s trade block. Though he is likely not a trade option anymore, it should not stop the Flyers from offering Rossi. The common theme with offer sheets is that everything is an option for a specific price. If you offer a team-friendly or even market-value contract, the Wild will match, but Rossi could be in South Philly if you offer an uncomfortable price.
Here is the thing with Rossi: I don’t think he can be your center for Michkov, which is okay. He is small, and the Flyers need size at center, especially in a potential pair for Michkov. However, that does not mean he cannot play between Tippett and Konecny. Rossi is a consistent offensive threat and could help elevate Tippett and Konecny.
Gabe Vilardi, C, RFA (WPG)
Let’s get weird for a moment here and talk about a player who has not been linked to the Flyers. Gabe Vilardi is a center by trade, playing right wing for a talented Winnipeg Jets team. He will be 26 when the 2025/26 season begins. In 53 games this season, Vilardi has 49 points (22G, 27A). He has had an issue with injuries–Vilardi has never played more than 63 games in his career. His 49 points this season is already his career-high.
There is a lot to like about Vilardi. He has the ceiling to be an elite option down the middle for the Flyers and should be worth, at a very minimum, a conversation this offseason. Like all offer sheets, however, you must make an offer that will push Winnipeg to a point where they are uncomfortable matching. That will easily be the third-highest threshold, maybe even the second, which would cost the Flyers a load of draft picks.
Winnipeg will be ready to spend, but with other top-end options at center, there may be a price the Flyers could offer that the Jets would shy away from matching.
The Other Options
The Flyers could, of course, use their current stockpile of draft selections to try and move up and get one of the few high-end prospects in this current draft class. Or maybe they just stay the current course and could land that high draft selection at the Flyers’ current pace.
Eyes could be on the 2026 offseason, with the talented center class expected to hit both restricted and unrestricted free-agent markets.
The Flyers have options, but with the current roster, the Flyers should look for their center sooner rather than later.
Cozens for me….could have easily got him plus a 2nd round pick for Frost and Farabee…..water under the bridge now.
Not sure what he would cost now and what the Flyers can spare to get him.
He did have 30 goals and 65 points just a few years ago.
Farabee had 0 value at 5 mill for mult years. 0. Frost himself was worth a mid to high second rd pick. That’s it. You were not packaging them for a future 1st line center, especially one from Buff who have gotten crushed with losing 1cs in the recent past. Not to see the Flyers should not be in on Cozens, but if the Flyers could have gotten him for Frost and Farabee, Cozens would be here right now.
100%👍
I am confident they got the best deal they could for the toilet seat and the gay promoter