Flyers Trade Deadline Tracker: Rumors, Possible Destinations & More

The March 7th NHL trade deadline is drawing closer and closer. The Flyers look to be conservative sellers yet again.

Sitting at .500 with a tough stretch of games soon to come, the Flyers find themselves in an interesting spot: five points away from the wild card and five points away from top odds for the number four overall draft selection.

Daniel Briere seems to have named his price for the Flyers’ main trade chips. At this point, it is unsure whether he will remotely budge on his asks.

Two Flyers’ players have had their names swirling in trade rumors for a good part of the season, but could those be the only options on the table for the Flyers?

Flyers Trade Deadline Tracker

Scott Laughton, C (1 year remaining at $3 million AAV)

Scott Laughton has been involved in trade rumors for the Flyers for almost as long as I can remember. Despite constantly being involved in rumors, he has remained with the Flyers because no team has been willing to come close to the Flyer’s value for Laughton.

Things could be different this season, as the 30-year-old center has generated plenty of interest. Plenty of teams need a middle-six center. Laughton may prove to be the Flyers’ most valuable trade chip, as plenty of suiters have come forward for Laughton. Obviously, no team has offered anything close to what Briere is looking for in return for Laughton. He is still with the Flyers. Frank Seravalli recently said on Morning Cuppa Hockey that he believes the Flyers are more inclined to move off of Laughton this season. He also said he believes that the Winnipeg Jets have offered a second-round pick for the Flyers’ alternate captain. He also said that whoever offers a first-round pick for him gets him.

Players like Sam Bennett (FLA, Pending UFA) and former Flyer Brayden Schenn (STL,  3 years left, $6.5 Mil AAV) headline the middle-six center market. Laughton may be the most available/affordable of the three, but teams like Toronto and Winnipeg may prefer to take a run at one of the bigger fish first.

The Flyers value Laughton not only as a player but as a leader, too. The respect is there, and I would not be surprised if they allowed him some input on the trade. However, he has no type of no-movement clause. His hometown Toronto Maple Leafs are in the mix, as well as the Washington Capitals who are not too far from Laughton’s 12-year home.

Possible Destinations:

The leading Teams: Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals

Dark Horse Teams: Minnesota Wild, LA Kings, Ottawa Senators

Read More: Could Scott Laughton Actually Be on the Move?

Rasmus Ristolainen, RHD (2 years remaining at $5.1 million AAV)

Rasmus Ristolainen has done a complete 180 on his Flyers tenure this season.

The Flyers defenseman had been relatively disappointing in his tenure in Philadelphia but has played himself into trade conversations this season. Usually, being in trade conversations is not a reward, but contending teams have taken notice. He has 18 points (4G, 14A) in 56 games with the Flyers this season. He found himself on the top power-play unit and has been a shutdown defender all season.

His health has been a concern, especially coming off an upper-body injury once the break was over. He was selected to the Finnish 4 Nations team but did not play due to the injury. It is unclear whether or not that has hurt his value. Like Laughton, the Flyers will seemingly want a first-round draft selection in return for the blueliner. Still, if a team is willing to take on the whole salary, I would not be shocked if Briere and company would be willing to take a lesser return to unload the full contract.

Ristolainen is among the top, if not the top, right-shot defenseman available on the trade market right now. Plenty of teams, including some of the top cup contenders, could use a big, right-shot defenseman. Seth Jones is the best defender likely available, but his five years remaining after this season with a $9.5 million AAV might make it harder to trade him. Montreal’s David Savard (pending UFA) is the other RHD on the market.

The term remaining may make it harder to deal Ristolainen, but there are definitely teams interested.

The size of the Flyers’ defense may make Ristolainen harder to part with, but he is certainly worth monitoring as the deadline draws closer.

Possible Destinations:

The Leading Teams: Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings

Dark Horse Teams: Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Winnipeg Jets

Read More: ‘You Can’t Fall in Love’: Tortorella Opens Up About the Trade Deadline

Any Suprise Moves?

I am not so sure Daniel Briere has any tricks up his sleeves at the trade deadline, but there may be a few other players on the Flyers roster contenders could be interested in.

Garnet Hathaway is a player who comes to mind as a surprise flyer that could be dealt with at the deadline. Hathaway’s two-year extension kicks in at the end of this season, and he will carry a $2.4 million cap hit each of the next two seasons. As a fourth-liner, Hathaway has 18 points (8G, 10A) this season for the Flyers. He is pacing for his best career year yet.

Bottom-line, players aren’t the typical “flashy” pickups contenders make at the deadline, but Hathaway could fit on plenty of fourth lines in the NHL. He brings an edge and toughness that can make a difference. He makes the big hits, he will fight–Hathaway will play every shift like its his last. There’s been no indication that the Flyers are shopping him, which makes sense. He seems like the kind of guy contenders would be all over if made available.

Read More: Flyers Forecast: Predicting the Rest of the Year