NHL Trade Deadline: Teams Are Busy–What’s Holding up the Flyers?

The NHL trade deadline is approaching quickly. Plenty of NHL teams are active as buyers and sellers. While the Philadelphia Flyers were not particularly expected to make any earth-shattering moves, they certainly have players generating interest on the trade market.

Scott Laughton and Rasmus Ristolainen are both sought-after trade targets across the league. Laughton is a Swiss-army knife that can do it all–he can win faceoffs and kill penalties. Most importantly, he plays impactful minutes on both ends of the ice. Ristolainen is almost in a market of his own at this point as a big right-shot defenseman.

It’s like a beating drum at this point; while other teams are getting busy improving their current roster or retooling for the future, the Flyers are seemingly sitting on their hands or waiting until the very last minute.

Versatile middle-six forwards and big defenseman are flying off the board. Meanwhile, Ristolainen and Laughton are playing meaningful minutes for the Flyers. What exactly is holding the Flyers up?

Read More: 2025 NHL Trade Deadline: It’s a Seller’s Market

Waiting out the Market or Not Happy with Current Offers?

There are a handful of reasons as to why the Flyers have not yet made a move.

It is no secret that Daniel Briere overvalues his guys and does not see the need to move them at this trade deadline. That said, it will take a king’s ransom to get either player out of the Flyers’ grasp. The seller’s market may indicate that they could, in fact, receive that massive haul for either guy. If that is true, then why wait?

Teams have been overpaying for middle-six/bottom-four talent all this past week. If the strategy is to wait out the market, the goal is to wait until the Flyers think the market hits its peak, and sell high. It’s like the stock market in that sense. There are risks and rewards associated with this strategy. The reward: receive an overpay on a player that would not get that type of return any other time. Of course, you run the risk of waiting too long, and teams flipping the clock on you.

While time could be the Flyers’ best friend, it can quickly turn into their worst nightmare. Teams could start to rescind or weaken their offers as the deadline approaches, especially if they don’t think the Flyers are getting close to their asking price. The Flyers have the power, for now, but that could quickly change.

The other reason for no action could simply be that teams are not as interested in Laughton and Ristolainen, and the Flyers won’t budge until they get their ask.

Read More: NHL Trade Deadline Update: Two Laughton Competitors Off the Board

What Should the Flyers do at the Trade Deadline?

While I do see the Flyers being a playoff contender next season (yes, crazy, I know), they cannot think about next season. To me, the right decision is clear as day. The Flyers have assets generating interest, and truthfully, their value will likely never be higher. If the Flyers do not see themselves offering Laughton or Ristolainen another contract, they have to trade them while their value is at its peak.

I really like both players, and there are reasons why I think keeping them is not a bad idea. However, the playoffs are far out of sight. There is not much to play for other than pride this season. That leaves one question for Briere and company.

Do they think that both players will be around when the Flyers are competitive again? Without asking, it is fairly safe to assume the answer is no. So why not sell while both players’ value is at its highest?

If one thing is known about the Briere regime, it is that they prefer to move in silence. For now, they should get the benefit of the doubt. However, they are quickly running out of time to make a move. Will the Flyers sell high on either play at the trade deadline?

Read More: PhHN Daily: Flyers Trade Deadline Talk; Emotion on Long Island & More