Three Centers the Flyers Should Target this Offseason

The Philadelphia Flyers need help at center. That’s not a secret, nor was it ever. Now, the Flyers will have the opportunity to address that glaring issue this offseason.

2025 will be the first offseason when the cap begins to open up. The Flyers also have a plethora of draft capital in this coming draft, and Flyers general manager Daniel Briere recognized that using all seven picks in the first two rounds is a bit unnecessary.

That said, the Flyers could hit the trade market to fill that hole in the lineup and find a center that can help lead them back to the playoffs. Here are three possibilities:

Read More: Flyers Coaching Search: Briere Talks Qualities, Timeline, and Who Could be in the Running

Mason McTavish, 22 years old, ANA (RFA/Trade)

Of the three, Mason McTavish might be the most realistic option. I wrote about it way back in early February, and my opinion of McTavish has only gotten stronger–he would be a fantastic pick-up for the Flyers.

The 22-year-old center continues to make strides in his NHL career. McTavish had 52 points with 22 goals and 30 assists this past season, making his most productive season yet. One thing to note is that his 2023/24 season would have likely been more productive if he had not missed the end of the season with a sprained MCL. McTavish did miss some games due to an upper-body injury this past season.

The Flyers have two ways they could go about acquiring McTavish this offseason. The first: go the typical offer sheet route. Make him an offer that would make Anaheim uncomfortable, and cough up the draft compensation required by the league.

Or, the Flyers could go a different route. They could threaten to offer sheet McTavish and get Anaheim willing to start a trade conversation. Then, the Flyers could go about a trade for McTavish completely differently. They could use some of their 2025 surplus of draft capital instead of picks spread out over the next couple of years. They could trade players instead of picks. It opens up a completely different world.

Either way, it could make a lot of sense.

Anaheim’s RFA class next year alone could make them want to do something now to clear up future space. They will have to pay Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Drew Helleson, Jackson LaCombe, Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and maybe even Trevor Zegras all as RFAs next offseason. Moral of the story? There is only so much money in that organization. With the money they have tied up at the center position already, McTavish could be a casualty.

Read More: Flyers Want Big Moves; Trades, Free Agents, & Names to Watch

Matty Beniers, 22 years old, SEA (Trade)

Here is an interesting option for the Flyers. Matty Beniers is far less available as a player than Mason McTavish. However, it does not mean he is not and cannot be an option. The rebuild in Seattle is not going as planned.

Trust me, I understand how crazy this may sound, because trading a 22-year-old center sounds like a step back organizationally, just as much as it would be a step back in talent, but a trade might make sense.

I see Beniers much like Dylan Cozens. He signed a higher-AAV ($7,142,857) contract off an excellent season early in his career. He has never out-produced his 57-point 2022/23 season, despite playing almost every game the past two seasons. If Seattle is not happy with how things are going, it could make a trade to reset.

Beniers is like the final boss of the Noah Cateses of the league. Beniers plays an excellent 200-foot game, is highly responsible and reliable, has great speed, and is a really good puck carrier and playmaker. The difference? Well, Beniers is also a great scorer. He has a great passing touch to set up his teammates, but has a slick shot and a knack for scoring.

The Flyers could use one of their first and second-rounders in 2025, along with two roster players and a prospect, and it should get it done if Seattle answers the phone.

Beniers had 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 82 games in 2024/25.

Elias Pettersson, 26 years old, VAN (Trade)

The jury might be out on Elias Pettersson, but making a move for him still makes sense.

Putting the drama with JT Miller aside, the headline of Pettersson’s season was his significant offensive regression. His 45 points this season are just barely above half of his production from last season (89 points). Undoubtedly, 2024/25 was Pettersson’s worst career season.

One of the biggest causes for his lack of production was his inability to create offense off the rush. The Flyers certainly have players who thrive off the rush, which could help bring that production out from Pettersson.

Aside from the COVID season, Pettersson had never been below 60 points in a season. This year is probably just a dip, not a full display of his talent.

Pettersson’s assists remain consistent with his other 60-point seasons; it is his goal numbers that are dragging him down.

Scoring 102 points back in 2022/23 and 89 points in 2023/24 should not be forgotten because of this down season.

Vancouver may be looking to shake things up this offseason after a less-than-ideal 2024/25 season. Maybe they do that by opening up some cap space and trading Pettersson. He is due a whopping $11.6 million per year until he becomes a free agent in 2032.

Trading for Pettersson is undoubtedly a risk. Nobody knows if he’ll ever return to his near-100-point season form again, making that contract a tough pill to swallow.

The Flyers could take it as an opportunity to move off some of their high-paid, long-term contracts. Vancouver would never retain any of Pettersson’s contract at this point, so the best bet to limit the cap hit is to swap contracts.

Trading for Pettersson is a risk; that is not being ignored. Taking a swing like that will either accelerate the rebuild or set it back immensely, so the Flyers would have to be careful.

However, if the Canucks are willing to listen to offers including Sean Couturier or Owen Tippett, the risk might just be worth it.

Read More: Pros and Cons of an Elias Pettersson Trade: Should the Flyers Make a Move?

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