Flyers Trade Talk
Flyers Trade Deadline: Forecasting Moves & A Bold Prediction
The March 6th NHL trade deadline is now just days away, and the Philadelphia Flyers are in quite a situation.
A week ago, it looked clear as day that the Flyers had no other choice than to sell. The playoffs looked like a stretch. Now, they are six points out of the final wild card spot, and eight out of the three division.
Do playoffs seem likely now? No, not really. But it’s also too close to say the Flyers are dead.
That puts GM Danny Briere in an interesting spot. He has plenty of players drawing or expected to be drawing interest from top contenders. That includes Rasmus Ristolainen, Owen Tippett, and even Bobby Brink.
Beyond that, veterans and pending UFAs Nicolas Deslauriers, Carl Grundstrom, and Noah Juulsen could draw some interest. Even a guy with another year left on his deal, Garnet Hathaway, could be seen as a sandpaper forward for a contender looking for two playoff runs.
The Flyers have plenty of options as the deadline nears. Briere could easily throw in the towel and just strip the team of all of its sellable assets, but they don’t seem keen on punting yet another season. To get any of these players from the Flyers, you’ll have to make an offer that Briere simply cannot refuse.
So, with that, let’s do a little forecasting and play some keep or trade with the Flyers’ trade chips ahead of the March 6th NHL Trade deadline.
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TRADE: F Carl Grundstrom
Carl Grunstrom was a very pleasant surprise coming over from San Jose in the Ryan Ellis trade. It was almost certainly a contract dump move by the Sharks, just making a little more room after taking on the Ellis deal, before eventually moving it to Chicago.
As a fourth-liner, Grunstrom has been very good for the Flyers, tallying 8 goals and 10 total points in 31 games.
Grunstrom is a pending UFA, and I can’t see him in the Flyers’ future plans. To me, that screams trade him now.
With over 300 NHL games played and multiple postseason appearances, he could be the ideal fit for a team looking to add depth on the wing. He could be the perfect “in case of emergency” player for a true contender.
Ultimately, I think the Flyers can easily land a mid-round pick for him. The Predators were able to get a third-rounder for Cole Smith, another pending UFA with a similar stat line, just a little bigger.
TRADE: LW Nicolas Deslauriers
Another pending UFA for the Flyers: Nicolas Deslauriers. Deslauriers has been a solid physical presence for the Flyers throughout his tenure and has played his role as the fourth-line enforcer.
This time of year, teams are looking to add some toughness to prepare for the postseason. Deslauriers would improve any team’s physicality, as he is one of the toughest guys in the league.
The Flyers would not get a lot in a trade for Deslauriers. If anything, it would be more of a courtesy move. The 13-year NHL veteran has only made one postseason appearance in his career. It does not seem like he’ll make it two with the Flyers this season.
So, if he’s going to be the 13th/14th forward on the Flyers, and has only played 23 games this season. Briere might as well let him go somewhere where he can play that same role, but at least have a chance at a cup.
KEEP: RW Garnet Hathaway
I believe Garnet Hathaway will generate more interest than you may think with his current season. While he was an excellent fourth-line scorer last season, he does not have that touch this year.
Despite that, he does add some toughness and grit to any lineup that most teams want for the postseason. However, with one year left on his contract after this season, I think it’s a reason the Flyers want to keep him and a reason other teams are deterred from trying to acquire the fourth-liner.
Plus, if you trade Deslauriers, you’re going to want someone on the roster that can be that tough guy. Hathwaway fills that role.
Despite his scoring woes, I believe he is still valuable to this Flyers team, which is why he’ll stick around.
TRADE: RW Bobby Brink
Bobby Brink is a pending RFA who, with the Flyers’ surplus at wing, has his future with the team in question. With prospects Alex Bump and Porter Martone knocking on the door, at least two top-six spots are going to have to open up in order to make room.
Unfortunately for Brink, the early writing on the wall makes it seem like he may be one of the odd ones out.
This could undoubtedly wait until the offseason. Once the RFA compensation is finalized, the Flyers could trade his rights for the pick value. In all honesty, I don’t see him signing a deal that requires anything more than a 2nd round pick headed to the Flyers. I think it’ll end up being right around the line of a second or third rounder.
That said, if the Flyers want to capitalize on his value, moving him at the deadline could make the most sense. Teams may be willing to pay more to add his talent for a postseason push. It would also open up a spot for Alex Bump to join the NHL roster and free up a RW spot.
I do feel like Minnesota is the perfect trade partner here. Maybe the Flyers could fetch a center prospect, like Charlie Stramel, rather than a pick.
TRADE: RHD Rasmus Ristolainen
The big one: Rasmus Ristolainen. I do think this will be the hardest decision to make, especially given his remaining term and the Flyers’ desire, or even need, to compete next season.
Given how the trade market is evolving, I see the Flyers at least being offered a first-round pick for Ristolainen. If not that, pick and more. There is plenty of interest, and he has been playing extremely well lately.
To me, the Stars are the most natural fit, but I question if they have what the Flyers want in return. Detroit could also be a natural fit, and they do have the prospects the Flyers would want. One of their goaltending prospects, Trey Augustine or Sebastian Cossa, would be the dream. But I can see someone like Max Plante getting it done for Detroit. Plante’s brother Victor, an uber-talented forward, is expected to be a second-rounder in June.
The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres have also had noted interest in the Flyers’ Finnish blueliner.
Moral of the story: there is enough interest in Ristolainen that leads me to beleive this is the year the Flyers get what they want for him and pull the trigger.
The Flyers cannot punt on this again. With him being a UFA after next season, they will never get more value for him. This has to be the year, and I believe Briere gets it done.
Read More: Flyers Trade Rumors: A Surprise Eastern Conference Team Could be in the Mix for Ristolainen
KEEP: RHD Noah Juulsen
This one goes hand in hand with Ristolainen. If the Flyers trade Ristolainen, they need to keep Noah Juulsen. If they keep Ristolainen, then maybe Juulsen hits the market.
The reason behind this is simple. Oliver Bonk is not ready, and beyond that, they don’t really have any other RHD, other than maybe Christian Kyrou, that could fill the void of both Ristolainen and Juulsen.
It cannot be both RHD; it will have to be one or the other unless someone gives an offer that Briere cannot turn down, of course.
I don’t foresee Juulsen having that much league-wide interest. So, it becomes simple. Trade Ristolainen, keep Juulsen.
Bold Prediction: Briere pulls off an Owen Tippett Blockbuster
To me, Owen Tippett is another name that will have plenty of interest around the trade deadline. He will probably have the next-most, if not more than, Ristolainen. At the same time, the Flyers are in no rush to trade him.
Tippett is a guy who could be a part of the Flyers’ long-term plan, but has just as good a chance at being a casualty of the surplus. The fact of the matter is, Tippett is not a bottom-six player, nor is he making bottom-six money. So, the Flyers will either have to find room for him or he’ll fall due to the team’s surplus of wingers.
One thing that we do know is that this decision will likely have to be made by July 1st, when his 10-team NTC kicks in.
A Tippett trade screams “offseason move”, which has me leaning towards saying keep.
However, I do think teams will be desperate for scoring on or by Friday. With Tippett’s remaining term, it does not necessarily have to be a contender making the move. That means there will be plenty of potential suitors.
Anthony Di Marco uses the Bruins as an example and says the starting point would be a high-end prospect, a mid-tier NHLer, and a first-round pick. Dave Pagnotta says Boston will be aggressive trying to land a defenseman and a forward.
My bold prediction is that Briere and the Flyers pull off a blockbuster and ship both Ristolainen and Tippett to the Bruins for picks, prospects, and more.
The Bruins have four firsts over the next two seasons. They have Dean Letourneau, James Hagens, Matthew Proitas, and more as center prospects. It would be a tough pill for the Bruins to swallow. However, they could easily afford to pay the Flyers what they would want for both players.
It’s been noted that Ristolainen is not at the top of Boston’s list. However, a trade that fills two needs may be too hard to pass up for Boston.
If it’s not a massive return, blockbuster trade, it’s fair to say Tippett will remain in Philadelphia beyond March 6th. It’s a bold prediction for a reason.
Do you think Briere can pull off the blockbuster?
Read More: Flyers Trade Deadline Tracker: Rumors, Deals, and NHL News
WOW… There’s delusion and then there’s delusion… Brink for Stramel??? That alludes to the author being on some sort of ayahuasca retreat… And Risto and Tippet for Hagens??? Never in a million years.
Letorneau has question marks out the wazoo… Poitras hasn’t shown much and looks like his luster is starting to fade. Simply put, BOS doesn’t have the assets to be a realistic trade partner (unless they are willing to part with Hagens which would be suicide).
And Briere needs to get some prospects – no more picks. Can’t recycle picks until eternity. Further, he’s proven to be rather daft on draft day.
Bob, did not allude to Tippett and Risto for Hagens. If anything, Hagens is the only truly untouchable prospect in Boston. Was merely pointing out their depth at center prospects.
Letourneau is a 6’7” PPG centerman with an excellent shot and strong net front skill. Understand that his first year after the draft was questionable, but to get a future 1C you’re going to have to take risks.
You’re right, I don’t think Brink alone fetches you Stramel, but it’s worth noting that NCAA Senior players tend to have lower value since they’ll be older once entering the league.
When was the last time you saw a 6’7″ play center in the NHL (or NBA)??? Letourneau will be a flop in the NHL. No way he’s a future 1C.
To get a future 1C, you need to draft really well (and we know Danny Boy is incapable as Luchanko, Nesbitt, Berglund will never have that title), or, you can trade for one or pick up one as an UFA.
Stramel is a former 1st rounder. GM’s want to either get another in return or give the prospect every opportunity to see that work. Brink for Stramel is never gonna happen.
Ok Stramel is at best a 2C , but more than likely a 3c…..four years of college now playing against 19 and 20 year- olds…he better look good.
At Whisky he was not so good his freshmen and soph years.
Brink is already an established NHLer.
Perhaps Risto and Tippy to the Bruins for Frazier Minten and the Tor pick.
Well done. Boston would likely pushback on the Toronto pick and maybe offer theirs instead.
Agree on your trade/keep assessments. Risto gets a first rounder and a prospect or no dice. It’s time for the Flyers to ream someone for a change. There’s no one on the current roster who has got them to be a playoff team, let alone a contender, and only a couple who may contribute to that in the future. So, spinning wheels as a mediocre at best team drafting in the 12-17 range, hoping their weak first round picks (Brink, Frost, Luchanko…) will turn into the next Cole Caufield (oops, yeah, we could have had him) will not get this 20-year floundering franchise anywhere. Bold, savvy trade(s) are a must at this point, for players or near-ready good prospects, or picks you will flip for one of those. Building through only the draft is a waste because you’re drafting 18-year-old boys and the Flyers don’t do it particularly well anyway. Now through the summer is time for Briere to get moving big.
Well said. The draft doesn’t work for the Flyers. They need to move prospects and draft capital for established or soon-to-be established NHLers. I’d make a run at Thomas. And I’d basically say that Martone, Michkov and Foerster are the only untouchables.