Washington — The Philadelphia Flyers could be a potential buyer or seller ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline on March 8 at 3:00 PM ET.
With the Flyers (31-23-7) in third place in the Metropolitan Division and in position to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2020, general manager Daniel Briere on Friday announced plans to strengthen the team. He said there is a possibility of a depth trade in order to achieve this goal. Determine the lineup for the postseason, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the rebuilding plan.
“Everything’s on the table,” Briere said during the Flyers’ 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. “We’re not looking to rent high-end assets in the future. We’re protecting them. We recognize where we are. It’s not just this year. It’s the future. It’s also about protecting the world. In the hockey industry, that’s a possibility.
“If we feel like it makes us better, then yeah, there’s a chance we might make a trade and maybe even if the cost isn’t as high as the benefit of the trade, we might make some profit.”
Philadelphia is still evaluating the market for defensemen Sean Walker and Nick Seeler, both of whom could become unrestricted free agents after this season. While Walker, 29, and Seeler, 30, are in talks with other teams, Briere is also in talks with his agent about a potential contract extension.
“Negotiations are going well,” Briere said. “We’re figuring out where they’re going to go. Or we have a better understanding of where they’re going to go today. We’re also figuring out what’s possible on the other side. We’re evaluating returns, and then once we see interest from other teams, we’re trying to put everything together and decide what’s best. So there’s a lot of things to consider. But we… We’re trying to bring it all together.”
Briere acknowledged interest from other teams in the Flyers defenseman has increased after defenseman Chris Tanev, who was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, is off the market. . However, he said Tanev’s return does not include a first-round pick, as defenseman prospect Artem Grushnikov is the Stars’ second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a conditional third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Stated. Influenced what he wanted in exchange for Walker and Sheeler.
“It doesn’t change our asking price,” Briere said. “Yeah, [the return] It may be a little lighter than expected, but that doesn’t change our approach. If teams aren’t willing to pay our price and we think it’s fair, we’re a playoff team. We can protect them and we can escape. That’s my view. ”
One area the Flyers are looking to upgrade is goaltending. Rookie Samuel Elson (17-12-4, 2.62 goals-against average, .897 save percentage, three shutouts) has played well, but the 24-year-old needs an experienced goaltender to back him up. You might benefit from that.
After allowing seven points on 32 shots against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, Philadelphia placed goaltender Cal Petersen on waivers and assigned him to the American Hockey League’s Lehigh Valley on Thursday. Felix Sundstrom was called up Thursday as Elsson’s backup, but has limited experience with a 3-16-4 record, 3.62 GAA and .887 save percentage in 25 NHL games over the past two seasons. There is.
“We’re excited about Sam Elson’s play,” Briere said. “We’ll see. Felix will have an opportunity to play a few games. But we’re certainly looking at all options and if something makes sense, yeah, we might jump on it. I don’t know.”
The Flyers have focused on rebuilding with young players, but they surprised many by climbing into the Eastern Conference playoff contention. Philadelphia leads the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders by five points on Friday, leading Washington by six points for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The balance between the Flyers’ long-term rebuilding plan and the fight to secure a playoff spot makes this trade deadline even more complicated.
“I have to say this is a good problem to have because if the team doesn’t play the way we’ve been playing, we won’t get any attention from other teams to our players,” Briere said. . “I’m not going to complain about that because it’s a big issue. I also think the experience that our young players will gain by being in this position is what’s to come. [will help]. We were hopeful that we could play a meaningful match after the deadline.
“Right now, we’re in the top eight in the conference and in playoff contention. That’s something different, too.”
And that’s good for the Flyers’ future and present.
“Being in the bubble and being in the playoff picture is very exciting for us, so we have to take that into consideration when it comes to trades,” Briere said. “Our players also have a chance to make the playoffs and get some experience, so whether we have a chance to make the playoffs and all the experience we can get going forward is another consideration.”
Philadelphia could get some help at forward as Travis Konecny, who missed the past four games with an upper-body injury, could return as early as Monday against the St. Louis Blues.
“We expect him to be back in action after the weekend,” Briere said. “I don’t know the exact date. I think we’ll probably have a chance on Monday, more realistically Thursday (against Florida).” That’s where we are at the moment. ”
Briere said defenseman Jamie Drysdale is still being evaluated for an upper-body injury he sustained Sunday against Pittsburgh.
“He’s undergoing some tests,” Briere said. “We said we’ll give him two weeks to give the injury a chance to calm down a little bit and we’ll re-evaluate. He’s regaining some fitness but we’re not sure if it’s going to be much longer. Or will he have a chance to play in the next few weeks? It’s too early to tell. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Briere said defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, who has missed the past eight games with an upper-body injury, is in a similar situation.
“There’s still a chance that both players can come back, but there’s also a possibility that they can’t come back,” Briere said. “That’s where we are.”
