The dust has started to settle on the NHL with Leo Carlsson back in Anaheim and former Ducks Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale coming back to Philadelphia for at least the next 4 years. Of course, RFAs Adam Fantilli and Jason Robertson still need new contracts, Dylan Larkin is no closer to getting his wish out of Detroit, and then there’s the matter of the $14.5m left unspent by the Flyers. That last part is what I want to talk about.
The Flyers failed pursuit of Carlsson left me very optimistic about the Flyers. Why? Because they clearly understand the assignment. Danny Briere knows that he needs to upgrade the high-end talent on this team. He has done a very good job of acquiring good players on good contracts, but you can’t win without great players. Great players are the target.
The good news is that the Flyers are in a solid position here. We have all of our upcoming draft picks including an extra first from Toronto, young players on good contracts, and that previously mentioned $14.5m. Even better, that $14m turns into $28m next year with only Matvei Michkov up for a raise. The Flyers have room to trade for a big contract. But who?
In the NHL, you can’t renegotiate contracts or even talk about an extension until there is one year left on the deal. With the rising salary cap, that means a ton of players are underpaid right now and will be for the near future. Let’s take a look at some targets:
- Dylan Larkin – Detroit
- 5/43.5m ($8.7m)
- Larkin is the current prize of the trade market because he is fed up with Detroit’s incompetence over the last decade. The problem is that he has a no movement clause in his contract and can dictate where he wants to go. The Flyers have not been linked to him but not denied either. While he isn’t a superstar by any means, he would level up the talent on the top line and at 29 is perfect for this team’s window. I’m more dubious of the Flyers interest considering spending cap space and draft assets on Larkin means you can’t spend them on someone better.
- Elias Pettersson – Vancouver
- 6/$69.6m ($11.6m)
- Here me out! No, he is not the 191 points in two years man he was three years ago and he isn’t worth $11.6m per season, BUT you also would either not have to give up much for him or not have to pay the full salary (or both). Vancouver wants to dump him and they know he is a negative asset at that price. If left without too many good options, could they roll the dice here if the deal is good enough? It would be betting on him returning to form with a better supporting cast at only 27 years old.
- Robert Thomas – St. Louis
- 5/$40.625 ($8.125m)
- Thomas almost moved at the deadline and the Flyers were rumored to be in on him. This offseason though, the Blues decided to move Jordan Kyrou and bring in Mason McTavish, getting younger in the process. At a just-turned 27, he still fits whatever timeline they are on. Thomas is a passing machine though and would be a dream come true to young wings like Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov. Needless to say, it would take a ton to get him, but his skillset would be perfect and worth buying.
- Zach Werenski – Columbus
- 2/$19.16 ($9.58m)
- Werenski is maybe the best defenseman in hockey and is available on the trade market because he has indicated that he has no intention of staying in Columbus when his contract is up. His next contract is going to be BIG though, like he is going to want what the Avs are about to give Cale Makar1 assuming CM wants to break the bank. The problem is that he has a full no movement clause in his contract and already vetoed a trade to Dallas. That at least means the Blue Jackets are serious about moving him though. Hey, at least he hates Dallas!
- Auston Matthews – Toronto
- 2/$26.5m ($13.25m)
- I’m including Matthews because he was included in the first version months ago. Since then, Toronto brought in Darren Raddysh and drafted Gavin McKenna. They are clearly going for it this year despite being bad this past season. However, it was also Matthews’ worst as a professional. If he rebounds and wants $20m per season, there’s a world where the Leafs pivot to going younger around McKenna and…nah, I just can’t even build the argument anymore.
- Connor McDavid – Edmonton
- 2/$25m ($12.5m)
- Yeah, it seems crazy and it probably is. What might be crazier though is that Edmonton seems to be wasting not only McDavid’s prime, but the comparatively cheap deal he is on despite being the best player in the world. The 2-year extension he signed last offseason was a warning shot at the Oilers. He gave them a discount and told them to improve. They haven’t. Now the team is just getting older and top heavy with Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard. McDavid holds all the cards here. After this coming season he will essentially put in the position of Mike Trout. Does he want to be great in obscurity or does he want that spotlight to be as bright as possible?
Contracts: Spotrac
Photo: David Guralnick / The Detroit News
- There’s no chance the Avs are letting go of Makar. Their cap sheet is surprisingly clean. Speaking of defensemen, Quinn Hughes will be a free agent after next year, but everyone expects him to end up in NJ with his brothers. ↩︎
Philly Front Office 
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