The trade deadline comes up on Friday and it’s somewhat challenging to figure what the Flyers are going to do with their roster of players.
Will they be buyers? Sellers? Or simply do nothing at all?
What adds to the puzzle are several factors.
First, are the Flyers legitimate contenders for a playoff spot? Right now, they’re long shots at best. Too many points to make up and too many teams in front of them.
Plus, there’s the Flyers’ rebuild to consider. Do general manager Daniel Briere and president Keith Jones want to go for the quick fix or continue to remain patient, even if it does mean settling for a franchise-record sixth straight season out of the playoffs?
This much we do know. Unless a player has a no-trade/no-movement clause written into his contract, there are going to be some butterflies floating around a number of players’ stomachs these final few days.
Prior to Thursday night’s game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged this can be an emotionally trying time for certain players.
Tocchet had been away at the Winter Olympics in Italy for the better part of three weeks, so he had just reopened the lines of communication prior to action in the Big Apple.
“I’ve been gone so I haven’t had a chance,” Tocchet said of possible discussions. “But there will be time the next few days where we try to talk to certain guys about it. It’s the world we live in.”
One player whose name has come up in trade rumors is that of defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. He just finished playing some of his best hockey at the Olympics and, with the remainder of this season and next on his contract, could attract a trade for draft picks, etc.
It’s just a question of whether the Flyers want to dismiss a player so key to a playoff push.
“There’s a lot of speculation,” Tocchet said. “This is where social media can screw with guys’ heads. You know, 90 percent of it is rumors but things could happen.”
One position where the Flyers could use help is at center.
Sean Couturier, 33, is in his 14th season as a Flyer and the senior statesman of all Philadelphia pro athletes. But he has a no-trade/no-movement clause in his contract (at least through 2028-29) and would have to waive it for any sort of deal to take place.
After that, it’s Christian Dvorak and Noah Cates. Solid two-way players but not the sort of star scoring threat the Flyers could use.
Briere has made it known he’s not going to part ways with an up-and-coming star such as Matvei Michkov, who showed why he’s considered a franchise mainstay with his two-goal performance in the overtime win against the Rangers.
There are only a few games left until the March 6 cutoff. Is there anything a player can do in terms of performance to change minds if he’s already been ticketed for another team?
Tocchet referenced Wednesday night’s game in Washington where the Flyers were tied with the Capitals heading into the final minutes.
That’s where the Flyers could have used a hero.
It didn’t happen.
“It’s a 1-1 game and I felt that was a game we could at least get to overtime,” Tocchet said. “We talked to players today (Thursday). We want to give people reasons to keep people together, stay here.”
Tocchet was traded a number of times during his playing career so he knows the drill.
He knows the players on this team as it’s constituted believe they’re in a good place. They want to stop the turnstyle of players which has been turning the past few years.
“I’ve been in the game 40 years,” Tocchet said. “If you want to be together, play hard, things like that. I mean that’s the message. Every coach gives his team that message.”
Hopefully the players are listening.
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