Sources: Something ‘has to give’ on trade market with Flyers’ winger logjam
Winning cures all, right? It may not make up for the Philadelphia Flyers‘ 0-6-3 start just yet, but after their second consecutive victory, against the Colorado Avalanche no less, it may make things more complicated roster wise for GM Danny Briere.
The Flyers entered Monday’s game with five regular players on the shelf due to injury: forwards Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett, along with defensemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York. With the exception of Foerster, who played Saturday night versus the Ottawa Senators, all of their respective absences have been for multiple games. The team has looked its best the past two games with an injection of youth into the lineup and with new faces in elevated roles.
Speaking with Flyers sources Monday morning, Daily Faceoff was told that the team’s newfound success could lead to some roster changes moving forward. Wingers Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov have found chemistry together – they have combined for four goals and two assists over the last three games – and are really enjoying playing with one another, per Flyers sources. It was also very evident at the team’s morning skate before Monday’s contest.
Forward Trevor Zegras had a slow start to the season but has looked significantly better since switching back to the wing alongside Christian Dvorak; the former has one goal and three assists in the past two contests. Speaking with a team source, it is fair to consider Zegras a winger going forward. Add in recalled forwards Alex Bump and Cole Knuble to the mix – both played on a line with Denver Barkey versus the Avalanche – and there is a rapidly growing logjam in the Flyers’ forward rotation.
As DFO reported last week, the team was considering approaching Konecny about waiving his no-movement clause if the season continued to spiral. With the team looking better over the past two games and an obvious numbers game starting to develop (specifically on the wing) there is now a belief that the team could explore a Konecny trade even if things continue to trend positively for the Flyers.
Konecny, 29, has played in just five games this season and recorded three assists. While still an effective even-strength player, Konecny’s struggles (going back to last-season’s playoff’s) have been particularly noticeable on the power play.
Speaking with league sources going back to last season ahead of the Trade Deadline, there is still a healthy amount of interest in the 2015-first-round pick despite being in the second season of his eight-year, $70-million contract. With a rising salary cap, Konecny’s $8.75-million AAV is fair value for his perennial (approximate) 70-point, seasonal-output offensively.
In the case of Tippett, team sources told DFO that they have gotten more calls on him than Konecny historically, though that is believed to be largely due to the latter’s NMC presenting an additional obstacle. Tippett, 27, does have a 10-team, no-trade list until 2030 and carries a $6.2-million AAV until 2032. A three-time 27-plus goal scorer, Tippett has just one goal and one assist in nine games this season.
Speaking with a Western Conference general manager Monday, DFO was told that Konecny is viewed as the “better all-around player.” Tippett is considered more explosive, but if a team is looking to find a partner for a top-tier forward, Konecny is the one that teams would likely target as he is more a creator than Tippett. The Flyers would get a lot of traction on Konecny if he were to open up his NMC and allow the team to really field offers.
According to a team source, something is eventually going to “have to give” with the Flyers’ crowd of wingers. It could very well lead to the team exploring trade avenues for more than one winger to try and find a top-six center.
One name DFO has heard the Flyers like is Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers, though there is no indication at this time that GM Jason Botterill wants to move the 2021-second-overall pick. Speaking with a Kraken source last week, DFO was told that the Kraken do like Foerster; though that isn’t a player the Flyers want to give up, it would be a “conversation starter,” according to a team source. Tippett along with a center prospect like Jett Luchanko, would be more of an appetizing package for a player like Beniers from a Flyers’ perspective, DFO was told.
On the back end, 2023-first-round pick Oliver Bonk has stepped right into a top-pairing role alongside Travis Sanheim, averaging 20 minutes through his first five games this season and recording two assists. Defenseman Hunter McDonald looked solid in his season debut Monday night, playing in 10 minutes alongside David Jiricek.
Defenseman Cam York’s future could be in flux if players like Bonk and McDonald continue to stick in the NHL. While York has not been actively at the heart of trade talks, his name has started to circulate as being potentially available, DFO was told late Monday night.
York, 25, had struggled this season before being injured. He is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries an AAV of $5.15 million and has no trade protection.
In the case of defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, the 31-year-old has been available for trade at the right price for going on three years at this point. Even if he isn’t moved for one reason or another, there is no reason to believe he will have his contract extended at this point.