Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers Looking at Two Free Agent Centers This Offseason, One Via Trade

The Philadelphia Flyers are looking to add a center this summer and have their eyes on two pending free agents and one player via trade.

by
NHL Trade Talk
April 13, 2022

As per The Fourth Period, “According to a team source, the Flyers will look at “all teams and the UFA market” in the club’s search for a top-nine pivot.” The team would like to add a new center via free agency or trade and while there could be a few realistic options, the report suggests they have a few players in mind and the Flyers might swing big.

Among the two biggest names are Colorado’s Nazem Kadri and Carolina’s Vincent Trochek. Both stand a good chance of moving on from their respective teams because they’ll either command such a high raise that the team can’t afford to keep them (Kadri in Colorado) or their club is simply ready to move on because they have other options ready to assume a new role (Jesperi Kotkaniemi in Carolina is set to take Trochek’s spot). These are being considered the two most attractive/realistic names the Flyers could pursue and the report points out that NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has already connected the Flyers to Kadri in rumors on his 32 Thoughts podcast.

Nazem Kadri Vincent Trochek Flyers rumors

Might Not Be Just Via Free Agency

Should the Flyers try to trade for a player — perhaps they’ll feel committing long-term deals to either free agent is risky — the team could pursue Mark Scheifele out of Winnipeg. There are rumors he’s a piece the Jets might consider moving if this season ends poorly. He carries an AAV of $6.125 million with a modified no-trade clause, but is only locked in for two more seasons after this one.

His (and the Jets) season hasn’t gone according to plan and there are changes expected out of that organization. How big those changes could remain to be seen and with the Flyers and Jets both willing to make moves, there’s the potential for a blockbuster between the two teams.

The report calls it a long shot but notes that Detroit’s Dylan Larkin might also be available this summer as the Red Wings continue to make changes during their rebuild.

Next: Jets May Trade Veteran Defenseman To Make Blue Line Changes