With the NHL’s trade deadline a couple of weeks away, there’s plenty of rampant speculation as to who will still be a Flyer after March 8. One advantage the Philadelphia Flyers have over many cap-ceiling teams is a healthy amount of cap space freed up, estimated to be a hair under $9 million come deadline day (thanks CapFriendly). If the Flyers decide to put Ryan Ellis on Long-Term Injured Reserve, that should make that magic number just over $15 million, a sizeable amount to take advantage of.
As a result, general manager Danny Briere could take on a few questionable contracts if the end result is a first-round or second-round draft pick coming back in return. Granted not all bad contracts are worth acquiring to begin with (especially if a no-trade, no-movement or modified trade or movement clauses nixes it to start). However, if it helps getting the Flyers closer to contention with younger, higher-end talent, one should at least consider it.
Of course other intangibles like the noted “locker room” philosophy and how players fit into the lineup are all important considerations. But for strictly bad contracts (or what this writer considers bad), here are a handful of head-scratchers which could be worth taking if looking at the bigger rebuilding picture.
Ryan Reaves — Two more years, $1.35 million AAV
At 37 years old, a healthy scratch often for the Maple Leafs and with an onerous 35-plus deal which keeps him on the cap regardless, Ryan Reaves isn’t exactly the talk of the deadline. The enforcer’s contract could be the difference between the Leafs acquiring a credible, serviceable defenseman for a playoff tilt against the Bruins or Panthers in the first round or bowing out as is often the case. It’s a longshot for sure but if Leafs general manager Brad Treliving needs the space to get something else, chances are he’ll swing for the fences.
Cody Ceci — One more year, $3.25 million AAV
Last season the Oilers attempted to solidify their blueline in landing blue-chipper Mattias Ekholm for a deep Cup-winning run. We all know how that ended. This season they are once again attempting to seal up whatever flaws or holes they may have in their lineup in order to get to sixteen wins after game eighty-two.
One area they are hoping to improve on is the blueline and Cody Ceci’s name has been tied to trade deadline talk for a little while now. With the blossoming of Evan Bouchard this season and Philip Broberg in the pipeline, the Oilers are hoping to get better for the playoffs by adding a blueliner who has a bit more to offer. Sean Walker’s name has been tied to Edmonton for some time although Nick Seeler could be an upgrade on the Oilers’ third pairing and is more economical. Expect Briere to use maximum leverage to get what he wants if Ken Holland has Walker (and/or Seeler) at the top of his wish list.
Rickard Rakell — Four more years, $5 million AAV
With his rebuild centered around four mid-to-late-thirtysomething veterans, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas needs to do something quickly to keep the Pittsburgh’s faint playoff hopes alive. Rakell, in the second year of a six-year deal thanks to Ron Hextall, has all of five goals this season, not exactly the offensive support expected after potting 28 last season.
If Dubas decides to try and keep pending free agent Jake Guentzel (currently on Injured Reserve and a risk now for teams inquiring about him), the team would definitely need cap relief elsewhere even with Jeff Carter’s $3.125-million cap hit coming off the books. Dubas unfortunately has a knack for dumping first round picks in questionable deals such as Petr Mrazek, Nick Foligno and Patrick Marleau as Leafs general manager while tossing off a second-round pick to rid himself of Nick Ritchie. The Penguins’ draft cupboard isn’t completely bare, but unloading this albatross of a deal would definitely require them giving away picks.
Barclay Goodrow — Three more years, $3.641 million AAV
Barclay Goodrow has one goal this season. I don’t mean to win a Stanley Cup, that’s a given. I mean he has one goal in his first 55 games this season. Not great. Three more years also doesn’t make this contract hugely attractive.
Goodrow does have a few things going for him which would make a deadline deal a longshot at best, namely being a favorite of coach Peter Laviolette. Secondly, the forward has a 15-team no trade clause, thereby eliminating almost half the league right off the bat. It still looks like Rangers fans are mixed about keeping Barclay or trading him as intangibles seem to get more credence the closer one gets to March 8. As well the Rangers aren’t desperate to acquire a huge piece given how they have no huge raises in contracts this offseason and only a handful of restricted free agents in Kaapo Kakko, Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider to deal with. Of course a ten-game winning streak doesn’t hurt either.
Jack Campbell — Three more years, $5 million AAV
If you ask Oilers’ fans this is possibly the worst contract since their Milan Lucic signing all those years ago (hell they still have James Neal’s buyout on the books to prove it). Jack Campbell’s five-year, $25-million deal looked good about 18 months ago. Not so good now given his declining play which has him in Bakersfield in the AHL with a save percentage just over .900.
With their win now window closing quickly and soon needing to make huge decisions regarding their two superstars and how huge a chunk they’ll take out of a rising cap, Ken Holland could easily attach a first-round pick with Campbell in a package or three-way deal. Of course given how the Flyers’ goaltending situation looks so drastically different from the beginning of the season to now, a back-up goalie to complement Sam Ersson could be worth looking into if the prospects aren’t quite ready. Current backup Cal Petersen (who has a 10-team list on a modified no trade clause) might be intriguing to Holland with some retained salary for just one more season if it means getting out from under Campbell’s deal.
