The time has come and we are just a couple hours away from the NHL’s 3pm trade deadline. While the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t interested in buying for a playoff run, they remain stuck in neutral and uncertain of selling off the expendable pieces of this team.
Let’s check out what we’ve heard so far today.
Scott Laughton, re-sign or trade?
The major pending free agent the Flyers have on their roster and a dude that contending teams would certainly want, Scott Laughton has been getting some interest around the league.
The major question is whether or not he is willing to sign a nice bow-wrapped extension for Philadelphia, or, if he doesn’t re-sign, GM Chuck Fletcher to take advantage of his playoff-ready play style and sell high for future assets. Oh, the battles of being a team that wants to stay in the competitive picture.
Flyers and Scott Laughton’s camp still engaged in contract talks. Flyers also taking calls from teams on him. Could go to the wire.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 12, 2021
The latest we are hearing, is that the Flyers would need to be “knocked over” by the trade offer and that they love the player; obviously preferring an extension.
Nolan Patrick and Vegas
After returning to the roster at the beginning of the season and not truly living up to the predicted hype, we might be seeing the end of Nolan Patrick in Philadelphia.
Still just 22 years of age, teams can certainly buy into the potential of the former second overall pick and want to buy-low. One of those teams, is one manned by his former GM back in his Brandon Wheat Kings days, the Vegas Golden Knights.
3. This is by no means a done deal, but I was told VGK wants a forward and one that is really affordable.
4. VGK GM Kelly McCrimmon was with Nolan in Brandon. Knows him well.— Anthony SanFilippo (@AntSanPhilly) April 12, 2021
It’s uncertain what the return would be, but Vegas has some extra draft picks and has the desire to bolster their forward lines even further in two-way depth.
Raffl might be staying
The Flyers don’t have a lot of expiring contracts this season, but one of them is forward Michael Raffl. The 32-year-old is someone that fits the stereotype of a rental acquisition, but with the low buying cost around the league, Fletcher might not be seeing the right deal for Raffl that is worth parting ways with him.
From what I’ve heard, I’d be surprised if Michael Raffl is moved today. Erik Gustafsson we’ll see. On Scott Laughton, I think Flyers will have to be knocked over by offer.
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) April 12, 2021
As of now, we’re seeing reports that it would be surprising if Raffl is one of the rare trades today.
Gustafsson’s uncertain future
As mentioned in the tweet above, defenseman Erik Gustafsson is another question mark ahead of today’s trade deadline. He hasn’t been the player that we all hoped he would be and his $3-million AAV cap hit might prove to be difficult to move without some retention, but he’s a rental and teams are looking for depth defensemen.
Stay tuned in with the only Flyers coverage you should follow here at Broad Street Hockey. It’s trade deadline time and we’re bored.
