Chuck Fletcher and the Philadelphia Flyers remained relatively quiet at the trade deadline while the rest of the Metropolitan Division loaded up around them. Fletcher had limited options due to the Flyers’ salary cap conundrum, but he made the most of it with trades for Nate Thompson and Derek Grant.
The Flyers gave up a draft pick in each deal – a 2021 fifth-round pick for Thompson, and a 2020 fourth-round pick for Grant – while also trading away AHLer Kyle Criscuolo in the Grant deal. Fletcher added two depth forwards without having to give up much of anything.
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Flyers add more depth with trade for Derek Grant
It was a bit worrisome to see the Flyers’ direct competition in the Metropolitan make bigger splashes at the deadline, however. Both teams ahead of them in the standings and the two teams chasing them made bigger moves. In fact, everyone in the Metro improved their club in one way or another.
The first-place Washington Capitals didn’t make any major moves on deadline day, but they added two players within the past week. They traded for top-four defenseman Brendan Dillon last week, and middle-six winger Ilya Kovalchuk on Sunday
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who are just three points ahead of the Flyers, made their mark as well. Two weeks before the deadline they traded for Jason Zucker, who has slotted in nicely on their top line. They also added veteran winger Patrick Marleau on Monday.
The New York Islanders, who are one point behind the Flyers with a game in hand, acquired one of the top trade chips in Jean-Gabriel Pageau on Monday. Pageau was on the Flyers’ radar and would’ve been nice to have, but the Islanders paid a pretty penny for him (a first-round pick and second-round pick) – and then signed him to a six-year, $30 million extension. They also added Andy Greene last week. There was a rumor that they could land Zach Parise as well, but that never came to fruition.
Lastly, but possibly most notably, the Carolina Hurricanes made three rather significant deals on deadline day. They’ve been bit by the injury bug recently, and filled out their defense with trades for Sami Vatanen and Brady Skjei. Their first deal of the day was possibly their best, acquiring Vincent Trocheck for a package involving Erik Haula. The Hurricanes are just three points behind the Flyers with a game in hand.
The rest of the division made smaller moves. The Columbus Blue Jackets made a depth addition in swapping Sonny Milano for Devin Shore. The New York Rangers locked up Chris Kreider rather than trading him, and also traded Skjei to Carolina for a first-round pick.
The New Jersey Devils, after winning the offseason, were one of the biggest sellers at the deadline. After trading Taylor Hall in November, they dealt Andy Greene and Blake Coleman away last week, and capped it off by sending Wayne Simmonds to Buffalo and Vatanen to Carolina on Monday.
Kovalchuk. Zucker. Marleau. Pageau, Trocheck, Vatanen, Skjei. … Thompson and Grant.
It may be disappointing to see the Flyers sit on the sidelines while their rivals trade for better players, but we’ve seen this story before. The same thing happened in the offseason with the Rangers getting Artemi Panarin and Jacob Trouba, and the Devils getting Simmonds and P.K. Subban. Meanwhile, Kevin Hayes, Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun, and even Tyler Pitlick have made a significant impact with the Flyers.
Fletcher “only” adding Thompson and Grant isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s actually the opposite.
Sure, he only had so much cap space to work with, but he could’ve traded a roster player if he wanted in order to facilitate a bigger deal. He didn’t do that.
Instead, Fletcher showed that he is confident in this Flyers team and wanted to do what he could to fill in the gaps.
“We like our team. We liked it before today,” Fletcher in his press conference said after the deadline. “This is more about depth, character, experience and specific roles.”
As mentioned above, the Flyers were interested in Pageau, but the lack of talent available at the deadline – especially at center – drove up his price.
“I don’t believe this was the best collection of rental talent out there … I talked to most teams in the league and looked at everything,” Fletcher said. “Usually it’s the moves you least expect that have the biggest impact. I like our team. We have good players playing important roles.”
The Flyers have been on a roll since early January, which helped push Fletcher into improving the team.
“I believe we’re helping the chemistry,” Alain Vigneault said. “This is a move that a lot of the guys that have been here for a while have wanted the organization to step forward, show confidence, show faith. That’s definitely what we’re doing.”
The Flyers had a group of at least 12 healthy and effective forwards before the deadline, and added two more into the mix for the home stretch.
With Connor Bunnaman and Joel Farabee being sent down to the Phantoms, the Flyers now have at least three players that have played well in the NHL down in Lehigh valley in those two and Morgan Frost. David Kase, Mikhail Vorobyev, and German Rubtsov should also be mentioned as players that have gotten a taste of the NHL with the Flyers.
Fletcher hasn’t hesitated to recall someone from the Phantoms when someone isn’t fitting in as planned. It has happened multiple times this season and could very well happen again if Grant or Thompson don’t jell.
Farabee being sent down wasn’t the most optimal move, but there’s a good chance he’s back sooner than later. And if he’s not, it’s because Grant and Thompson are fitting in and the Flyers are finding success. That’s fine, too. It will give Farabee a chance to consistently play top minutes in the AHL, along with Frost and others.
It’s easy to point at other trades that rivals made and wish that the Flyers did something similar, but that’s not what Fletcher wanted to do. He gave the team a vote of confidence and boost with two lower-profile trades. Thompson and Grant will be good depth additions for the rest of the season and (hopefully) into the playoffs.
