The Philadelphia Flyers may have won last night against the New York Islanders, but the way in which the team began losing control of the game late in the second period and throughout the third period highlighted the fact that this team still has areas to improve upon.
I took a look yesterday at 15 of the 29 NHL teams that could serve as a trade partner for the Flyers to improve their defense, and whether or not each team is in a situation where trading a defenseman is realistic or even in their best interest. Below are my thoughts on the final 14 teams.
- Nashville Predators: Ignoring the fact that the Predators probably want nothing to do with Philadelphia after the Shea Weber offer sheet bonanza, Nashville’s biggest need at the moment is a more stable goalie than Carter Hutton or Marek Mazanec while Pekka Rinne is out indefinitely. Unlikely trading partner.
- New Jersey Devils: It will be a cold day in Hell before Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello makes a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Very unlikely trade partner.
- New York Rangers: Puck moving defenseman Michael Del Zotto is being made available for trade. He’s been a healthy scratch in recent games, after watching his ice time dip game after game before then. It’s unlikely that GM Glen Sather would trade with Philadelphia, nor would MDZ provide much confidence as the solution to the Flyers’ woes. He would be best served in a quieter market until he finds his offensive game again. Unlikely trade partner.
- New York Islanders: Biggest issues, as evidenced last night, are consistency and goaltending. They are riding rookie netminder Kevin Poulin while Evgeni Nabokov is out with an injury and the rest of the team remains unfocused. Unless they’re willing to bite on Andrej Meszaros, don’t expect anything to happen. Unlikely trade partner.
- Ottawa Senators: Expected any number of younger, promising defensemen to step up and claim ownership of the second pairing behind Erik Karlsson and Marc Methot. It hasn’t happened. The Senators are now hemorrhaging goals and have an internal operating budget hurting ability to trade for support. Like Philadelphia, they are in the hunt for a puck moving defenseman and have too many centers. Unlikely trade partner.
- Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes have a plethora of young defensemen in Michael Stone, David Rundblad and Brandon Gormley. They also have offered puck-moving defenseman Keith Yandle numerous times over the last few years, but usually with demands for Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier and additional compensation. Yandle isn’t worth the cost to acquire (assuming GM Don Maloney doesn’t bring his requests down), but the Flyers would be wise to look into the younger options available. Potential trade partner.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: See: New Jersey Devils. Very unlikely trade partner.
- San Jose Sharks: A top team in the Western Conference. Don’t need to move any players. Likely to move draft picks for depth players at the trade deadline. Unlikely trade partner.
- St. Louis Blues: Another top team in the Western Conference. Don’t need to move any players. Likely to move draft picks for depth players at the trade deadline. Unlikely trade partner.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: Losing Steve Stamkos to a broken leg till February will hurt their offense, but the organization has a fair amount of depth on offense. Unless their season takes a dramatic dive before the Olympic break, they probably won’t make any major moves. Several of their “on the bubble” AHL defensemen are currently seeing substantial time in the NHL as it is. Unlikely trade partner.
- Toronto Maple Leafs: Have a surplus of defensemen and need better centers. The Flyers have a surplus of centers and need better defensemen. On paper, it’s a win-win situation. Considering that the James Van Riemsdyk-for-Luke Schenn trade hasn’t panned out to the extent that the organization was apparently hoping it would, though, it’s possible that they may just steer clear entirely. The rumored defenseman that would be offered- Jake Gardiner- is a very good puck-moving defenseman, and probably the player they should have targeted in lieu of Schenn in the first place. Potential trade partner.
- Vancouver Canucks: A bubble team in the West, the Canucks could use winger depth. Alex Edler isn’t performing the way a guy that just signed a six-year, $30 million contract should, but that may also be a function of how he’s being used by head coach John Tortorella. They do have other puck moving defensemen on their roster, though. Unless they distinguish themselves in the next two months, they will likely make a trade of some kind. Low potential trade partner.
- Washington Capitals: Have played well under head coach Adam Oates and don’t have many, if any, holes to fill in their line-up. One intriguing factor is that they have a very talented puck-moving AHL defenseman in Dmitry Orlov, but don’t have the roster space to keep him in the NHL full time. He’s been shuttled back and forth between the Capitals and the Hershey Bears all season. It is unlikely they move him any time soon, but could make a move on the blue line as the season progresses. Low potential trade partner.
- Winnipeg Jets: Rrank last in the Central Division (though they have more points than six teams in the Metropolitan Division) and could use center depth. Dustin Byfuglien has been attached to rumors with the Flyers since last season, but former 8th overall pick Jacob Trouba may be a better fit for Craig Berube’s system. Byfuglien isn’t exactly known to have the best conditioning. Potential trade partner.
To summarize both posts, the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets are the most realistic trade partners for the Flyers when the time comes for general manager Paul Holmgren to pull the trigger and move a top six forward for a top four defenseman. The recent successes of the Flyers, combined with the continued disaster that is the Metropolitan Division, have reduced the amount of pressure on the organization to blow up the team (thank God).
Even looking beyond this season, though, it would still be in the organization’s best interest to find someone to replace Kimmo Timonen’s minutes and puck-moving ability next season, assuming he doesn’t sign another one-year extension worth a small fortune. The trade deadline, set for March 5 (and a week after the Olympics end), may end up being the best time to get the most equitable deal, but that’s a lot of games to play before improving this roster.
Nice breakdown, Josh. I’m not that high on Schenn. The only thing that says he has great potential is his age. I’d definitely like Trouba or Rasmus. A Yandle for Schenn 1-for-1 swap would be a dream come true.
I’m still butt hurt about that Richards trade. I’d trade Schenn and Simmonds back to LA in heartbeat to get my second favorite Flyer ever back.
My concern with Schenn is that they keep moving him back-and-forth between winger and center whenever the team hits a funk or loses players to injury. Schenn has not played well in recent outings at center, and my assumption is that it’s because he sometimes forgets the difference in responsibilities of each position on the fly.
He’s a good, young player though. Whether they move him, Couturier or Laughton, they can’t afford to “miss” on a top four defenseman in exchange.
Really good point Josh. I think that all of these guys have picked up their games because of the stability in their lines. I thought that that was the most frustrating thing about Lavs is that he shuffled his lines way too much. Leave Schenn on the wing and let him develop. I think that he is much better on the wing and Laughton is gonna play center, because I think that he is a much better playmaker than Schenn. I agree with moving one of those 3, but I hope that it isn’t Laughton, because I think that he can be the best overall player of the 3. Dude has 19 goals and 38 points in 22 games Coots is the choice to move in my eyes, but it depends on the player they could get in return.
Jacob Trouba was great in the world Juniors for USA, which I watched since there was an NHL strike and all the great young recent draft picks played in the tournament. He was paired up Flyer College defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and they worked real well together.
I doubt he’s “available” per se, but if Jets need to fill holes elsewhere in the line-up, I’d think they would at least listen to the Flyers if Laughton, Couturier or Schenn’s name came up. Trouba is not a complete player yet and will need more time to come into his own, but he has the skill set.
shame Holmgren burned that bridge with Nashville
I’m somewhat speculating about this. At a certain point, a business is a business, and if the right deal is there, they’d be foolish not to listen. I just don’t see them doing regular business.