Photos by Tim Fuller-Imagn
For the second straight season, the Philadelphia Flyers came out of the gate competitive, posting a 14-15-4 record, good for fifth place in the Metropolitan Division wild card race. However, the Flyers are only four points behind the Ottawa Senators and the second wild card spot, while Philly is six points behind the first wild card team, the Boston Bruins. This is a Flyers team that may be ahead of the big plan laid out by GM Daniel Briere, and once again, coach John Tortorella is squeezing everything he can out of his temporary roster. That’s a credit to the coach, the GM and everyone on the team.
Briere got a few stars in the draft (for example, Matvei Michkov), but he also has experienced players who should be bought everywhere and given to a big buyer. At the same time, Briere must keep his eyes on the big prize, which is Philadelphia’s long-term future.
For that reason, the Flyers should be sellers on or before the NHL trade deadline of March 7. There will be a lot of interest in Philadelphia players. For example, defender Rasmus Ristolainen (two more years at $5.1 million per season) center Scott Laughton (one more season at $3 million per year) and soon-to-be RFA center Morgan Frost ($2.1-million cap hit) are sure to pick up draft picks and prospects to target as they plot. course of legality and compliance. Heck, even left winger Joel Farabee could be dealt. Moving his veterans in trades is the best part of Briere’s business. They won’t raise the price next summer, but there is a market for these veterans right now. It makes all kinds of sense for this franchise to take some time to breathe, trade a few players and embrace the future.
Related: Philadelphia Flyers’ Scott Laughton Raises Trade Value With Big Four-Goal Night
Clearly the Flyers have talent to build around. But getting another quality player – forward or defense – won’t hurt them in any way. On the contrary – another core player will speed up the Flyers’ rebuild in a big way. And you only get that type of player in the draft.
That’s why no Flyers fan would be mad at Briere if he decides to kick the can down the road next season and overhaul Philly’s roster. Time will pass quickly, and the next season will be here. Philadelphia will have its youth growing, and at that time, it may have some very strong hockey in it. But for now, the .500 mark isn’t good enough, and that’s the reason Briere needs to deal with assets that could return better assets in the long run.
The Flyers have long-term quality players, but in the competitive Metropolitan Division, you need more than just a few top players to secure a Stanley Cup playoff spot. You need superior depth, and that’s another thing you can address when drafting players in the upper half of the draft. But you have to admit how far you still have to go.
That said, the Flyers are almost there — perhaps sadly almost there — but patience remains a virtue for this team. And soon, there will be a true Cup contender in Philadelphia. Not just this year.
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