Chuck Fletcher
As the market opens, the Flyers are still not finished yet. They will definitely be signing a goalie, likely on the opening day of free agency on Wednesday. Don’t rule out the addition of another forward as well to provide some added depth in that department. With those things in mind, here are a few candidates at each position that the Flyers could target in free agency.
Another veteran defenseman has been added to the mix. The Flyers have signed Keith Yandle to a one-year deal worth $900,000.
The Flyers announced they have re-signed defenseman Sam Morin to a one-year, $750,000 deal. In addition, they extended qualifying offers to forwards Connor Bunnaman and David Kase, defenseman Travis Sanheim, and goalie Carter Hart. They did not qualify an offer to forward Pascal Laberge.
For the better part of a decade, the Flyers have utilized the same core group and struggled to consistently put together successful seasons. After their most frustrating one to date, Fletcher knew action was necessary. “We just can’t keep bringing the same players back year after year and expect different results. We had to make changes this year,” Fletcher said.
On Saturday, just prior to making their first pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Flyers made yet another trade, sending Jake Voracek to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Cam Atkinson. The trade is one-for-one and no salary was retained.
The Flyers have acquired defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Robert Hagg, the 13th overall pick in Friday’s draft and a 2023 second-round pick.
While that is no certainty, in the event the Flyers do get on the clock with the 13th pick in Friday’s first round of the NHL Draft and make a selection, here are five prospects to keep an eye on.
The 2021 NHL Draft is set to take place on Friday night and continue into Saturday with Rounds 2 through 7. But this draft has a different feel for GM Chuck Fletcher and the Flyers. For the better part of two weeks now, Fletcher has made it public knowledge that while the Flyers will happy make their selection with the 13th pick in the draft, they are not afraid to move the pick in the right deal.
It took all of 30 minutes following the end of the roster freeze for the other 31 teams in the NHL for Chuck Fletcher to make another trade. This one served a key purpose for the Flyers, because without it, not only were they limited in what they could continue to do with the roster ahead of the coming season, but they also wouldn’t even be able to fill all of the roster spots necessary.
The Flyers have traded defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, plus a 2022 second-round pick and 2022 seventh-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes. While Arizona sent nothing in return to the Flyers in terms of a player or pick, they did absorb all of Gostisbehere’s $4.5 million cap hit.
