By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

At his weekend press conference, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher made it clear that the team put a lot of faith in younger players last season and that it contributed to the struggles. With that in mind, he made it a point to include the possibility of adding another veteran defenseman or forward in addition to a second goaltender needed on the roster.

On Tuesday, a veteran defenseman was indeed added. The Flyers have signed Keith Yandle to a one-year deal worth $900,000.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After spending the better part of the last week making changes from the outside, the Flyers spent Monday taking care of some internal moves.

First, the Flyers announced that they have re-signed defenseman Sam Morin to a one-year, $750,000 deal. GM Chuck Fletcher had said just days earlier that a deal with Morin was nearing the finish line.

In addition, the Flyers 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, meaning he will become a free agent on Wednesday.

(Photo: Zack Hill/Philadelphia Flyers)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It started with a deal for Ryan Ellis a week ago, adding the much-needed top-pairing defenseman the Flyers lacked last season. Then Shayne Gostisbehere was sent to Arizona in a trade to open up cap space. That was followed by another defensive acquisition in Rasmus Ristolainen. And on Saturday, Chuck Fletcher capped off an incredibly busy week with his fourth trade, sending Jake Voracek to Columbus for Cam Atkinson.

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. “The players that we’ve added are all what I would call high energy, competitive people. How often have we talked about our slow starts over the past two, three years since I’ve been here and allegedly a lot longer than that? 

“We need some juice. We need some energy. We need to change the mood in the room and the energy in the room. It’s nothing against the players that we had here before. It’s about trying to create a new group, a new leadership group, new chemistry. All these guys we have acquired besides being good hockey players bring a lot of those qualities, bring a lot of experience, bring a lot of professionalism to our roster.”

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After wheeling and dealing four times over the last week, it was a relatively normal afternoon for the Flyers from a draft standpoint. They entered the day with six picks and made each of them with no more trades taking place to move draft capitals and acquire or move additional picks.

Here is the list of the six new Flyers draft picks entering the organization.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

After making a trade for Rasmus Ristolainen on Friday afternoon, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said he didn’t expect to make any more trades this week. What a difference 24 hours can make.

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. 

Atkinson, 32, has four years remaining on a deal with a $5.87 million AAV. Voracek’s contract had three years remaining with an $8.25 million AAV.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers were nothing more than bystanders during Friday night’s first round of the NHL Draft following a trade that sent the 14th overall pick – 13th selection by virtue of the forfeited 11th overall pick by Arizona – to Buffalo in the Rasmus Ristolainen trade. 

On Day 2 of the NHL Draft, the Flyers do still hold six draft picks that could produce some diamonds in the rough. An unpredictable draft and a lot of potential that could be found in middle rounds with teams getting limited to no viewings of prospects throughout the course of the season, there could be a future star waiting in a middle round.

As the second round and the resumption of the NHL Draft prepare to begin at 11 a.m., here are a few names still left on the board for the Flyers as possible targets entering Day 2.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

In the hours leading up to the NHL Draft on Friday night, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher made another move. As expected, the first-round pick in this year’s draft was in play and it has been dealt.

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.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers technically have the 14th overall pick in Friday’s first round of the NHL Draft. However, they will make the 13th selection. A forfeited pick by the Arizona Coyotes move the Flyers up one slot.

So, for all intents and purposes, the Flyers are picking 13th overall. While it is not a Top 10 pick, a year of uncertainty, unpredictability and limited viewings of prospects could certainly leave some finds at the middle of the first round.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The 2021 NHL Draft is upon us. The draft has served as the foundation for building a team – just a quick look at the Tampa Bay Lightning roster shows that – and as the Flyers prepare for another draft, there are certainly a wealth of possibility.

It’s an unpredictable draft in many ways. For one, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher has notably made clear that the 13th pick in the draft is available for the right price in a trade. Of course, Fletcher has added he’s willing to keep the pick and make a selection. 

While that is no certainty, in the event the Flyers do get on the clock with the 13th pick and make a selection, here are five prospects to keep an eye on.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

For the better part of the last decade, the NHL Draft has been a time of intrigue for the Flyers, especially when it came to building their future. Truth be told, they have several first-round picks from over the years that currently sit on the roster, from selections like Joel Farabee in 2018 and Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny in 2015 to potential players of the future like 2019 first-rounder Cam York.

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.