The Flyers All-Star break is over and they will practice today at 2pm in Voorhees, NJ. They will also host the New York Islanders tomorrow night at 7pm. Believe it or not they remain just six points out of the last Wild Card spot. Without further delay, here are our answers to your questions. This will be a two part Mailbag, due to the volume of questions.
It appears Felix Sandström would be the odd man out if I had to guess. Samuel Ersson played very well in his brief stint with the club, and John Tortorella really valued him. I’m not saying he doesn’t value Sandström, but it just felt like if he could have kept Ersson with the big club, then he would have.
I think the Los Angeles Kings could be a spot for Sandström to be traded to, but it might be more of an offseason move, as opposed to happening by the trade deadline.
They will be Sellers by the trade deadline. The Flyers will look to move expiring contracts for draft capital. Expiring contracts like James van Riemsdyk, Justin Braun (Again), Nick Seeler, and Zack MacEwen (Possibly), and yes Felix Sandström possibly.
Trades involving Kevin Hayes and Ivan Provorov are more offseason moves, and I really don’t expect any doozers or shockers at the trade deadline this season.
Tyson Foerster is a sharpshooter, and his skating has improved from the time he was drafted, which is a good thing. This young man is a top six talent with the hands he has. He can score from anywhere. One main thing he needs to work on right now is consistency.
I believe the Flyers will sign Cutter Gauthier to an ELC when the NCAA season comes to a halt, and he will play 7-10 games with the Flyers this year. Much like Noah Cates, Ronnie Attard, and Bobby Brink did last year.
I see the Flyers parting ways with Kevin Hayes, and the primary focus will be shore up the Center position, to include the depth of such. Even if Hayes doesn’t get moved in the offseason, the Flyers need to add depth to this position. It was tested earlier in the season, and it was very hard at times. Lots of questions remain at the Center position, will Sean Couturier return as the same player he once was after back surgery/recovery? Do the Flyers have a true number one Center?
The Center position will be a primary focus in the offseason.
Carter Hart will re-sign for 5-6 years $6.5-$7 million per year. He will be looking for a bit of length and the Flyers will give it to him.
A realistic return for JvR is a late first round pick (Possibly), or at the very least a second round pick. It depends on how much money the Flyers would retain in the trade pick wise. For example, if they retain 50%, then I would ask for a first round pick as compensation, as opposed to a second. If they retain 25%, then a second round pick would suffice.
Cutter Gauthier should make his NHL Debut this season. I think John Tortorella really has placed an emphasis on a players development, and he will be careful with pulling up young prospects like Foerster, especially with the Phantoms in the midst of a playoff run. It could pose more harm than good if they started to call-up young prospects with high ceilings like that in the midst of a playoff run.
The Flyers do not have the capital to move up to the top slot of the 2023 NHL Draft. Tanking for Bedard dreams ended the moment the Flyers hired John Tortorella as their Head Coach. Look for the Flyers to draft players like Will Smith, Axel Sandin, Andrew Cristall, Brayden Yager, Dalibor Dvorsky, or Ryan Leonard.
The fact remains it takes a ton of Capital to move within the top five of the NHL Draft, hence why it’s rare it happens. That means the Flyers would have to fork over 2-3 first round picks, on top of a player or players like Carter Hart for starters. I’m not saying the player would have to be Hart, but a player with a ceiling like his is.
There were 16 questions submitted for this Mailbag, and I believe all questions should be answered. The last eight questions will be answered in an article on Wednesday February 8, 2023.
