Photo Credit: KATE FRESE/KATE FRESE
The NHL trade deadline has come and gone. Just like Flyers Nitty Gritty has been saying for some time, that no big blockbusters coming and not going to be made during the season. Unfortunately, with the Flyers recent play and combination of a looming expansion draft, has left Chuck Fletcher with his hands mostly tied for the moment. However, the Flyers did take the opportunity to unload a couple of expiring contracts by trading away Michael Raffl for a 5th round pick and Erik Gustafsson for a 7th round pick. Ultimately, these moves were made because the Flyers do not see themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. However, they are still good enough to compete for a playoff spot and a statement needs to be made heading into next season.
Fletcher has already given the coaching staff a vote of confidence, stating publicly that they will return safely to start next season. Additionally, long time Flyers forward, Scott Laughton, was resigned to a 5 year deal that will see him play out the majority of his career in the orange and black. Clearly Chuck Fletcher is already planning for the 2021-2022 season. While the trade deadline was exciting for a lot of teams, the Flyers unfortunately, need to be patient and wait to pounce when the moment is right. After expansion, there should be plenty of changes to satisfy most fans. Having said that, even without any changes, expect the next season to be improved and for the problems to be different than the ones face today.
On this episode of Getting Gritty Wit It, I welcome back guests, Russ Cohen and Mike Augello from Hockeybuzz.com, to the show to talk about the Flyers’ latest loss to the Sabers, the NHL Trade Deadline, and the potential moves the Flyers can make in the offseason. Things might seem out of wack right now, but it’s always important to play the long game.
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