The Flyers still have a hole to fill at center, and after the Anaheim Ducks matched their massive five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson, Philadelphia is being pushed to look elsewhere for help down the middle.
One name now surfacing as a possible fit is Shane Wright, one of the NHL’s more intriguing trade candidates at center. The idea makes sense for a Flyers team that needs a top-six pivot and could be willing to bet on upside.
As Richardson put it, "Wright might become a better option to fill their second-line center role than Zegras, who seems better suited to the wing. He could improve to the point where he'd be good enough to take over the first-line role," Richardson wrote.
Wright is only 22, and that age is a big part of why he stands out as a possible swing for Philadelphia. He has not fully broken through yet, but the talent is still there, and the Flyers could be the kind of team willing to gamble on a player with room to grow.
If he does take that next step, Wright could become more than just a short-term fix. He could turn into a long-term answer in the Flyers’ top six, which is exactly why a move like this would have real appeal.
Last season with the Kraken, Wright had 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games. In 2024-25, though, he produced 19 goals, 25 assists and 44 points in 79 games for Seattle, a sign that the offensive ceiling is already showing through. A change of scenery could be enough to unlock another level.
In Other News...
Former Flyers Depth Center Just Made A Telling Career Move
Rodrigo Abols is moving on after a brief run through Philadelphia, and the next stop for the 30-year-old Latvian center is a familiar European stage. After spending the 2025-26 season with the Flyers, where he appeared in 42 games, Abols has signed a three-year deal with SC Bern in Switzerland, a move that fits a player who has bounced between North American hockey and the SHL while carving out a reputation as a reliable depth option.
For Bern, the appeal is obvious. Sporting director Martin Plss pointed to Abols two-way game and leadership qualities, traits that matter for a club looking for more than just offense down the middle. There was also another path on the table, with Orebro HK reportedly interested in bringing him back to his former SHL team, but Abols has chosen a different landing spot and a longer commitment, leaving the Flyers to watch one of their recent depth centers settle into a new chapter abroad. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Robertson Just Reached A Crucial Stars Contract Checkpoint
The NHL arbitration calendar is now set, and it gives the Flyers an early place in the summers next round of roster business. Fifteen players have filed for hearings scheduled from July 20 through Aug. 1, with Ottawas Xavier Bourgault already taken care of by a new contract, while the process itself leaves plenty of room for a deal to get done before anyone actually steps to the podium.
For Philadelphia, the dates matter because Jamie Drysdale is first up on July 20, followed by Trevor Zegras on July 22, putting two key cases near the front of the line. Teams can still settle before a hearing, and once an award is issued they have 48 hours to accept it or walk away, so the Flyers may not have to wait long to learn how much of their summer flexibility is going to be tied up in the arbitration process. [Read more 🡒]