The Philadelphia Flyers came into this season with hope-and for a while, it looked justified. With fresh faces like Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, and Dan Vladar joining the mix, there was a real sense that this team might finally be ready to turn the corner. The goal wasn't to leap into contender status overnight, but at least to hover around the playoff bubble and give fans something to believe in.
And for the first half of the season, that’s exactly what they did. The Flyers looked competitive, energized, and on the upswing.
But hockey seasons are long, and momentum can be fragile.
Over the last few weeks, the wheels have started to come off. A six-game losing streak has highlighted a brutal stretch where the Flyers have gone just 2-7-2 in their last 11 games. They've been outscored 49-28 during that run, and the energy that once defined their early season push has been replaced by inconsistency and frustration.
Management-led by GM Danny Briere and President Keith Jones-has made it clear they don’t plan to be sellers at the trade deadline. And to be fair, they don’t have a roster stocked with obvious trade bait. Still, if this slide continues, the Flyers may have no choice but to explore some tough decisions.
Let’s take a closer look at who could be on the move, and what the Flyers might realistically get in return.
Rasmus Ristolainen: The Big Question Mark
Rasmus Ristolainen is a fascinating case. Over the past few seasons, the Flyers have worked to reshape his game, and under assistant coach Brad Shaw, he’s shown flashes of being a reliable, physical presence on the back end. But the biggest issue isn’t performance-it’s availability.
Ristolainen has suited up for just 15 games this season. He missed the first 31, returned for 13, then missed another six before rejoining the lineup again. On Monday against the Islanders, he logged a season-low 16:38 (for a full game), and then managed just 1:01 of ice time before leaving Wednesday’s game in Columbus with yet another lower-body injury.
The Flyers reportedly want a significant return-think a top draft pick or a similarly valuable asset. But let’s be honest: with his injury history and $5.1 million cap hit for another season, that’s a tough ask. If a team is willing to part with anything more than a third-rounder, Philadelphia may need to seriously consider pulling the trigger.
When healthy, Ristolainen can be a solid middle-pair defenseman. But that’s a big “when,” and playoff-bound teams may not be eager to gamble on that kind of uncertainty. If the Flyers want to move him, they may have to sweeten the deal-either by retaining salary or packaging him with another asset.
Garnet Hathaway: Time to Cash Out
Garnet Hathaway has had a rough go of it this season. With just two points on the year and a lowlight-reel gaffe that led to an overtime loss in Utah, he’s become more of a liability than a contributor.
At 34 years old and with one more year left on his deal at a $2.4 million cap hit, he’s not exactly a hot commodity. But he still brings grit, toughness, and a bit of edge that some teams value on the fourth line during a playoff push.
The problem? The Flyers already have younger, more effective options in players like Carl Grundstrom and Nikita Grebenkin. Hathaway has been pushed to the margins, and it’s hard to see a path back into meaningful minutes.
If another team is willing to take a flyer (no pun intended) on him for a late-round pick or a minor asset, Briere should be ready to make that call.
Nic Deslauriers: Veteran Toughness on the Market
Nic Deslauriers is in the final year of a four-year deal that probably ran a bit longer than it should have. But with a manageable $1.75 million cap hit and a reputation as one of the league’s last true enforcers, he might draw a little interest from a team looking to add some muscle for the stretch run.
Deslauriers won’t fetch much-maybe a late-round pick at best-but if a contender wants to add some veteran grit and locker room presence, the Flyers have a guy who checks those boxes.
Philadelphia also has cap space, which means they could take back a bad contract to help facilitate a deal. That flexibility could help grease the wheels if a team is on the fence.
The Rest: Keep the Phone On
Beyond the obvious names, there aren’t many untouchables on this roster. Players like Carl Grundstrom, Nikita Grebenkin, and Noah Juulsen aren’t likely to move the needle on their own, but if another team comes calling, the Flyers should absolutely listen.
Then there’s the more intriguing group-guys like Owen Tippett, Bobby Brink, and Emil Andrae. These are players who could be part of the long-term core, but they also carry enough value to be used in a more strategic deal. If the Flyers can package one of them to land a young middle-six center-someone like Shane Wright, for example-without giving up too much of their future, it’s worth exploring.
What’s Next?
This probably isn’t shaping up to be a blockbuster deadline for the Flyers. If they can string together a few wins and sneak back into the playoff conversation, maybe they add a depth piece. But more likely, they’ll be looking at a quiet deadline-maybe a few minor moves, maybe a salary dump or two.
It’s not the most exciting outlook, but it’s also not the worst place to be. The Flyers are still in the midst of a rebuild, and the focus should remain on developing their young core and building toward something sustainable.
That said, if the right offer comes along-especially for players who aren’t part of the long-term vision-Philadelphia needs to be ready to act. Because even in a quiet year, the trade deadline is about opportunity. And the Flyers, despite their recent skid, still have a few cards to play.