A few NHL coaches are heading into the season without contract security, and the Philadelphia Flyers are still circling the trade market for help up front and on the blue line.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, head coaches Joel Quenneville in Anaheim, Scott Arniel in Winnipeg, Rick Bowness in Columbus and Andrew Brunette in Nashville are all in the final year of their contracts. The Predators have a team option on Brunette, while Bowness is working on a year-to-year basis at his age.
LeBrun said there’s no concern around Quenneville in Anaheim, with the Ducks likely to sort that out at some point. As for Winnipeg, the Jets may simply let the season play out before making any decisions.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers are being described as a team that is “looking to improve,” and there appears to be a little more urgency around their search. That doesn’t mean a move is imminent, but they’re clearly still active in the market.
Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported that the Flyers had interest in Kirill Marchenko before he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Matthew Knies. Sources said Philadelphia’s preferred offer would have been a package of “three assets,” with Alex Bump, Noah Cates and a first-round pick in the mix. The Blue Jackets’ preference for Knies, Di Marco noted, makes sense.
Dylan Larkin remains another name on the Flyers’ radar, even though Philadelphia is not on his preferred list of teams. The club is still monitoring that situation, and sources indicated the Flyers would be willing to put together a similar three-asset package for Larkin. The fit is clearer there, too, since Larkin addresses more of a need than Marchenko did.
Still, the Flyers don’t appear eager to part with Tyson Foerster or Owen Tippett. Those two are viewed as the club’s best comparables for Matthew Knies, but there isn’t a sense that Philadelphia would want to move either one in a deal for Larkin.
On defense, the Flyers are also looking for blue-line depth, as David Pagnotta reported over the weekend. Sources said they’d prefer a player with size, someone in the mold of Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud.
There’s also talk that Philadelphia hasn’t been thrilled with defenseman David Jiricek.
In Other News...
Flyers Make A Tough Lineup Call As Barkey Returns
Denver Barkey is on track to give the Flyers another look against Tampa Bay, with the young forward expected to make his season debut after working back from a lower-body injury. Rick Tocchet confirmed Barkey is likely to play and pointed to the qualities that make him intriguing for this roster, especially his hockey sense and ability to create offense. It is the kind of return that can quietly shift the feel of a lineup, particularly for a team still sorting out which young pieces are ready for bigger minutes.
The move also comes with a tough decision elsewhere, as Alex Bump is expected to come out of the lineup to make room. For a club trying to balance development with immediate performance, those calls can say plenty about where the staff sees its depth chart right now. Dan Vladar will also be back in goal for his second start of the season, adding another layer to a game that will offer a clearer picture of how the Flyers want to line up as Barkey re-enters the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Linked To A Young Defenseman Worth A Bold Push
Contract talks in Detroit have turned into one of the more closely watched subplot lines of the offseason, and a young defenseman with size and upside is now at the center of it. Philadelphia is among the teams reportedly monitoring the situation, with the kind of blue-line profile that tends to draw attention if it becomes available.
Simon Edvinssons frustration with his contract negotiations has opened the door to the possibility of a move, even as the Red Wings still want to work something out. Seattle and Pittsburgh are also said to be in the mix, which means any team serious about making a push may have to come in aggressively before Detroit is forced to decide whether to keep negotiating or listen more seriously to outside interest. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Get Timely Boost Before Tampa Bay But Two Statuses Loom
The Flyers got a little healthier at the right time as they prepared for Tampa Bay, with the latest injury report bringing some encouragement to a lineup that has had to absorb its share of bumps. Denver Barkey appears close to returning from a lower-body injury, and his progress gives Philadelphia another option as it looks to sharpen its depth for a tough matchup.
There is still some uncertainty, though, because Rasmus Ristolainen remains in the mix after leaving a recent game with a hand issue. Barkeys possible return also comes with a procedural wrinkle, since he would have to come off injured reserve first, which could mean a corresponding roster move before he is available. [Read more 🡒]