Senators & Flyers Linked To Offseason Trade

The Philadelphia Flyers have been one of the busiest teams throughout this offseason, and while trade talks have quieted down of late, it sounds like if general manager Daniel Briere is going to pull off a trade, it could be with an Eastern Conference team. 

According to Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff, the Flyers and Senators have been linked recently in trade talks and there's potential for a deal between the two clubs to transpire. Rasmus Ristolainen could be involved, and don't be surprised to see a couple of big forwards included in the deal.

For the time being at least, it doesn’t seem like the Ottawa Senators have any appetite in moving off of any of their centers. In a league desperate for pivots, the Senators’ biggest strength is down the middle, and it doesn’t sound like GM Steve Staios is prepared to give any of them up. Theoretically, Staios could address two of his biggest needs (a scoring-line winger and a top-four, right-shot defenseman) if he were to make Ridly Greig, Dylan Cozens or Shane Pinto available. For argument’s sake, would the Flyers and Senators not make perfect trade partners?

The Flyers like all of those centers to varying degrees and the Senators have kept tabs on defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen for quite some time; Philadelphia is loaded on the wing, as well, which could make for a bigger package. Sources have repeatedly told DFO that Staios refuses to entertain trade discussions for any of his centermen. For the time being, it sounds like they would rather deploy Greig on the wing rather than make a hockey deal.

The Flyers swung and missed on Leo Carlsson, and there's potential they turn their attention to Columbus Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli. Briere currently has $13.9 million in cap space remaining and some young talent on his roster that will appeal to other teams. He also owns all the necessary draft picks for submitting a massive offer sheet, so we'll have to see if Briere has another blockbuster move in store.