Philadelphia Flyers Are 'Big Game Hunting' On Trade Market

As the 2026-27 season gets into gear with training camps opening around the league, one thing hasn't changed from the offseason: the Philadelphia Flyers are going 'big game hunting'. Now, however, it's not in the RFA market with offer sheets, it's on the trade market.

Insider Darren Dreger, appearing on TSN's Insider Trading, made a point of telling us that Flyers GM Danny Briere isn't done constructing his team just because the offseason is over. 

It’s been abundantly clear that the Philadelphia Flyers are definitely in the market to make a splash. 

They are big game hunting. 

They’re looking for a star forward or a star defenceman, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. 

So, it is open season for the Flyers as they try to add a star.

Of course, Briere put his cards on the table back in July, when he made it clear he was looking to do anything to bring in a big star. His blockbuster $18M AAV offer sheet to Leo Carlsson changed the game forever, even if it didn't land him the Anaheim Ducks' young top-line center. 

Every new massive extension that has been signed since then can be directly attributed to the earth-shattering Carlsson contract.  

What Briere will do next in order to find that next star for the Flyers remains to be seen. But every player on that roster should be on full alert, as the GM has proven he's not shy to try anything drastic. 

Kevin Kurz wrote something similar in The Athletic this week:

"It would be disappointing if Briere didn’t land a star-level talent, likely via trade, sooner than later — certainly at some point over the next 12 months." 

Could 2 notable unsigned RFAs potentially be Flyers' targets?

There are still a couple of very notable unsigned restricted free agents out there who will not be attending their respective teams' training camps this week, in the Columbus Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli and the Carolina Hurricanes' Alexander Nikishin. 

But while Columbus GM Don Waddell has no intention of doing anything but signing Fantilli, Nikishin would be obtainable in a sign-and-trade, as it was revealed this week that he has asked out of Carolina. 

That would be a costly move, however, as he's looking for a massive new contract that will surely be close to, if not north of, $10M annually, given the state of contracts being handed out in recent weeks. 

But as we've seen from Briere, he's not scared off easily.