Report: Flyers Focused On Acquiring Defenseman In Trade Talks

With all the talk about the Philadelphia Flyers in need of a center (and that can't be denied), they've also got their eyes on the blueline in their ongoing trade talks around the league.

“I just don’t think we’re defending hard enough, I really don’t,” Tocchet said this week. “Last year we had a pretty good identity as a defending team – this year, not so much. I know we’ve got some veterans out and stuff. But I don’t think we value the defending part of the game. Is that a concern? Yeah, you want your team to defend hard because that gives you a chance every night.”

Insider Frank Seravalli reports on sportsnet.ca that Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones is focused on a stay-at-home Calgary Flames veteran D-man, as well as a sizeable young star blueliner on the block in Detroit.

Jones had eyes on Flames defenceman Zach Whitecloud and Philadelphia is just one of many teams with interest.

The Flyers have also expressed interest in Detroit’s Simon Edvinsson, as he’d perfectly fit their age scheme, but to this point haven’t gotten firm engagement from the Wings.

When it comes to Whitecloud, the 29-year-old veteran has great value for teams not only because of his reliable, dependable game in his own zone, but also due to his incredibly cheap $2.75 million AAV, which runs for another year after this one. 

Edvinsson is a completely different animal. At 23, he'd fit the Flyers timeline a bit better, is a terrific top pairing two-way D-man, but he will come at a massive price. The restricted free agent doesn't have a contract and hasn't played yet this season. A trade for him would come at a high price in assets, as well as in an extension which could run over the $10M AAV mark. 

The Flyers have $11.9 million in cap space, so they could make it work, but are they willing to give up the return package that the Red Wings would be looking for? 

Yes, Philly still wants to find a top-six center, but those are pretty hard to come by these days. And no, Dylan Larkin does not currently have the Flyers on his preferred trade list.