On the Philadelphia Flyers …
Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly.com: The Philadelphia Flyers are still in the wildcard race, but have a few teams ahead of them who have games in hand.
There aren’t really any trades that GM Ron Hextall could make to guarantee a playoff spot that wouldn’t involve them mortgaging their future.
thinks the Flyers at this point have to be sellers.
Pending UFA defensemen Mark Streit and Michael Del Zotto could help out a team now. Streit is the perfect rental for someone.
Hextall wouldn’t mind having Streit mentor some of their kids next year. They could move him at the deadline and look to re-sign in the summer.
Can’t blame Hextall for checking in on Colorado Avalanche forwards Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog.
There has bee no indication from Hextall or anyone within the Flyers organization that they have even thought about trading Claude Giroux.
The Flyers won’t make a blockbuster trade by the deadline, but could sell some veteran assets.
On Five Cheap Deadline Trade Targets …
Jared Clinton of The Hockey News: Looking at five potential veteran trade deadline targets for teams at an affordable price.
5. Kyle Quincey – New Jersey Devils – 31-year old pending free agent defenseman. 12 points in 51 games his year. Has played in 54 playoff games. Carries a $1.25 million cap hit.
4. P.A. Parenteau – New Jersey Devils – the 31-year pending free agent carries a $1.25 million cap hit. Scored 20 goals last year and is one pace to score 20 again – 13 goals in 57 games.
3. Brian Boyle – Tampa Bay Lightning – the 32-year old center is in the last year of his three-year, $6 million deal. A two-way center who has scored 13 goals in 52 games this season. Lightning are rumored to be looking for a first round pick for Boyle.
2. Patrick Eaves – Dallas Stars – the 32-year old has scored 21 goals already this season. The two-way forward carries a $1 million cap hit.
1. Radim Vrbata – Arizona Coyotes – the 35-year old carries a $1 million salary this season. He’s scored 11 times and has 40 points in 57 games.