- Flyers sources say something “has to give” with a growing logjam at winger
- Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett are the names drawing the most interest
- Read below for the Matty Beniers link and what Philadelphia could move on defense
The Flyers’ recent wins are making their roster math harder, and a trade of Travis Konecny or Owen Tippett is now a real possibility. Anthony Di Marco of Daily Faceoff reported Tuesday that Philadelphia could explore a Konecny trade even if the team keeps winning.
Two straight victories, the latest over the Avalanche, brought a wave of young forwards into the lineup. They are not coming out any time soon.
Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov have clicked as a pair, with four goals and two assists between them over the last three games. Trevor Zegras has settled in on the wing next to Christian Dvorak, and a team source told Di Marco it is fair to consider him a winger going forward. Alex Bump and Cole Knuble also played on a line with Denver Barkey against Colorado.
Here is the lineup the Flyers sent out in warmups Monday:
Michkov kept his own streak going in that game with a goal in his third straight. Watch the Flyers score after the video review:
Konecny has played just five games this season and has three assists. He is 29, carries an $8.75 million cap hit in the second year of an eight-year, $70 million deal, and has a no-movement clause. We covered the idea of asking him to waive it last week when the team was winless.
Tippett was asked about in trade talks more often than Konecny, per team sources, mostly because Konecny’s clause is an extra hurdle. He is 27, makes $6.2 million through 2032, has a 10-team no-trade list until 2030, and has one goal and one assist in nine games.
A Western Conference general manager told Di Marco that Konecny is viewed as the “better all-around player.” Tippett is considered more explosive, but Konecny is more of a creator, so he would be the one teams target for a top-tier forward.
One team source said something is eventually going to “have to give” with the crowd of wingers. That could mean moving more than one of them to find a top-six center.
Seattle’s Matty Beniers is a name Di Marco has heard the Flyers like, though there is no indication the Kraken want to move him. A Kraken source said the club likes Tyson Foerster, who would be a “conversation starter” even though Philadelphia does not want to give him up. Tippett plus center prospect Jett Luchanko would be the more appealing package from the Flyers’ side.
The defense has its own traffic. Oliver Bonk is averaging 20 minutes beside Travis Sanheim, and Hunter McDonald looked solid in his season debut, so Cam York’s name has started to circulate as potentially available, per Di Marco. Rasmus Ristolainen has been available at the right price for nearly three years.
Philadelphia hosts Anaheim on Saturday with Konecny, Tippett and Foerster all still on the injury list as of Monday. The first win of the season came only three days ago, and the front office already has more bodies than spots.
