What would it take for the Flyers to deal a first-round pick?
The Philadelphia Flyers have already made a splash in the offseason leading up to the 2025-26 NHL season when they acquired Trevor Zegras from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. But could they have more coming?
With three picks in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft, general manager Danny Briere and the Flyers find themselves with some valuable assets that could potentially warrant a trade this weekend in LA.
In addition to the 6th, 22nd, and 31st picks, the Flyers also hold four picks in the second round. In total, the franchise has seven of the first 48 selections, putting them in a strong position to make a deal to improve their current lineup.
On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff Live, Anthony di Marco joined Tyler Yaremchuk and Frank Serravalli to discuss what the Flyers could get up to.
Yaremchuk: Is there a spot in their lineup, a scoring winger or a top-six center, maybe, and you mentioned the left-shot defenseman that you think Brier would give up a first-round pick if he could fill one of those holes?
Di Marco: I think if you could get a top-six center, that’s something that they would give up for.
This is not a name that I’ve even think is out there, and Frank could speak to it better than me. But one name that was brought up to me in passing was Anton Lundell. If Sam Bennett re-signs with the Florida Panthers at let’s say $8.5 to $9 million per year, is Lundell available? That’s the type of player that I think Danny Briere would be comfortable giving up a first-round pick for.
I have no indication that he’s even available. It was just speculation to me, like if they re-signed Bennett and they have Barkov already at $10 million per year. Does that make Lundell and his $5 million AAV expendable?
Seravalli: All right, fill in the blank for us Friday night at the draft in LA, the Flyers are making how many picks in round one?
Di Marco: I’m going to say three, just because I don’t think the player that they will give up a first-round pick for is going to be available.
Now look, I think a Bowen Byram would theoretically be a guy that they would give up that pick for, but if he is actually asking for north of $8.5 million AAV, I don’t think the Flyers are in a position to do that at this time, especially with Cam York’s contracts still up in the air.
I think that there’s some uncertainty as to what Byram could be now, with the skyrocketing salary cap over the next few seasons, eight and a half million dollars, just for argument’s sake, will be the going rate for what a No. 2 or No. 3 defenseman, but I just don’t think the Flyers in A position right now to give up a first round pick for a guy who’s going to ask that much. And I don’t think there will be another player available between now and Friday night who would work to trade the pick if you’re the Flyers.
You can catch the rest of the Flyers segment and Tuesday’s full episode here…