Fletcher wants to trade a veteran to welcome another

Petry's contract still has a huge impact under the salary cap - 6.25M$ for the next three years. It's a lot for a player who will turn 35 years old this summer.

With that being said, GM Chuck Fletcher seems to think that acquiring Jeff Petry is a good idea. We can understand him; Rasmus Ristolainen and Justin Braun are probably going to be dealt by the deadline, so Fletcher will have to replace them.

And it seems that he has a plan. According to Anthony SanFilippo, from Crossing Broad, Montreal and Philadelphia discussed a trade involving Jeff Petry and James Van Riemsdyk.

SanFilippo added that the Flyers wanted Montreal to retain as much as 1M$ on Petry's contract for Philadelphia to take on those two extra seasons. On the other hand, JVR's contract will end at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, and Montreal could be tempted to acquire the veteran if it means to receive a draft pick or a prospect in compensation.

There's still one problem : the Flyers are on Jeff Petry's no-trade list, so he'll have to change his mind for the deal to go through.

But if this trade is made, it would allow Fletcher to be agressive this summer, particularly during free agency, as his goal is to make the playoffs next year.