Insiders Report : Two objectives for Flyers heading into the trade deadline

The Flyers are just a blockbuster trade away from making the league's biggest splash at the trade deadline. Captain Claude Giroux is in the last year of his 8-year 66 million dollar contract signed in the 2013 season. Giroux is fresh off an all-star MVP and could very well entice many teams looking for a top six center. Being an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year is not ideal for the Flyers and his age suggests his best hockey is behind him. Despite this, his production and trade value is still elite. The 34 year-old has 35 points in 42 games played this season. Good for second on the team.

Priority Number One

Seravalli says the team should focus on giving Giroux a proper send-off. «He may be the best rental player available at the deadline and will command a pretty package», he writes.

Giroux is expected to appear in his 1000th NHL game for the Flyers on Mar. 17 making it the best time to honor the captain; four days before the deadline. All the cards are however, in Giroux's hands. He has a full no-move clause but Seravalli believes it's a long shot that the captain would choose to stay. Especially if a team like Colorado comes knocking.

Insider Elliotte Friedman was recently on NHL network and called Colorado �a perfect match'. But with an 8.25 million cap hit, the likelihood of him being dealt soon is slim. «There's so many good teams that are so close to the cap that they're gonna need to wait as long as they can before making the deal,» says Friedman «We could see a few three ways.»

Get whatever you can for Ristolainen.

Seravalli also notes that the Flyers and GM Chuck Fletcher should do everything they can to offload defenceman Rasmus Ristolainen.
«GM Chuck Fletcher could recoup assets for Rasmus Ristolainen � even if it's 60 cents on the dollar � for what appears to be a summer miscalculation.»

Ristolainen has 2 goals and 9 assists for 11 points through 41 games played. With a 5.4 million dollar cap hit, it's possible the Flyers may need to sweeten the deal in order to trade the Finnish blue liner.