The Philadelphia Flyers Are Dead At The Deadline

Fletcher stated the Flyers would be «sellers» at the deadline, which isn't a shock, considering the Flyers are in 25th overall and falling and are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

In his fifth trade deadline as the Flyers GM, Fletcher has abandoned his «aggressive retool» approach, as that misguided attempt obviously failed miserably, but he would not use the term «rebuild» as the teams direction heading into the trade deadline. Why, because he can't and it wouldn't be true if he did.

One reason Fletcher cannot reclassify his new direction with the team as a rebuild (which he arguably should have done years ago) is because he would have to admit his «aggressive retool» was a failure and that alone should be career suicide as an NHL GM; although he seems to have a stranglehold on the position despite a lack of results.

How can you have a vision for success, implement it, fail completely, then attempt a 180 and have your newly acquired strategy instil any confidence in your ability to execute the new game plan half a decade after your first failed?

The second reason Chuck Fletcher cannot call his new direction a «rebuild» is because it would be a lie. Quite simply, the Flyers are not in a position to execute a rebuild and will not be for a minimum of two to three years.

The Flyers currently have seven contracts (eight if you include Ellis) that have multiple years of term left on them, for players who will be in their mid 30's when those contracts expire. That is one third of their roster under contract until a minimum of 2025-26 (excluding Atkinson), whose contracts carry them well into their 30's. The Flyers are not in a position to rebuild.

Sean Couturier $7.75mil - Signed until 29-30 (37 years old)
Cam Atkinson $5.85mil - Signed until 24-25 (35 years old)
Kevin Hayes $7.14mil - Signed until 25-26 (33 years old)
Scott Laughton $3mil - Signed until 25-26 (31 years old)
Nicolas Deslauriers $1.75mil - Signed until 25-26 (35 years old)
Rasmus Ristolainen $5.1mil - Signed until 26-27 (32 years old)
Travis Sanheim $6.25min - Signed until 30-31 (34 years old)
Ryan Ellis $6.25 - Signed until 26-27 (36 years old) will likely get trade to Arizona at some point!

Most of those contracts are not attractive to other teams without significant salary retention or parlaying picks along with the player, simply to unload them. It is a disaster, to say the least; especially considering Fletcher is responsible for all of them. Of those listed players, Laughton would be the easiest to move given the price tag and what he brings to the table, but he is one of John Tortorella's favourite competitors; rightfully so.

The Flyers have good, young roster talent in Tippett, Farabee, Frost, Cates, and York, but I wouldn't classify them as elite or game breakers. They also have a strong core with Travis Konecny, Carter Hart, and Ivan Provorov, but even Provorov's name has come up in trade rumours. Those three should be who you build around.

The truth is, The Philadelphia Flyers should be moving everyone over the age of 25, but they can't; there just isn't a significant enough market for the players they have, to receive quality prospects or high end picks back.

Maybe Chuck has a rabbit up his sleeve, but based on his lengthy track record one can certainly be cautious about getting their hopes up.