NHL Insider Confirms Flyers Made Big Push For Artemi Panarin.

The Philadelphia Flyers weren't expected to make any sort of noise this past offseason as general manager Ron Hextall expected to be quiet. He did end up making one pretty major move when he signed James van Riemsdyk to a five year $35million contract. As big as that move was, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, Hextall had a much bigger move in mind. Friedman states that the Flyers were making a heavy run at Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artemi Panarin around the NHL Draft. "Someone told me before they signed van Riemsdyk, Philly tried to take a run at Panarin," said Elliotte Friedman. "I head that. That was one of the rumours going around that they were trying to land him."
Panarin is one of the biggest names still on the trade block and is expected to bring a pretty big return back for Columbus, so with anything close to a deal falling apart, Hextall opted the free agency route and signed JVR. Would you have liked to see the Flyers trade for Panarin?