97.5 The Fanatic Flyers Roundup: Laughton Trade Rumors, Konecny at NHL All-Star Weekend

The NHL All-Star Game awaits this weekend, but fans of the Philadelphia Flyers will most likely fixate on the team’s current five-game losing streak and the looming NHL Trade Deadline on March 8. Scott Laughton entered the fray of big names around the league involved in trade rumors this week.

The Flyers have one representative at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Travis Konecny will make his second career All-Star appearance in his eighth NHL season. The right winger has scored 22 goals and added 20 assists in 50 games in 2023-24. He is on pace to set career highs in goals and points.

He is also tied for the league lead with five shorthanded goals. Konecny has cooled off since his hot streak from mid-December through mid-January. However, his offensive track record erases any concerns about short-term slumps at this point in his career. 

John Tortorella willingly gave Konecny due credit when the league announced the All-Star rosters. However, the veteran head coach had previously spoken his mind about All-Star Weekend when the 2022-23 rosters were announced.

Konecny will participate in the 3-on-3 round robin tournament on Team MacKinnon, captained by Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon. He won’t participate in any events during the NHL Skills Competition on Friday night.

Darren Dreger of TSN believes the Flyers would consider trading Scott Laughton before the NHL Trade Deadline. 

Danny Briere and the Flyers value the only player on the roster to wear a letter on the deep orange jersey. Laughton has been the subject of trade rumors dating back to 2021. His gritty style lends itself to playoff hockey. However, the organization’s high opinion of him leads them to demand a lofty return package.

If the center market pushes a Stanley Cup contender to offer a lucrative package, Briere could pull the trigger on Laughton. The former 1st-round pick hasn’t met high expectations offensively with five goals and 15 assists this season. The fact that Tortorella hasn’t benched him despite the underwhelming production should tell you exactly how highly he thinks of Laughton.

Don’t expect the Flyers to accept anything less than a 1st-round pick while they continue to emphasize culture as a key part of the organizational rebuild.

The Original Flyer gave The John Kincade Show the honor of a guest appearance at their monthly Frist Friday broadcast. He talked about the legacy of the franchise, his recent Flyers Alumni Game performance, and his new book Thundermouth: Memoirs of a Broad Street Bully.

Watson skated in his last hockey game ever on January 26 after playing for the inaugural Flyers season in 1967-68. He told the story of how the beloved Bullies hammered the famed Soviet Red Army team in 1976 at the Spectrum.

After the All-Star festivities pass, the Flyers will finally get the opportunity to wash the terrible taste of their five-game losing streak out of their mouths.

Philadelphia Flyers Alumni Weekend took place at the Wells Fargo Center from January 26-27 to celebrate the golden anniversary of the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Mark Recchi entered the Flyers Hall of Fame as the guest of honor before a Saturday matinee against the Boston Bruins.

Dan Hilferty and Keith Jones joined Recchi in front of the local media on Friday before the Flyers Alumni took on the Bruins Alumni. The new leadership group has consistently emphasized the need to honor the past as part of a transition into a New Era of Orange.

The Broad Street Bullies won the hearts of the city of Philadelphia with consecutive Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. Their legacy lives on through the words of legendary coach Fred Shero.

Lou Nolan introduced the Flyers like he has so many times before. Recchi drew the thunderous applause as the weekend’s guest of honor. Mike Richards also returned to Philadelphia for the first time since his NHL career ended in 2016. The former captain scored a shorthanded goal against the Bruins Alumni.

The franchise has retired just six numbers in its history. Five of the six honorees, all but the late Barry Ashbee, were in attendance. Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, Bernie Parent, Mark Howe, and Eric Lindros all participated in the weekend ceremonies.

Todd Fedoruk might not be in franchise Hall of Fame, but the former NHL enforcer turned radio color commentator showed he’s still got it with a great effort for the Flyers Alumni in their 6-2 victory. 

Catch him with Tim Saunders on the 97.5 The Fanatic game broadcasts.

How many 80-year-olds are tough enough to skate against former NHL players half their age? Joe Watson played during the inaugural Flyers season in 1967-68. “The original Flyer” last played in the NHL 45 years ago, but he took the ice one final time.