Philadelphia Flyers Offseason Trade Candidates: Mitch Marner
The Toronto Maple Leafs have built one of the best top lines in the NHL with Auston Matthews in the middle over the past eight seasons. Mitch Marner has flourished at right wing with over a point per game in 576 career regular-season games (91 points per 82 games).
Is the 27-year-old star a fit for the rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers?
97.5 The Fanatic: Ongoing Series of Philadelphia Flyers Offseason Trade Candidates
Mitch Marner
The former fourth-overall pick set a career high with 99 points (30 goals, 69 assists) in 2022-23. He stayed in the top tier of scoring NHL wingers with 85 points in 69 games last season.
Marner has developed into a key weapon on both special teams units for the Maple Leafs. He’s also built a great reputation as a two-way player. He finished third in Selke Trophy voting as the NHL’s best defensive forward, an award that wingers don’t frequently compete for.
The Ontario native has also scored 50 points in 57 career playoff games. The perception of his playoff performance, for better or for worse, is shaped by the failure of the Leafs to make a deep playoff run.
The frustration has mounted for a franchise that hasn’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967 in the final season of the Original Six era.
Maple Leafs Considering Trades
The intensity of the Toronto market separates it from any other in the NHL. When the Maple Leafs lose eight playoff series in nine tries, the pressure to make changes heightens drastically.
The scrutiny has brought criticism to their top-heavy salary cap allocation during the era of Brendan Shanahan as President of Hockey Operations.
Marner, Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares earn big money, which sometimes prevents the Maple Leafs from adding gritty depth pieces with an eye on the playoffs.
While the Leafs ill aim to extend Marner, moving him in the final season of a contract worth $10.9 million in average annual value (AAV) might become a necessity. The conversation on TSN in Canada even mentioned selling Marner for “pennies on the dollar” because of the unique circumstances.
A star scorer in his prime might become available below market value. The Flyers lack the top-end talent and the offensive firepower that Mitch Marner brings to an NHL lineup. What is Danny Briere waiting for?
Flyers Looking Elsewhere
While Marner has broken out as one of the NHL’s top right wingers, Travis Konecny has planted himself right behind a player of his same age and draft class. The long-time Flyer put an underwhelming stretch of his career underwhelming behind him with 61 points in 60 games in 2022-23 and 68 points in 76 games in 2023-24.
Konecny probably won’t match Marner’s offensive output in upcoming seasons. However, he brings a similar skill set on the penalty killer and dynamic ability as a playmaker and goal-scorer from the wing.
Related Content: Reevaluating The Flyers Rebuild After The 2023-24 Season
The Flyers also value his intensity on the ice and his leadership in the dressing room. They will likely extend Konecny during the 2024 offseason on a long-term contract worth roughly $8-9 million in AAV.
A rebuilding team with a hole down the middle and question marks in the future of their top defensive pair won’t allocate their cap resources to land both Konecny and Marner.
The Flyers have given every indicator that they value Konecny as part of their long-term future. The in-house option that requires less resources will override the tempting lure of Mitch Marner.
97.5 The Fanatic will analyze draft prospects, free agent targets, and potential trade options for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2024 offseason.
11 NHL Draft Targets For The Philadelphia Flyers
Sam Dickinson
Defenseman, London Knights (OHL)
Keith Jones respects the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League as much as any junior program in the world.
His friend and former teammate Dale Hunter runs the organization to prepare players for the NHL and other professional opportunities.
The Flyers drafted Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey out of London in 2023.
Could Sam Dickinson follow in the footsteps of his two former teammates?
Jett Luchanko
Center, Guelph Storm (OHL)
Craig Button of TSN mocked Jett Luchanko to the Flyers in the 12th-overall spot. The 17-year-old averaged over a point per game in the OHL last season. His performance helped him rise through draft boards despite beginning the season with less of a reputation.
The Flyers will search for players who can reach the high ceiling of a top-line forward. They could take a chance on Luchanko if he’s available.
Berkly Catton
Center, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Catton broke out offensively at the junior level right before reaching draft eligibility. He scored 116 points in 2023-24 in the Western Hockey League, among the top junior leagues in Canada.
The Flyers would love to see the high-scoring center slip to the 12th-overall spot. However, most mock drafts have him off the board in the top 10.
Tij Iginla
Left Winger, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
The Calgary Flames hold the ninth-overall pick. Would they pass on the son of Jarome Iginla, arguably the best player in their franchise history?
If he somehow slips past the Flames, the Flyers will consider Tij Iginla. The industry consensus ranks him in the top half of the first round.
Jarome Iginla, Calgary FlamesBeckett Sennecke
Right Winger, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
The Athletic mocked Beckett Sennecke to the Flyers in the 12th-overall spot. They described him as a “highly skilled winger with size and smooth skating.”
Although a right winger doesn’t fill an organizational void, Briere and Flahr should not pass on the best player available because of a perceived surplus at a position.
The future of some of Philadelphia’s right wingers is anything but certain. Sennecke still has time before he’ll be an NHL contributor. Things change quickly.
The Flyers also had success drafting Scott Laughton out of Oshawa in 2012.
Cole Beaudoin
Center, Barrie Colts (OHL)
Corey Pronman projected Cole Beaudoin as a third-line NHL center. He also comes from the heavily-scouted OHL, which doesn’t produce as many surprises as other sources of draft prospects.
Although the Flyers will more likely search for a player with a higher ceiling in the 12th-overall spot, Beaudoin could be a target with Philadelphia’s second selection in the first round.
Carter Yakemchuk
Defenseman, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Players slip down draft boards every year. The 2024 NHL Draft doesn’t have the typical level of consensus as past drafts.
Carter Yakemchuk will most likely come off the board before the Flyers pick. However, if the opportunity presents itself, Danny Briere should pounce on arguably the best defenseman available in the draft.
