Flyers 2026 NHL Trade Deadline Preview: 4 Candidates To Move

Danny Briere, who will lead the Flyers at the Trade Deadline in 2026

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Danny Briere set expectations for the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline when he joined 97.5 The Fanatic at the Flyers Charities Carnival.

“It’s probably going to be on the quieter side. We’re not looking to unload unless something too good came to us. We’re not looking at rentals. We’re not ready for that. This is not the time to spend assets to try to just get in, to make a push for the playoffs. It might be a quieter deadline than it’s been the last couple years.”
-Danny Briere on 97.5 The Fanatic

After the deadline passes on Friday, March 6 at 3pm, the outlook on the Philadelphia Flyers and their long-term rebuild probably won’t have changed too drastically.

However, Briere and the Flyers will consider subtracting at least four players after slipping out of the playoff race with 12 losses in their final 15 games before the Olympic break.

Selling at 6 Straight NHL Trade Deadlines?

The Flyers made a milestone announcement on January 5 one day before reaching the midpoint of the 2025-26 season in Eastern Conference playoff position.

Christian Dvorak signed a five-year extension through the 2030-31 season. The Flyers committed long-term money to a 29-year-old pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). Was the rebuild finally turning in a new direction?

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Briere has insisted during his three years as Flyers general manager that the players will dictate the timeline of the rebuild. The players abruptly validated his hesitation to begin the second half of the season with a 3-8-4 free fall into 13th place in the East.

The front office will almost certainly subtract from the NHL roster ahead of the deadline for the sixth consecutive season. The current roster includes fewer obvious candidates this season, and Briere admitted himself during training camp that in-season deals probably wouldn’t involve draft picks as the primary return.

“Ideally, if we do make some moves, it would be more for players that can help, maybe not quite right now, but not a draft pick. Hopefully it's a prospect that's almost ready to help us. I think we're shifting away hopefully from only draft picks and looking a little bit more at prospects.”
-Danny Briere

While Briere won’t (and hasn’t at any point) considered buying rental players focused on the playoffs this season, he has left the door open for roster additions. The Trevor Zegras deal brought the Flyers one of their best forwards this season. Briere has left the door open for a similar type of move for a younger player looking for a better long-term fit.

4 Flyers Who Could Be Traded

Rasmus Ristolainen

Age: 31
Position: Defenseman
Contract: $5.1 million average annual value (AAV), UFA after 2026-27

Full Trade Profile: Rasmus Ristolainen

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Bobby Brink

Age: 24
Position: Right Wing
Remaining Contract: $1.5 million AAV, Restricted Free Agent (RFA) after 2025-26

Full Trade Profile: Bobby Brink

Bobby Brink, who has been mentioned in rumors ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Emil Andrae

Age: 24
Position: Defenseman
Remaining Contract: $900,000 AAV, RFA after 2025-26

Full Trade Profile: Emil Andrae

Emil Andrae, who is a candidate for the Philadelphia Flyers to move at the NHL Trade Deadline

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Noah Juulsen

Age: 28
Position: Defenseman
Remaining Contract: $900,000 AAV, UFA after 2025-26

Full Trade Profile: Noah Juulsen

Noah Juulsen, a trade candidate for the PHiladelphia Flyers

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

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Colin NewbyEditor

Colin Newby is a contributor for Beasley Media's cluster of five radio stations in the Philadelphia market. He transitions the cluster's award-winning content onto digital platforms, and his work includes on-site coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phillies.