Philadelphia Flyers NHL Trade Deadline Candidates: Nick Seeler
97.5 The Fanatic will examine Philadelphia Flyers who could potentially be on the move before the NHL Trade Deadline. Danny Briere described their organizational outlook in maintaining the strategy of the rebuild.
“We know where we are. We’re trying to get out of that rut where we make the playoffs one year (then) we miss (the next). You look at the standings. It’s very, very tight. We know we have a long ways to go, and we’re trying to build a team that’s going to be contenders for years to come, not just for one year… It’s a long season. It feels like it’s flashing by us, but the plan hasn’t changed.” -Danny Briere
https://twitter.com/NBCSPhilly/status/1733675454391881959?s=20
The Flyers will not fit the traditional definition of sellers at the NHL Trade Deadline, however. Closer analysis is needed to determine which moves do and don’t make sense for the Flyers in 2023-24 and down the road.
- Sean Walker
- Cam Atkinson
- Rasmus Ristolainen
- Nick Seeler
- Morgan Frost
- Carter Hart
- Marc Staal
- Louie Belpedio
- Sam Ersson
Nick Seeler: 2024 NHL Trade Deadline Candidate
Nick Seeler signed with the Flyers before the 2021-22 season with an expectation of splitting time between the NHL and the AHL. He’s established himself as a lineup regular under John Tortorella the past two seasons.
The 30-year-old defenseman plays the type of physical game, especially in the defensive zone, that becomes more attractive to teams gearing up for a playoff run.
Tortorella has commented on Seeler’s ability to make the simple play as a reliable veteran blueliner. That stay-at-home reliability offsets a lack of offensive production. A cheap cap hit of $775K on an expiring contract provides an ideal fit for a third-pair defenseman on a contending team.
The Flyers acquired a 3rd-round pick for Justin Braun at age 35 before the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. They could expect a similar return if they decide to trade Nick Seeler in 2024. However, the future of the blue line as a whole will impact Seeler’s future.
Elliotte Friedman reported that re-signing Seeler is a priority for the Flyers.
“They would like to start figuring out where they’re going long term here, but to me, the guy they really try to get done – and no insult to anyone else – but I think (it’s) Seeler.” -Elliotte Friedman
The addition of Jamie Drysdale gave the Flyers an eighth NHL defensemen looking for a lineup spot. They can look to move at least one of them, possibly two, before the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.
Sean Walker would bring a better return than Seeler, who has become a key part of the identity of a team in legitimate playoff contention in 2023-24. The Flyers could also potentially deal Marc Staal for a late-round pick. If Briere deals Walker for a 1st-round pick (in 2024 or a future year) and Staal for a late-rounder, the short-term presence of Seeler is more valuable than acquiring a 3rd-round pick to select whose odds to become a standout NHL player aren’t particularly high.
Stay/Go Verdict: Stay
97.5 The Fanatic, the flagship radio partner of the Philadelphia Flyers, provides news, analysis, and outlook on the 2023-24 season.
History of the Philadelphia Flyers in NHL Outdoor Games
The 2017 NHL Stadium Series: A Golden Anniversary
Heinz Field- Pittsburgh, PA
February 25, 2017
Penguins 4, Flyers 2The Penguins had finally ditched the distractions by 2017 and allowed the superior skill of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to take control of their fierce intrastate rivalry. The defending Stanley Cup champions overmatched the Flyers early in the Mike Sullivan era, especially at Heinz Field in a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the two franchises entering the league as part of the NHL expansion wave of 1967.
Sidney Crosby sucked the hope from Philadelphia fans with an early goal, and the Flyers trailed the rest of the game. Any mental edge they might’ve had in the rivalry in past years was completely gone.
2021 NHL Outdoor Games: The Picture-Perfect Moment
Edgewood Tahoe Resort- Stateline, NV
February 21, 2021
Bruins 7, Flyers 3The Covid-19 pandemic slammed the NHL just like it did to everyone else. The 56-game season in 2020-21 wasn’t going to be the most memorable in hockey history no matter how the league handled their business.
One way they tried to compensate for empty arenas was the outdoor doubleheader at Lake Tahoe. The Colorado Avalanche took on the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, Feb. 20.
The Bruins and the Flyers faced off for a rematch of the 2010 Winter Classic on Sunday, Feb. 21. If fans weren’t getting the real experience of an outdoor game, at least they’d see some excellent photographs of a beautiful scene.
The Flyers barely had enough skaters to compete, and a postponement might’ve been a better decision. They were no match for a talented Bruins attack. David Pastrnak scored a hat trick in a 7-3 laugher that wasn’t as close as the score indicated. Carter Hart allowed six goals on 23 shots as one of the first blunders in what turned out to be a miserable season for him and for the Flyers.
2024 NHL Stadium Series: A "Rocky" Effort
MetLife Stadium- East Rutherford, NJ
February 17, 2024
Devils 6, Flyers 3When the NHL announced the 2024 Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium, it looked like the Devils would enter as heavy favorites. An early-season surge from the Flyers thickened the plot against a team that failed to live up to the standard of their breakout season in 2022-23.
John Tortorella and the Flyers stunned the NHL with an excellent effort in 2023-24. They had a great opportunity to reignite a rivalry that became one of the game’s best in the 1990s and 2000s. However, they fell to the Devils 6-3 with a loose defensive effort.
Nico Hischier scored his first of two NHL Stadium Series goals 32 seconds after the opening faceoff. The Flyers trailed the rest of the night and fell to 1-4-1 in outdoor games. The Rangers and the Islanders played a classic the following day at the Meadowlands.
