8 Best Philadelphia Flyers Trades Since 1990

Jeff Carter #17 and Mike Richards #18 of the Philadelphia Flyers talk during a break in action in an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators at the Wells Fargo Center on February 3, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

Fans of the Philadelphia Flyers will still bring up losing Patrick Sharp, Justin Williams, or Sergei Bobrovsky before their prime NHL seasons. However, the conversations don’t include the best trades in Flyers history often enough.

The Flyers haven’t won a Stanley Cup in half a century. However, their competitive history in the top tier of the NHL has required some savvy moves.

Best Flyers Trades

Top NHL talent like Eric Lindros and John LeClair wore the orange and black during their prime seasons in the 1990s. Bobby Clarke also needed to add more talent around them, however, and some legendary trades did just that.

Some of the biggest contributors that helped the Flyers to an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final in 2010 came to the organization through savvy trades by Paul Holmgren. Two of those contributors, however, actually brought back more in the trades that sent them out of Philadelphia.

While Ron Hextall didn’t accomplish his goals after a sluggish rebuild, he still made at least one deal with major long-term benefits for the Flyers.

Danny Briere hasn’t made his mark on Flyers history just yet, but the young GM has an opportunity to land some future names on the list.

You know plenty about the worst, but what are the best trades the Flyers have made since 1990?

8. Landing Chris Pronger

June 26, 2009
Flyers Get: Chris Pronger, Ryan Dingle
Anaheim Ducks Get: Luca Sbisa, Joffrey Lupul, 1st-Round Pick in 2009 (John Moore), 1st-Round Pick in 2010 (Emerson Etum), future considerations

Full Breakdown of the Chris Pronger Trade

Chris Pronger #20 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with his teammates in Game Four of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks at Wachovia Center on June 4, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

7. The Wildest Trade Tree You've Ever Seen

July 2, 2001
Flyers Get: 2nd-Round Pick in 2002 (sent to Tampa Bay Lightning), 1st-Round Pick in 2003 (Jeff Carter)
Phoenix Coyotes Get: Daymond Langkow

Full Breakdown of the Daymond Langkow Trade

Daymond Langkow #18of the Philadelphia Flyers skates around the rink during the game against the St. Louis Blues at the Kiel Center in St.Louis, Missouri. The Blues defeated the Flyers 5-2.

Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport

6. Ron Hextall's Savviest Set Of Moves

February 27, 2015
Flyers Get: 2nd-Round Pick in 2015, Conditional 4th-Round Pick in 2016
Chicago Blackhawks Get: Kimmo Timonen

March 2, 2015
Flyers Get: Radko Gudas, 1st-Round Pick in 2015, 3rd-Round Pick in 2015 (Matej Tomek)
Tampa Bay Lightning Get: Braydon Coburn

June 26, 2015
Flyers Get: 1st-Round Pick (Travis Konecny)
Toronto Maple Leafs Get: 1st Round Pick (from Braydon Coburn trade), 2nd-Round Pick (from Kimmo Timonen trade)

Full Breakdown of the Trades That Brought Travis Konecny to the Flyers

Kimmo Timonen #44 and Braydon Coburn #5 of the Philadelphia Flyers defend against Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins January 13, 2009 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

5. Rod The Bod

September 22, 1991
Flyers Get: Rod Brind’Amour, Dan Quinn
St. Louis Blues Get: Ron Sutter, Murray Baron

Full Breakdown of the Rod Brind’Amour Trade

Center Rod Brind''amour of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on during a game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Flyers won the game, 4-3.

Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire /Allsport

4. A Controversial Set Of Moves

June 23, 2011
Flyers Get: Jakub Voracek, 1st-Round Pick in 2011 (Sean Couturier), 3rd-Round Pick in 2011 (Nick Cousins)
Columbus Blue Jackets Get: Jeff Carter

June 23, 2011
Flyers Get: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, 2nd-Round Pick in 2012 (traded to Dallas Stars)
Los Angeles Kings: Mike Richards, Rob Bordson

Full Breakdown of the Jeff Carter & Mike Richards Saga

Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images

3. Back With A Vengeance

February 15, 2007
Flyers Get: Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, 1st-Round Pick in 2007 (traded back to Nashville Predators), 3rd-Round Pick in 2007 (traded to Washington Capitals)
Nashville Predators Get: Peter Forsberg

June 18, 2007
Flyers Get: Rights to pending UFAs Scott Hartnell, Kimmo Timonen
Nashville Predators Get: 1st-Round Pick in 2007 (sent to Flyers four months earlier)

Full Breakdown of the Retool That Brought the Flyers Back to Stanley Cup Contention

Scott Hartnell #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers is congratulated by teammates Kimmo Timonen #44 and Danny Briere #48 after Hartnell scored in the second period against the Boston Bruins in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 10, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

2. The Biggest Blockbuster in NHL History?

June 20, 1992
Flyers Get: Eric Lindros
Quebec Nordiques Get: Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, 1st-Round Pick in 1993 (Jocelyn Thibault), 1st-Round Pick in 1994 (Nolan Baumgartner), $15 million

Full Breakdown of the Eric Lindros Trade

NHL Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia Flyer Eric Lindros acknowledges the crowd during his Jersey Retirement Night ceremony before the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on January 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

1. Building the 1990s Core

February 9, 1995
Flyers Get: John LeClair, Eric Desjardins, Gilbert Dionne
Montreal Canadiens Get: Mark Recchi, 3rd-Round Pick in 1995 (Martin Hohenberger)

Full Breakdown of a Full-Circle Trade

Photos by Robert Laberge /Allsport; Len Redkoles/Getty Images

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Colin NewbyEditor

Colin Newby is a contributor for 97.5 The Fanatic who transitions Beasley Media's radio content onto digital platforms. His work includes on-site coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phillies.