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 considerationsFull Breakdown of the Chris Pronger Trade
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 LangkowFull Breakdown of the Daymond Langkow Trade
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 TimonenMarch 2, 2015
Flyers Get: Radko Gudas, 1st-Round Pick in 2015, 3rd-Round Pick in 2015 (Matej Tomek)
Tampa Bay Lightning Get: Braydon CoburnJune 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
5. Rod The Bod
September 22, 1991
Flyers Get: Rod Brind’Amour, Dan Quinn
St. Louis Blues Get: Ron Sutter, Murray BaronFull Breakdown of the Rod Brind’Amour Trade
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 CarterJune 23, 2011
Flyers Get: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, 2nd-Round Pick in 2012 (traded to Dallas Stars)
Los Angeles Kings: Mike Richards, Rob BordsonFull Breakdown of the Jeff Carter & Mike Richards Saga
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 ForsbergJune 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
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 millionFull Breakdown of the Eric Lindros Trade
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
