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Quick Hits: Jones, Voracek, Offseason Inventory, Alumni

July 11, 2021, 10:52 AM ET [92 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Quick Hits: July 11, 2021

1) On his most recent 31 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Flyers' pursuit of a trade with Columbus for Seth Jones appears to be off for now, as Jones is still unwilling to negotiate a contract extension at the present time. The Flyers, understandably, do not want to take the risk of trading valuable pieces to the Blue Jackets only to lose Jones for nothing to unrestricted free agency next summer.

There is an alternative school of thought: Take a deep breath and accept the risk.

If the Flyers (or another team) were to trade for Jones without a guarantee that he will sign an extension before testing free agency, the trade price will go down a bit as compared to a sign-and-trade (or, more accurate, trade-and-sign). Jones' contract carries an affordable cap hit for one more season. If the Flyers subsequently have a bounceback 2021-22 season and Jones thrives, the chances increase of him being willing to stay put via a long-term extension. If things don't work out, well, the player could be flipped at the next trade deadline to recoup some assets (although not to the extent of what was traded on the front end). At the very least, the organization will have sent a message that it's committed to going all-out to win.

Arguments could be made either which way. However, it's always been wise for the Flyers not to put all their improvement plan eggs in one basket. If it's not Seth Jones, the Flyers still have routes open to solidify their defense corps and address other areas of on-ice need as well. Among other possibilities, there are rumors that the Flyers have also circled back to Nashville to inquire about the availability of Ryan Ellis.

2) In a blog earlier this week, I discussed the numbers game problem that the Tampa Bay Lightning face with the upcoming Expansion Draft. If the team protects seven forwards and three defensemen, they may have to expose 24-year-old defenseman Erik Cernak and a forward such as still-effective 31-year-old left winger Alex Killorn to Seattle. If they protect Cernak, they'll have to expose alternate captain Ryan McDonagh, who is 32 years old but still pulled down 21:54 TOI in the regular season and 22:50 in the playoffs as the Lightning repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

While the Flyers are not the only team that can potentially do this, Chuck Fletcher may do well to try to make a trade with Tampa Bay ahead of the Expansion Draft. Tampa does have the option of trading something of value to the Seattle Kraken to take someone other than Cernak (or alternatively McDonagh, who has four years of term left at a $6.75 million AAV) in the Expansion Draft. Alternatively, if the Lightning trade Cernak ahead of the Expansion Draft, they would be receiving rather than expending assets. Tampa would get draft picks and/or Expansion Draft exempt young players.

I would have no problem with the Flyers, if possible, working a deal where they acquire the right-handed Cernak (who logged nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game this past season and Tampa's No. 4 defenseman) and send assets back to Tampa. In a separate deal, the Flyers could trade Philippe Myers. Cernak and Myers are the same age (actually, Cernak is a few months younger) but the former is already the type of player that the Flyers are still hoping that Myers becomes on a more consistent basis. Cernak has two seasons left on his contract at a $2.95 million cap hit and then can become an arbitration-eligible RFA.

The Flyers would still need to acquire a partner for Ivan Provorov for the top pairing but a second pairing of Cernak with Travis Sanheim would be an upgrade. On the third pair, the Flyers have options ranging from Shayne Gostisbehere (if he's not taken in the Expansion Draft or traded in the offseason) or rookie Cam York to pair alongside Justin Braun (if not taken in the Expansion Draft). Robert Hägg (if not taken in the Expansion Draft) could slot as the No. 7.

3) Friedman also said that the Flyers have discussed with Jakub Voracek that the veteran right winger will be exposed to the Expansion Draft or potentially traded this offseason. Voracek understood the cap-related reasons why that might happen, and was open to the idea. Importantly, Friedman reported that there no animosity in the dialogue, and both sides would also be comfortable with Voracek staying put in Philadelphia for his 11th season as a Flyer. There is a significant chance of that possibility coming to fruition, too, with the Flyers trying to find other means of creating cap space.

I would not be in favor of the Flyers expending assets to get Seatle to take Voracek. My view hasn't changed: Tell Seattle that the exposure list is what it is, and they have their choice of whomever they want without any sweeteners offered. I'd be OK if the Flyers traded Voracek in a deal where Philly loses the "hockey side" of the trade but gets back an NHL roster player with significantly less cap hit and/or less term (say, two years instead of three) remaining on the deal.

This is just an example: I am not actually interested in the Flyers acquiring Tyler Johnson at this stage of his career. The 30-year-old appears to be declining rapidly. He also has three seasons of remaining terms left on his contract; same as Voracek. On the flip side, his contract carries $3.25 million less AAV than Voracek; no small amount of added cap space.

I'm not suggesting that the Flyers try to make that particular trade -- actually, Tampa needs to shed cap, not add it -- but those are the types of options that might be available. Let's say the Flyers lose Gostisbehere in the Expansion Draft and trade Voracek (or James van Riemsdyk) in a trade that has questionable hockey value in its own right but saves cap hit and/or term. That would create more flexibility to reshape the roster mix over the remainder of the offseason.

By the way, I don't know if Vladimir Tarasenko would even be willing to waive his no-trade clause to come to Philadelphia but it's been very widely reported that he's asked St. Louis for a trade. There are injury concerns with the 29-year-old whereas the 32-year-old Voracek has stayed healthier and has outpointed his Russian counterpart over the last four seasons (85, 66, 56 and 43 points for Voracek versus 66. 68, 10 points in 10 GP and 14 points in 24 GP for Tarasenko). Meanwhile, Tarasenko carries a slightly lower AAV ($7.25 million AAV compared to Voracek's $8.25 million) and has one fewer season of term remaining.

Given Tarasenko's recent injury history and the fact that he wants to be moved while Voracek is fine with staying put, is there a potential trade fit here? I don't know but I think it's worth discussing.

4) The next installment of the Flyers Offseason Inventory series will run mid-week on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. This portion will look at the older veteran core: Claude Giroux, Voracek, Kevin Hayes, and Sean Couturier.

5) There are 11 days to go on the Flyers Alumni autographed game-worn Showcase jersey auction. There are still a few jerseys that have yet to receive a bid, so it's possible to you could win one for the minimum. Thus far, the most popular jersey in the lot is that of famed enforcer Dave Brown, which has drawn more bids even than the jerseys worn by Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Howe, U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer John LeClair or longtime Flyers fan favorite Danny Briere. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Flyers Alumni Association and its "Every Child Deserves a Bike" and "12 Days of Christmas Giving" programs. To check out the auction, click here.

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