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In the next few days - What are the pros and cons of this proposed trade deal between GMs Fletcher and Francis - Flyers get: - Seattle's committment to select Voracek (8.25M Cap Relief for Flyers) - Veteran Goaltender selected by Seattle in Expansion (see list below**) (a Flyers #2 Goalie to mentor Hart and who is a good part-time back-up) Seattle gets: - Ghost (4M Cap Relief for Flyers) - Prospect off Flyers provided list (see list below*) *Seattle selects one young player from this list: Carsen Twarynski Isaac Ratcliffe Connor Bunnaman German Rubtsov Maksim Sushko David Kase Goaltenders - Seattle will perhaps select these 3 for their organization: Ben Bishop Vitek Vanecek Kaapo Kahkanen **Might Fletcher want Seattle to also select one of these to then send to our Flyers? (Yes, contract status and Cap Hit are important considerations in addition to being a mentor to Hart and a good part-time back-up.) Jaroslav Halak (G) Tuukka Rask (G) Carter Hutton (G) Devan Dubnyk (G) Jonathan Bernier (G) Mike Smith (G) Jonathan Quick (G) Pekka Rinne (G) Cory Schneider (G) Braden Holtby (G) Craig Anderson (G) With the 12.25M Cap Space gained + the current 9.3M Cap Space (total 21.5M), Fletcher can sign: - Hart (RFA) - Sanheim (RFA) - Morin (UFA) - Goaltender #2 - a UFA 2nd pair RH defencman from this list: - Adam Larsson, age 28, 6'-3", 208, RH/RD, UFA, currently 2nd pairing, probable Cap Hit 4.5M - David Savard, age 30, 6'-2", 233, RH/RD, UFA, probable Cap Hit 5.5M, strong in D-zone, tough, 2nd pairing - Cody Ceci, age 27, 6'-2", 210, RH/RD, UFA, currently 2nd pairing, probable Cap Hit 6M - Brandon Montour, age 27, 6'-0", 194, RH/RD, UFA, current Cap Hit 3.85M, shot-blocker, slick puck-mover, depth defenceman This trade - What don't you like? What do you like? How would you tweak it?

Disagree with this tweet (below). Yes, Fletcher will probably not spend any valuable assets like Frost, Zamula, 1st Round pick, etc on a trade for the next defenceman acquisition such as Jones. But, there is a high probability he fills the defense second-pairing vacancy with one of the UFA defenceman as he gains the valuable Cap Space by losing JVR (7M) to Seattle and potentially finds a way to move Voracek (8.25M) and/or Ghost (4M). Therefore, Hamilton may be in play if Fletcher gets the Cap Space. Provorov - Hamilton* (RH) Sanheim - Ellis (RH) York - Braun (RH) Hagg Morin * or one of the other RH UFAs: Larsson, Savard, Ceci, or Montour (they would be 2nd pairing). At this point, we don't bet against Fletcher.

Best players left exposed to the expansion draft. This list does not include unrestricted free agents: Anaheim Ducks: Kevin Shattenkirk, D Boston Bruins: Connor Clifton, D Buffalo Sabres: Jeff Skinner, LW Carolina Hurricanes: Nino Niederreiter, LW Columbus Blue Jackets: Max Domi, C Calgary Flames: Mark Giordano, D Dallas Stars: Ben Bishop, G Detroit Red Wings: Vladislav Namestnikov, RW Florida Panthers: Chris Driedger, G Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Quick, G Montreal Canadiens: Carey Price, G New Jersey Devils: P.K. Subban, D Nashville Predators: Ryan Johansen, C; Matt Duchene, C New York Islanders: Josh Bailey, RW; Jordan Eberle, RW Ottawa Senators: Matt Murray, G Philadelphia Flyers: James van Riemsdyk, LW; Jakub Voracek, RW St. Louis Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko, RW Tampa Bay Lightning: Yanni Gourde, C; Tyler Johnson, C; Ondrej Palat, RW; Alex Killorn, LW Toronto Maple Leafs: Jared McCann, LW; Alex Kerfoot, C Vancouver Canucks: Jake Virtanen, RW Washington Capitals: Conor Sheary, LW

A Mock Draft at Reddit: LW C RW James van Reimsdyk Alex Wennberg Tyler Johnson Jason Zucker Joonas Donskoi Eric Robertson Chris Tierney Mason Appleton Jared McCann Johan Larsson Julien Gauthier Defense LD RD Vince Dunn Will Butcher Colin Miller Jake Bean Connor Clifton Tory Stecher Goalies Ben Bishop Vitek Vanecek Kaapo Kahkanen

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS Available Andy Andreoff (F) Connor Bunnaman (F) David Kase (F) Pascal Laberge (F) Samuel Morin (F) German Rubtsov (F) Carsen Twarynski (F) James van Riemsdyk (F) Jakub Voracek (F) Mikhail Vorobyev (F) Chris Bigras (D) Justin Braun (D) Shayne Gostisbehere (D) Robert Hagg (D) Derrick Pouliot (D) Nate Prosser (D) Tyler Wotherspoon (D) Brian Elliott (G) Alex Lyon (G) Felix Sandstrom (G) Protected Nicolas Aube-Kubel (F) Sean Couturier (F) Claude Giroux (F) Kevin Hayes (F) Travis Konecny (F) Scott Laughton (F) Oskar Lindblom (F) Ryan Ellis (D) Ivan Provorov (D) Travis Sanheim (D) Carter Hart (G) All 30 NHL Team Lists as Seattle Strategizes: https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/big-surprises-and-undoubtedly-a-few-letdowns-as-expansion-draft-protection-list-made-available-to-kraken/

As assumed, with Fletcher adding NAK to the Protected List vacancy, he puts more pressure on Seattle to select Voracek (8.25M), JVR (7M), or Ghost (4.5M), as he seeks more Cap Space for his next moves. Of course, Seattle could select Hagg or Braun, but potentially NAK would have been prime for them. Cap Space needed for: - Hart (RFA) - Sanheim (RFA) - Morin (UFA) - Goaltender #2 (UFA) - Another UFA defenceman: - Dougie Hamilton, age 28, 6'-6", 227, RH/RD, UFA, probable Cap Hit 9M, excellent in all zones - Adam Larsson, age 28, 6'-3", 208, RH/RD, UFA, currently 2nd pairing, probable Cap Hit 4.5M - David Savard, age 30, 6'-2", 233, RH/RD, UFA, probable Cap Hit 5.5M, strong in D-zone, top-pairing defenceman borderline - Cody Ceci, age 27, 6'-2", 210, RH/RD, UFA, currently 2nd pairing, probable Cap Hit 6M - Brandon Montour, age 27, 6'-0", 194, RH/RD, UFA, current Cap Hit 3.85M, shot-blocker, slick puck-mover, depth defenceman

Obscure in all of this is that the 3C is now open for Frost to emerge. The now more mature 22 year old is stronger. His skating ability sets him apart, and facing lower line opponents will open opportunity for his excellent playmaking skills with linemates such as LW Lindblom and RW Allison. And, Frost is a sniper and hopefully now has sound two-way ability. We will see. The door is open. I have a feeling that he will burst through it!

Projection: 1) Expansion Protection List vacancy (from Patrick) will be filled with NAK - - not JVR. Therefore the Exposed List will include - Voracek (8.25M Cap Hit), JVR (7M Cap Hit), and Ghost (4.5M Cap Hit). - Fletcher will hope Voracek or JVR is selected by Seattle, and he would reap significant valuable Cap Space for his next move. 2) Sign another RH/RD from the UFA ranks when Free Agency opens on July 28. One of these: - Dougie Hamilton, age 28, 6'-6", 227, RH/RD, UFA, probable Cap Hit 9M, excellent in all zones - Adam Larsson, age 28, 6'-3", 208, RH/RD, UFA, currently 2nd pairing, probable Cap Hit 4.5M - David Savard, age 30, 6'-2", 233, RH/RD, UFA, probable Cap Hit 5.5M, strong in D-zone, physical, top-pairing defenceman borderline - Cody Ceci, age 27, 6'-2", 210, RH/RD, UFA, currently 2nd pairing, probable Cap Hit 6M - Brandon Montour, age 27, 6'-0", 194, RH/RD, UFA, current Cap Hit 3.85M, shot-blocker, slick puck-mover The addition of defencemen Ellis plus Xxxxxx from above would significantly improve our Flyers. How about: Provorov - Ellis (RH) Sanheim - Larsson (RH) York - Braun (RH) Morin Hagg Hart Goalie #2 Giroux-Couturier-Konecny Xxxxxxx-Hayes-Farabee Lindblom-Frost-Allison Laughton-Laczynski-NAK Voracek, JVR, Ghost - - gone. LW Xxxxxxx = via trade that includes Voracek or JVR or Ghost (based on who Seattle selects) - or - UFA LW Hyman

Now it's clear - why Ghost was waived - needed flex for rest scratches, Taxi, and roster compliance. They expected that Ghost would not be taken.

The ideal situation for Fletcher is to get GM Kekalainen's permission to talk with Savard and his agent. This is not unusual. If Fletcher can propose a new mult-year contract to be signed after the Expansion Draft (with an overpayment), that would be attractive to Savard, and reach a verbal handshake agreement, then Columbus would reap a larger asset return. Any package suggestions for this scenario?

This Right-Handed Defenseman, Savard, can play in any situation the coaching staff asks of him. Savard could also provide veteran leadership for the young defencemen including Provorov, Sanheim, and Myers. He also logs 19:32 of ice time per night. Savard excels at defending his position and shutting down high-scoring opponents. He has good lateral mobility and plenty of size as he stands at 6’2 and weighs 229 pounds. Savard can block shots with the best of them and is physical which is an area the Flyers desperately need to shore up to have a playoff run. Savard is 5th in the NHL in blocked shots with 77 while averaging just under 20 minutes a night. He is fearless. You will always find him in the shooting lane giving himself up to block shots. He is one of John Tortorella’s favorite players because of the way he handles his business: like a true professional. Savard is just outside the top-30 in hits as well. When he’s most successful, he’s in your face playing an honest game. But when you look at the scoresheet at the end of the night, you’ll see a handful of hits and blocks on his line. He’s made for playoff hockey. Close, tight-checking games fit his style perfectly. There are multiple teams interested. As for a potential price, the Blue Jackets start with a first rounder. But in a buyer’s market, that price might seem steep. Realistically, the Blue Jackets could land two seconds in a potential package for Savard. The Blue Jackets have to make a tough decision on Savard. He has spent his entire career with the Blue Jackets. Trading him would be a tough pill to swallow. But given the state of the organization, they need to restock their cupboards because compared to other teams, it is quite bare. They need to rebuild. They need a center badly. Any suggestions on a trade package willing to give up considering Savard would play for our Flyers into and through the playoffs and then be a UFA and maybe, maybe not, resign a multi-year deal with us?

Fletcher has been trying to trade Ghost for a year. No takers. For the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft, there is a high probability that Seattle will not select Ghost. Since Seattle is required to take 1 player from each of the 31 teams, they are more likely to select Hagg or Morin as the team is presently constituted. Probable Exposed List: van Riemsdyk (Age 32, Cap Hit 7M) Voracek (Age 32, Cap Hit 8.25M) Bunnaman F Twarynski F Kase F Gostisbehere D Hagg D Morin D Sandstrom G 2nd year (Fletcher will expose to meet the Expansion Draft Rules for goaltenders)

This is why a trade for Ekholm doesn't work. He has another season on his contract. It's a high probability that Seattle selects Ekholm as he would be on our Flyers Exposed List. Then the trade assets would be lost w/o compensation - - - unless Fletcher can make a handshake deal with Seattle here 4 months prior to the July 21 Expansion Draft. Very unlikely this early. Yes, the 3 protected defencemen will be Provorov, Sanheim, Myers. Yes, some shortsighted will say not Sanheim or Myers. But, that is not logical, not wise, IMO.

Now we look for GM Fletcher to consumate a deal between now and the April 12 trade deadline for a defenceman to pair with Provorov. Ideally he is a pending UFA (for tactful Expansion Draft purposes), RH/RD, excellent in the defensive zone, tough (will drop the gloves), logs big ice-time, very dependable, and an ideal complement to Provorov. As a pending UFA, he won't have to be protected. Seattle won't select a pending UFA. If it is mutally agreeabe, Fletcher can sign this defenceman after the Expansion Draft. Who fits this profile? DAVID SAVARD, RD/RH, Columbus Blue Jackets, 6'2", 233 lbs. A pending UFA (UFA after this 2020-21 Season). Age 30 with 9 seasons NHL experience. Cap Hit for 2020-21 is 4.25 M and prorated. Fletcher may have to overpay some. There is competition from other GMs. Unknown - if Fletcher is given permission to talk with Savard and his agent ahead of time to try to get a verbal agreement on a multi-year contract to be done after the Expansion Draft. (Fletcher will just say NO to including Frost or Zamula, Wylie, York, etc.) SCOUTING REPORT- David Savard Excels at defending his position and shutting down high-scoring opponents. Is a good puck mover from the back end. Has great lateral mobility and plenty of size. Is rugged and a fearless shot blocker. Can log big minutes and be relied upon in important situations. Was a high-scoring defenseman in junior hockey, so his talent is somewhat underrated at the NHL level. Quality shutdown defenseman.