It has been two weeks since the Stanley Cup was awarded and Chuck Fletcher has been hard at work. After acquiring right-handed defenseman Ryan Ellis on Saturday right before the freeze, Chuck Fletcher makes another splash directly when the trade market opened. This time it’s us sending defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere to Arizona alongside a 2022 2nd and 7th round draft picks.

It appears Chuck is clearing some cap space… https://t.co/oFEHqicLJv

— TLY (@TheLibertyYell) July 22, 2021

The departure of Shayne Gostisbehere is a fire that has been smoking for a while and it became almost inevitable once we saw the Flyers place him on waivers late last season. Gostisbehere managed to clear waivers mostly due to the flat-cap environment but none the less it became apparent this contract was going to take some compensation to be completely removed from the Flyers hands. Apparently one team asked for Cam York as compensation, Chuck hung up the phone.

The Flyers have been linked to many high profile trade targets over the last couple days, including Vladimir Tarasenko and Sam Reinhart. In order for Chuck to get into the sandbox and start playing with his toys he absolutely needed to clear up some cap space, and this was his first step. Jakub Voracek is still going to be dangled around due to the Flyers committing to a legit attempt to move him regardless of Seattle’s selection; and with our 13th overall pick still in play I wouldn’t rule anything out as of now.

CF on listening to offers for our 2021 1st round pick: “We’re ready to draft at 13. I will say I’m open to using it if we can add a player that can help us. I’m more active on listening on 13 this year than previous years…If something makes sense via trade, we’ll look into it.”

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 22, 2021

The 2021 NHL Entry Draft begins with round one kicking off just this friday night, and now that the transaction freeze is lifted, I expect this next week to be high eventful and impactful to this organization. Now this is pure speculation, but in every press conference Chuck Fletcher has given to media thus far he seems very loose and open to the idea of sending our first round selection in order to the help bolster the actual 2021-22 roster. The Flyers have also remained open to the idea of drafting with the pick, you can read on some our potential selectee’s at the end of our pre-expansion article.

Philadelphia Flyers Cap Space: 13.885 Million

Unsigned RFAs (as of now): Travis Sanheim and Carter Hart

Chuck Fletcher mentioned in his press conference today about how he expects this team to look much different this time next week and how he’s excited about it. While the expansion was frustrating and quite honestly a garbage product, it still time to preach patience. The Philadelphia Flyers have been in the rumor mill in what seems like every day this offseason, just today being linked to Sabres forward Sam Reinhart. The phones are busy.

You heard correctly. https://t.co/n91Gywu9bb

— NRD (@NHLRumorsDaily) July 22, 2021

Sam Reinhart scored 25 goals, 15 assists, for 40 points in 54 games last season and has been a bright spot in an organization that is dark as an abyss. It would be huge if the Flyers were able to go out and get a complete second line center to add to that forward depth. Fletcher himself is on record saying he would like to add another depth defenseman, a backup netminder, and bolster the forward corps.

Bill Meltzer chimed in on what’s next for the organization as well:

I think the end game for the Flyers now is to try to make a player-for-player trade even if it means taking back cap/term in the exchange, using cap space on a UFA 2D preferably RH or a two-way forward) and goalie. Own RFAs focus later in offseason.

— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) July 22, 2021

The next week is going to be pure chaos around the league and the Flyers are right in the thick of it, still the front runner in the Tarasenko rumors and now this Reinhart news has surfaced just recently. This will be a different team just a week from today and I have to say that change is exciting, gone are the days of sitting on our hands in the offseason. Chuck Fletcher clearly has a bias for action, and we’re all here for it.

Mandatory Credit: Buffalo Sabres