THN.com/podcast Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk2MDYzODA2OTc0MDc2OTI2/usatsi_20048748.jpg] Sitting eight points out of the final Eastern Conference playoff berth, the Philadelphia Flyers are expected to become sellers leading up to the March 3 trade deadline. While scoring leaders such as Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes have surfaced in trade rumors, James van Riemsdyk is their most likely trade candidate. The 33-year-old van Riemsdyk is slated to become a UFA on July 1. CapFriendly [https://www.capfriendly.com/players/james-van-riemsdyk] indicates he carries a $7-million salary-cap hit and lacks no-trade protection. Despite missing the first 15 games of this season with a broken finger, the Flyers winger has 22 points in 39 games. Teams in the market for a big, experienced scoring winger appear to have the 6-foot-3, 208-pound van Riemsdyk in their sights. In his Feb. 16 “32 Thoughts” column, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/32-thoughts-the-latest-on-jakob-chychrun-and-the-nhl-trade-market/] reported the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets were interested in the Flyers forward. Philly Hockey Now's Sam Carchidi [https://phillyhockeynow.com/2023/02/17/philadelphia-flyers-report-james-van-riemsdyk-drawing-interest-from-4-teams-trade-rumors-winnipeg-jets-minnesota-wild-vegas-golden-knights-dallas-stars/] suggested the Wild would be the best fit as van Riemsdyk makes his off-season home in Minnesota. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Giana Han [https://www.inquirer.com/flyers/nhl-trade-deadline-rumors-flyers-20230218.html] believes van Riemsdyk's skill and hockey knowledge make him a valuable trade chip. She pointed out that young Flyers such as Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett have played their best hockey skating alongside him. Han felt the Flyers stand a better chance of moving van Riemsdyk if they agree to retain half his salary-cap hit. She thinks the Flyers could get a second-rounder or a combination of lower picks.
