After Danny Briere's first big trade as Flyers general manager, all eyes turn to Carter Hart and his uncertain future in Philadelphia.
The Flyers’ blockbuster three-way trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings marks the first significant transaction of the club’s eagerly-awaited rebuild. And by all accounts, it was a big win for first-time NHL general manager Danny Briere.
Not only did Briere add a low-risk, high-reward prospect, a solid NHL defenseman, and three high draft picks, including the No. 22 overall selection in this year’s draft, but he also rid the Flyers of Ivan Provorov — a player who no longer fit in the club’s timeline — without retaining any salary.
Overall, it was masterful work by Briere.
But the trade has also raised more questions amongst the Flyers fan base. Many of which stem from the acquisition of goaltender Cal Petersen. And now, all eyes are on Carter Hart as trade rumors continue to heat up.
Petersen, 28, is coming off a rather disappointing season. Once considered one of the top young goalies in hockey, Petersen found himself spending much of last season with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, where he went 16-20-4 in 40 games with a .904 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average. The Iowa native also carries with him a hefty price tag — a $5 million cap hit for the next two seasons.
That contract is partially why the package acquired from the Kings was so substantial. The Kings needed cap space, and by unloading Petersen’s contract, along with Sean Walker’s $2.65 million cap hit, they were able to sign defenseman Vladislov Gavrikov to a two-year contract extension worth $5.875 million annually.
As of now, it’s unclear exactly where Petersen fits in the Flyers’ plans, although it’s expected that he’ll compete for a roster spot this summer.
“We’ll give him a chance. It’ll make for healthy competition at camp. It’s a little too early to tell where he’s gonna fit in,” said Briere.
“He was a good goaltender. He had an off year last year, so we’ll see where he’s at.”
With Petersen now in the fold, the Flyers suddenly have a wealth of goalie talent. Petersen, if he can return to his 2021-22 form in which he went 20-14-2 and recorded three shutouts, could challenge for a fair amount of starts. Sam Ersson, who appeared in 12 games with the Flyers this season, won six of his first seven starts and established himself as a candidate to earn even more NHL playing time next season. Felix Sandstrom, meanwhile, didn't post the best numbers this season, but often took on very difficult assignments as the Flyers' primary backup.
And then, of course, there's Hart.
Hart, who was named team MVP at the end of the season, is coming off one of his most impressive campaigns as an NHLer, even if his numbers don't reflect it. He carried the team through the first quarter of the season, and without him as their workhorse netminder, the Flyers likely would have been in the running for the first pick in this year's draft. They were that bad.
But Hart's stellar production behind an abysmal club, paired with the fact that he's still just 24 years old, makes him an attractive trade candidate as the Flyers launch their rebuild. And multiple reports indicate the Flyers aren't hanging up the phone when asked about their No. 1 goalie.
Since being named the Flyers' full-time general manager in April, Briere has been very transparent about his plans for the coming rebuild.
No one on the club is untouchable, and that includes Hart.
"There's a lot of good young players on our team, but at the same time, if it's better for the organization to move in a different direction, we have to listen. There's no one that's above the team, and I'm gonna listen on everyone," Briere said last month.
"I expect most of our young guys, including Carter Hart, to be back, but I have to be fair for the organization and the fans to listen if there's a better offer elsewhere."
Goalies as good and as young as Hart are rarely, if ever, made available for trade. But the Flyers are in a unique situation. They are just now beginning their much-needed rebuild, and a trade involving Hart would likely bring back a package so substantial that it would accelerate the rebuild tenfold. From draft capital to prospects and established NHLers, there's no telling what the Flyers could get in return for their top netminder.
As enticing as it would be to speed up their path to contention, though, Briere and the Flyers' new "triumvirate of leadership" are determined to execute this rebuild the right way. They've stated this numerous times since the firing of Chuck Fletcher in March, and it's unlikely a trade involving Hart would take place without there being a mammoth of a haul coming in return.
But Hart is a special player, and teams desperate for a bona fide starter might just be willing to cough up a boatload of assets that the Flyers simply can't turn down.
For now, Hart is a Flyer. But Briere certainly isn't limiting his opportunities to reshape the roster.
“I’m still in the same spot I was. We’re open for business. We listen on everybody. Everybody’s being treated the same way for us on our side.”