Could the Flyers Find Their Center Solution from a Metro Division Rival?

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson (33) makes a save on New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) during the shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

The New York Islanders, a Metropolitan Division rival of the Flyers, have hired their new general manager. New York hired former Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant GM and Director of Hockey Operations Mathieu Darche.

Darche is getting a nice setup on Long Island. Among his new assets, he will have the number one overall pick and roughly $29 million in cap space. If Darche does this right, the New York Islanders will have a quick turnaround.

Immediately following the hiring, thoughts were floated, wondering if Darche would use his Tampa Bay connection to pull off a trade for Isaac Howard, who likely will not sign in South Florida.

https://x.com/JamesNicholsNHL/status/1925961552617672996

With the loads of cap space in Elmont, you have to wonder if Mitch Marner could be a possibility for the Islanders.

The Islanders are also likely to select Matthew Schaefer with the top pick (or possibly consider Hagens, the hometown kid), along with getting top-prospect Calum Ritchie likely joining the NHL mix.

It could be a scary fast turnaround for the Islanders, but it won’t happen without any casualties. Darche could move on from one of the team’s current long-term contracts to make it easier to acquire big talent. That’s where the Flyers come into play.

There is no indication that the Islanders will trade for Howard or sign Marner. This is all a big what-if, but hey, it’s the offseason, let’s have some fun.

If the Islanders want to open some space for the possible new talent, Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat should intrigue the Flyers.

Could the Flyers Trade for Mathew Barzal?

Let’s preface this by saying that this is all hypothetical. However, if the Islanders make Barzal or Horvat available, the Flyers should be all over it. Either center would be a massive upgrade for the Flyers’ depth down the middle, but Barzal would be the far more intriguing option.

The Flyers’ need for centers could not be more evident. If an above-average center becomes available, the Flyers should be linked.

Barzal is due $9.15 million a year and is locked up until 2031, which is a really good deal for a player of his caliber. He has two career 80+ point seasons, including his rookie campaign and the 2023/24 season. The scary thing with Barzal is that he is coming off a surgery on his kneecap. He ended the season on the long-term IR, but was close to returning toward the end of the year. His upside, paired with his contract, makes it well worth whatever the trade package might be.

He is a speedy playmaker who is a wizard with the puck on his stick. Barzal with Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny on either side of him would be a scary sight. He has a knack for finding his teammates in the right places and setting them up for success. Barzal is a pass-first player, but he became more willing to pull the trigger on shots in 2023/24. He totaled 240 shots, averaging three per game that year.

Before getting hurt this past season, Barzal had 78 shots in 30 games, averaging 2.6 a game. Prior to the last two seasons, Barzal’s highest shot count was 179 in 2018/19, 2.2 shots per game.

Barzal is expanding his offensive bag.

What Would a Barzal Trade Cost

First of all, the Islanders only trade Barzal if they decide to blow it up and lean into a quick rebuild. The Flyers would have to cough up a heavy package to get the Islanders to trade Barzal in general, but especially in the division.

The conversation would start at picks. Surely, the Islanders would want No. 6, but the Flyers wouldn’t do that. Instead, they counter with both the Avalanche pick (22), along with Edmonton’s (29-32). New York does not have a 2026 second-round pick, so sending one that direction would likely be necessary. Maybe even one of the Flyers’ four seconds in 2025 would be needed.

It already sounds like a lot, but for a player with Barzal’s abilities on a sub-$10 million contract, it will become a rarity very soon.

Next, players will be needed. On the NHL roster, I am not sure there is anyone the Flyers could bait to the Islanders. They’d likely want a prospect. I would suggest Denver Barkey. Barkey is easily a top-four prospect for the Flyers and would suck to give up. However, I don’t see Oliver Bonk or Jett Luchanko being included in any trade offers this year, leaving Barkey, along with Alex Bump, as the other two options. An NHL player may also be needed.

It would undoubtedly be an expensive trade package, but to get a big-time player, especially a center, you will have to pay a lot.

Again, this is all hypothetical, but not out of the realm of possibility. If the Islanders decide to rebuild, would you make a trade for Mathew Barzal?