During his mid-season press conference, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere was asked about the possibility and potential timeline regarding his team’s pursuit of the one piece they are sorely lacking; a number one centerman.
Briere and team president Keith Jones have remained steadfast in their plans of patience, waiting until the correct move arises to strike and cash in their chips, in this case being prospect and draft capital.
“We’re not willing to give up on our future at this point, I realize that it’s a glaring need that we’d like to upgrade, but it has to make sense”, Briere said when asked about the center market approaching the deadline.
“If we force something, after two weeks we can’t press undo and start from scratch again, but believe me we’re trying, we’re looking at everything”.
Briere came off both cagey about the possibility of a major move occurring at this year’s deadline, and sympathetic to fans’ — and journalists’ — desire for a true top center to play next to Matvei Michkov.
While the team preps for what looks to be another tight playoff battle without a true elite option down the middle, it is understandable for fans to make the extrapolation that: the Flyers plus a number one centerman would at least equal a playoff team. And a splash move for a J.T. Miller-type of player would be fun, of course.
But there is something positive to be taken from Briere’s reluctance to commit to making a massive deal right away. Whether the more impatient fans like it or not, the best version of this team will feature a combination of Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk, Yegor Zavragin, Denver Barkey, or some of the other handful of prospects that are about ready to make the jump to the NHL next season. In particular, it’s hard to see a world where the Flyers start to try and compete before Bonk or Luchanko at least get some more time to acclimate themselves with the big club.
In addition, the Flyers will have three first-round picks in this upcoming draft this June; picks from the Avalanche and Oilers add to their own, giving them a lot of leverage as we approach the offseason and teams like the Rangers and Predators sputter more than they initially thought. If those teams get squeezed out of the playoff picture and decide to blow things up and retool, the Flyers could be in a great position to capitalize on their disadvantageous position.
In the moment, as the team scraps and claws for a wild card spot, it is tempting to want to see how adding another elite level talent would effect a squad that already has a gritty style of play and chemistry in the locker room. But Briere seems to have a plan in mind, and he isn’t letting the team’s play effect his larger vision.
And as for Matvei’s future running mate, it may be worth seeing a full season of him playing alongside a host of different centers, whether it be Morgan Frost or Sean Couturier, and then evaluating what archetype of center would most benefit the Russian’s playstyle. And there’s a very good chance that Jett Luchanko himself is the best choice to play alongside Michkov, with his speed and two-way playmaking ability seemingly a fit. But that theory won’t be able to be confirmed until next season, and that may also play a part in Briere’s patience.
This trade deadline may just be another waiting game, before the prospective fireworks start to erupt in the offseason.
