Trаdіng Seаn Wаlker аnd Nісk Seeler Togetһer Could Creаte More Issues for tһe Flyers Tһаn It Solves

Sean Walker and Nick Seeler can't be traded together, except under one condition.

The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the biggest surprises of the 2023-24 season just past the quarter mark. Their 32 points has them sitting second in the Metropolitan Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference.

 

The Flyers are establishing themselves as a great defensive team. They have the fifth best penalty kill to go along with the ninth best goals against per game in the NHL.

That's not what typically happens with a rebuilding team like the Flyers. Instead of competing for the first overall pick, that are competing for a playoff spot.

Walker & Seeler a Package Deal

On the Saturday Headlines segment of Hockey Night in Canada Elliotte Friedman reported some interesting information. He said that when it comes to Sean Walker and Nick Seeler, at least one team has asked if they could trade for both players. 

 

For teams that are loading up for the playoffs this completely makes sense. For the Flyers however, it does not. There is one primary reason for that.

After Walker & Seeler, Flyers Quality of Defenders Drops Off Significantly

The biggest reason why the Flyers can't trade both Walker and Seeler in the same transaction is that their replacements are no where near as good.

In that situation the Flyers would have two options. First option is to play younger players such as Egor Zamula and Louie Belpedio in that second pairing. The second option would be to elevate Marc Staal and Rasmus Ristolainen to second pairing minutes.

 

Both options are less than desirable. Staal barely plays good third pairing minutes. Ristolainen would be less of an issue in an elevated role.

Zamula and Belpedio would need to be an extremely sheltered second pair (so effectively a third pair) but with a lot of even strength play to allow Staal & Ristolainen to take the bulk of penalty kill minutes.

There is Only One Way This Trade Works

The only way that trading Walker and Seeler together would work for the Flyers is if they acquire someone in return who can play second pairing minutes. The chances of that happening are slim. If a team is trading for two second pairing defensemen, chances are they don't have anyone to trade away who could play the second pairing for another team.

 

Time will tell what happens with Walker and Seeler. At this point in time, the team is way better off keeping both players.