NHL Mailbag: Which big name(s) might be traded this summer?
With the NHL regular season a week away from wrapping up, what better time for a DFO mailbag? As always, it will likely be very Philadelphia Flyers-centric but, given it is the first one of 2026, there is no shortage of intriguing questions as we turn it over to the readers.
Let’s jump right into it.
Looking ahead, what is your read a Couturier buyout? Its inevitable, isn't it?
Buying out Sean Couturier makes little to no sense for the Flyers. Yes, at this stage of his career Couturier is a bottom-line center (or winger) on any club with playoff aspirations, but he is more than adequate in that role.
Since the arrival of Luke Glendenning via the waiver wire right before the Trade Deadline, the Flyers’ fourth line – filled out with one of Denver Barkey, Carl Grundstrom or Garnet Hathaway – has been the best it has looked all season. While he’s averaging less than 17 minutes per game and has 33 points on the season, Couturier’s faceoff (54%) and penalty-kill abilities still make him useful in a reduced role.
Per PuckPedia, a Couturier buyout would have a varying cap hit of $6.5 million to $6.77 million over the next four years; his current AAV is $7.75 million. With the ever-rising salary cap, finding a fourth line pivot the caliber of Couturier would cost you at least $2 million. He is overpaid, but he is more beneficial to keep based on the financial situation.
There are already some big names rumored to be available this summer -- Tkachuk, Matthews, etc. What big names should fans expect to see in trade rumors after the season's over?
You nailed the two: the Ontario-team captains in Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk. Speculatively speaking, the Ottawa Senators’ feet are probably closer to the fire in having to move Tkachuk based on the off-ice drama that has gone on this year and his brother’s decision to exit stage left from the Calgary Flames four summers ago. Matthews’ situation feels far more up in the air and might be determined by the Leafs’ hiring decision on their next GM.
Beyond those two, St Louis Blues center Robert Thomas should be tracked as well after being front and center leading up to the Trade Deadline. The Blues have a regime change (of sorts) coming with Alex Steen set to take on GM duties from Doug Armstrong, but groundwork may have already been laid for a potential deal in the summer.
The Buffalo Sabres are surging right now, but defenseman Bowen Byram may still ultimately want a new destination in the long run. Signing just a two-year contract extension last summer and rumored to want to have more of an opportunity to be a legit no. 1 defender, he may chase another situation. Oh, and the Sabres still are overloaded with top-four, left-shot defensemen.
What are some centers the Flyers can go after? Yeah maybe Matthews, but anyone younger that may be an option?
Many teams will be asking this question over the summer, as finding high-end centers has become an issue across the NHL.
Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish hasn’t had the best of seasons in California and perhaps could be on the outs for head coach Joel Quenneville. General manager Pat Verbeek doesn’t sound overly eager to move the 23-year-old, mind you, which makes sense given the six year, $42-million commitment he made to McTavish last summer.
This may be a much less sexy answer, but what about Boston Bruins center prospects Dean Letourneau and Matthew Poitras? The Flyers do have levels of interest in both players and, given the Bruins’ newfound organizational depth down the middle, one – if not both – may be expendable.
What could Sharks do next yr to improve defense? Overpay for Raddysh and Stanley? Trade for Nemec and Kesselring?
It is a piggy-back off one of my former answers, but Byram would make a lot of sense for the San Jose Sharks. It would be the exact type of situation Byram would need with San Jose to be the true alpha dog on a blueline.
Byram would not only be able to be the top guy on the back end for San Jose in the short term, but also help groom 2024 first-round pick Sam Dickinson to be his successor down the line. The Sharks also arguably have more assets than any other team to put a package together for Byram, too.
If they want to go the free agent route, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson is still set to be a UFA this summer and is arguably the best fish on the market this coming July. He hasn’t exactly fit like a glove with the Knights and may not be able to get the contract he wants in Nevada; he would also be a right shot to pair with Dickinson.
But with the Sharks only having two defensemen under contract next season, why not both?
Can the flyers get a top 6 center without trading martone mm tippet or forester.
It is certainly possible, especially when you factor in the Flyers’ possession of the Leafs’ first-round pick next season. Given the state of Toronto and the possibility that their 2028 first-rounder could be unprotected, that could very well be the best trade chip the Flyers have. If they put together a package surrounding that pick and prospects like Jett Luchanko or Oliver Bonk, perhaps they could land a top-six pivot from a team looking to get younger.
That being said, GM Danny Briere is going to have to move out bodies this summer if and when he adds a center. It won’t be Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone or Matvei Michkov, but I still do wonder if Owen Tippett is long for Philadelphia. He has had a great season under HC Rick Tocchet, but Tippett’s attractive contract and the Flyers’ overload on right wingers could make him expandable – especially for a top-six pivot.
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