NHL rumors: Can the Flyers find their No. 1 center on the trade market?

Flyers Face Crunch Time in Hunt for Top Center as Trade Deadline Looms.

The Philadelphia Flyers are running out of excuses and their season is slipping away, but there's one glaring issue that can't be ignored - the lack of a No. 1 center on their lineup. Despite the ups and downs this season, it's clear they need to bolster their front line, and the trade market might just have an answer.

With the Olympic roster freeze set to end soon and the NHL trade deadline looming, Flyers general manager Danny Brière is expected to make a move that will push the team forward. While there are no guaranteed solutions, one name has been circulating in rumors - St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas. The 26-year-old has been playing at a point-per-game pace in the past two seasons and is signed through 2031, making him a prime target for the Flyers.

Thomas's skillset fits perfectly into the top of the Flyers' lineup, and his ability to skate on both power play and penalty kill would be a major boost. However, with an $8.125 million cap hit, he won't come cheaply, and it's unclear whether the Blues will accept a substantial offer in return.

Another name that has popped up is Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft but has struggled to find consistency this season. At just 22 years old, there's still plenty of time for Wright to turn his career around, and if the Flyers can get him at a reasonable price, it could be a calculated risk that pays off big time.

For now, though, neither Thomas nor Wright seem like sure things, and the Flyers will have to weigh the risks against potential rewards. Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks is another option, but with a $11.6 million cap hit and no-movement clause on his contract through 2032, it's a long shot that Brière would be willing to make such a move.

The trade deadline is fast approaching, and if the Flyers want to make a serious push for the playoffs, they'll have to act quickly and decisively. Can they find their No. 1 center in the trade market, or will they need to stick with what they have?

I think the Flyers should just sell off all their players and use that money to draft some superstars from junior leagues . Like, who needs a proven player like Thomas when you can get someone who's never played in the NHL before? Wright might be struggling now but he'll come into his own soon and it'll be worth the risk. And Elias Pettersson is just too expensive, his ego must be killing him to want to play for anyone else. Plus, with the Olympics over and all, I'm sure Danny Brière has already figured out a way to get some of these players for peanuts. The Flyers are just being patient and waiting for someone to fall into their lap .

I feel bad for Philly's fans right now... The team needs a game-changer at center, but it's like searching for a needle in a haystack. Robert Thomas would be amazing, but that price tag is steep . And then there's Shane Wright, who's still got so much potential! It's not easy to find the right piece, but I'm sure Danny Brière will do his best to make something magic happen . One thing's for sure, though - the trade deadline is just around the corner, and it's gonna be a wild ride ️.

the flyers really need a top centre, its been obvious all season . robert thomas would be a good fit, he's been playing well and has a decent amount of time left on his contract . but shane wright is an interesting pick up too, young guy with a lot of potential...just gotta hope he can get it together . elias pettersson is a bit pricey though, i'm not sure if breier would be willing to give him away . the trade deadline is coming fast so fingers crossed they can make something happen!

I think it's crazy that teams are still holding out hope for making a deep playoff run this late in the season . The Olympics are over and everyone knows who's in and who's out... it's time to start thinking about tanking or selling off some assets . Flyers need to make a move, but 8 million dollars is steep for Thomas . I don't know if Wright can recover from his struggles this season... the kid's got talent, but so does inconsistency . Pettersson's too pricey even for Brière, in my opinion . Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens at the deadline... my anxiety levels are already through the roof !

I'm not sure about this one... The Flyers are definitely in need of a top center, but bringing in Robert Thomas might be too expensive, especially if he's not willing to go. I mean, $8.125 million is a lot of dough, and it's gonna hurt their payroll cap for years to come .

Shane Wright on the other hand could be a risk worth taking, but they need to make sure they're getting him at a reasonable price. If he can turn his game around, it'd be a great move . But what if they overpay and it doesn't work out? That's always a possibility .

Elias Pettersson is just too expensive for my taste . I think the Flyers should focus on developing their own players before breaking the bank for another one. Maybe they could try to trade for someone who's already proven themselves, like Brayden Schnieders from the Arizona Coyotes? Not sure if that'd be a good idea though...

idk why the flyers are waiting this long to address their center issue ...i mean, they've been struggling all season and it's not like they're gonna make a deep playoff run without a legit top center. robert thomas would be a great fit, but his price tag is steep and the blues aren't exactly swimming in cash either. shane wright could be a decent pickup if he can get his game together but it's hard to say if that'll happen before the trade deadline. elias pettersson seems like too big of a risk given the contract situation maybe the flyers should've thought about this more during the offseason?

the thing is, i feel bad for those flyers fans who've had to watch this season slip away... but at the same time, it's kinda exciting that danny brière might make a move! they really do need someone to step up and anchor that front line. and if robert thomas or shane wright were to come aboard, i think it'd be a huge win for the team . but sometimes these kinds of trades are all about the numbers, so we'll have to wait and see how things play out. fingers crossed they can find someone who fits their vision and helps them make a push for the playoffs!

I'm tellin' ya, something fishy is goin' on here. The Flyers are desperate for a top center, but it's all about the benjamins, right? Danny Brière is gonna trade away some decent prospects or young players to get Thomas, Wright, or Pettersson. What's really at play here? Is it just about winning the playoffs or is there more to it?

I mean, think about it. The NHL trade deadline is like a big game of musical chairs - everyone wants what everyone else has. And with the Olympic roster freeze ending soon, teams are gonna be makin' some crazy moves. It's like they're all in on some kinda secret plot.

And don't even get me started on Thomas's cap hit. $8.125 million? That's a pretty penny. I'm not sayin' he's not worth it, but is Brière just tryin' to break the bank or somethin'?

I'm so done with these trade deadline drama . Philly needs a real leader up front, like Thomas would be. Wright's got potential, but it's all about finding that balance between taking risks and not breaking the bank . Pettersson's just too pricey for me. I think Brière should go big or go home - the playoffs are on the line!

I'm really worried about this one, guys! The Flyers are basically toast without a top center. They've had some solid players on offense, but it's just not the same without someone dominating games like that. Robert Thomas seems like the real deal - he's a game-changer at both ends of the ice. But $8.125 million is steep, even for a team as deep as Philly.

And Shane Wright? I get what they're trying to do there... taking a risk on a young player with upside, but the price tag seems crazy high right now. I'm not sure about Elias Pettersson - that contract is a major hurdle.

For my two cents, if the Flyers can make a move and it's gonna be worth it in the long run... they should take a shot at Thomas or Wright. The playoffs are just too important to sit back and wait for someone to become available. They need a spark now!

I'm telling you, Flyers need to go big or go home if they wanna make the playoffs ! Sticking with what they got now is just not gonna cut it. Thomas would be a massive upgrade and his price tag might be steep but it's worth it for one season. Wright could be a dark horse pick tho, he's still young and has time to turn things around. Pettersson is outta the question though, that $11.6 mil cap hit is insane! They need to take a chance and get someone who can lead this team to the playoffs. Brière needs to make a move, pronto!

omg u guys think the flyers r gonna make a huge move at the trade deadline? idk bout me but i think robert thomas would be a great addition he's like the ultimate #1 center but at $8.125 million thats like waaay too much for philly lol meanwhile shane wright is just like "hey i'm here and i'll try not to suck anymore" lol either way gotta keep an eye on elias pettersson tho he's like the swedish icegod

idk about all this hype around Robert Thomas...he's a great player and all but like $8.125 million is steep, especially if he's not gonna be a game changer. i mean, whats the guarantee he'll make a difference on their team? seems like a risk to me. Shane Wright's got potential too tho but it's hard to say if he'll ever find his footing in the league. Elias Pettersson's like the ultimate long shot, lol 11.6 million is waaaay too much for anyone. i think flyers need to focus on what they got now instead of trying to fix everything with one player. can't just buy their way back to the top, gotta build from within

I think its gonna be super tough for Flyers to find that #1 center, espescially with Olympic roster freeze endin soon . Thomas is a good pick, but he's pricey like $8 million per year... thats crazy! Wright on the other hand has huge potential but its been shaky this season . Elias Pettersson is out of the question due to that big price tag and no-movement clause . Flyers need to make a move ASAP if they wanna keep playoff hopes alive

I'm low-key freaking out about this potential move! The Flyers need a top center ASAP, and I think either Thomas or Wright could be the answer. But let's get real, Robert Thomas is the more reliable choice - he's been consistently producing at an elite level for years, whereas Wright is still finding his footing. And can you imagine having Pettersson on board? That $11.6 million cap hit would be a stretch, but I guess it's worth a shot if they think he'll bring that magic to the lineup.

The thing is, what's the risk-reward ratio here? The Flyers are desperate for a top center, but throwing $8.125 million (or more) at Thomas might not be the best use of their resources. And Wright... well, we've all seen the struggles of draft busts . But if they can get him at a reasonable price and he starts producing, it could be a game-changer.

Ultimately, I think Brière has to take a chance on one of these guys. The Flyers need a spark, and either Thomas or Wright could be the catalyst that gets them back in contention. Fingers crossed they make a move soon!

Ugh, can't believe how crammed up this forum is ! Anyway, so about these Flyers needing a new top center... I think it's a solid move if they go after Robert Thomas. He seems like the real deal, and his skills would fit perfectly into their lineup. The problem is, he comes with a pretty hefty price tag . I mean, $8.125 million is no joke.

As for Shane Wright, eh... I don't know if it's worth the risk . He has potential, but he's been struggling this season and he's not even close to being the player they think he'll be. And Elias Pettersson? Forget about it , that guy's contract is a deal-breaker.

I guess what I'm saying is, if the Flyers want to make a serious push for the playoffs, they need to make some big moves ASAP . But with all these rumors swirling around, I'm just waiting to see what happens next . It's gonna be interesting...

the thing about these flyers is that they're not even trying hard enough... i mean, a no. 1 center has been missing all season and it's just gonna come down to who's willing to give up what at the deadline? $8 million for thomas might be steep but if he's the only one who can lead this team to the playoffs, so be it. Wright is a gamble, i get it, but at least there's some upside with him. pettersson is just out of reach, too pricey and too tied down. it's all about making that move and taking a chance on someone new... anyone who thinks the flyers can make it without one of these guys is crazy ️

I think the Flyers are really struggling without a top center... it's like they're missing a crucial piece to their puzzle . They gotta make a move and fast , 'cause the Olympics are coming up and then it's just one trade deadline after another . St. Louis' Robert Thomas seems like a great target - he'd bring that skillset and depth they need on both power play and penalty kill . But $8.125 million is a pretty penny ... I'm not sure if Brière will be able to get it done, especially since Elias Pettersson's contract has that no-movement clause . And what about Shane Wright? He's young and talented, but he's struggled this season . Either way, the Flyers need a top center ASAP or they're gonna be left behind in the playoffs ️

The Flyers are seriously stuck on their top line without that one superstar centre... I mean, how many times can they say they're "running out of excuses"? At this point, they gotta make a move, and it's gonna cost 'em big time. Robert Thomas is the name that keeps popping up, and he's got all the skills to be a top-notch centre - just $8.125 million? That's steep, but I guess you can't put a price on talent... yet. Shane Wright could be a dark horse pick too, but he's gotta find his groove first. Elias Pettersson is out of the question if they want to keep their cap space intact. I'm not sure what Danny Brière's gonna do, but he needs to act fast or risk getting left in the dust...