ESPN Gives Philadelphia Flyers ‘C’ Grade for Deadline Trades

It should not come as a surprise that the Philadelphia Flyers were in sell mode at Monday's NHL trade deadline.

They currently sit at 21-34-11, good for just 53 points, second to last in the Metropolitan Division.

Monday’s 2022 NHL trade deadline saw the Flyers move three players, including their longtime captain, Claude Giroux. ESPN’s Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski gave the Flyers a ‘C’ grade for the trades they made.

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The team added F Owen Tippett, 2024 conditional first-round pick, 2023 third-round picks, 2023 fourth-round pick while dealing Giroux, C Derick Brassard, D Justin Braun in the process.

There's not much you can say about the Giroux deal. Whether you believe the grand conspiracies about what it would've taken for him to waive his trade protection -- like a return to Philly next season, something his agent Pat Brisson denied was the case to ESPN -- the fact is that the market for Giroux was "ultimately very limited," as GM Chuck Fletcher put it. There are better prospects than Tippett in the Panthers organization, but landing him, a first-rounder (that could end up being in 2025 if the conditions aren't met!) and a third was the best they could do.

A third-rounder for Braun from the Rangers in a hot defenseman market seems low. A fourth-rounder for Brassard from the Oilers seems right, although maybe not with 50% salary retention. No takers for goalie Martin Jones at the asking price Fletcher wanted. It's a deadline that'll be forever remembered for what left rather than what came back.

As the ESPN article mentioned, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said the market for Giroux was 'very limited', so the return for the captain was less than expected with the no-movement clause.

ESPN also mentioned there were no takers for backup goalie Martin Jones, noting the asking price was high.

They mentioned the return for Braun from the Rangers was low, in a hot market for defenseman and the deal sending Brassard to Edmonton seemed fair.

The lone player the team acquired was Tippett, who wasn't regarded as the best prospect in the Panthers system. The former first-round pick (No. 10) has six goals, 15 points in 46 games this year.

In the end, the Flyers were in a tough spot with Giroux.