The Philadelphia Flyers were sellers at the last two NHL trade deadlines, shipping out pending free agents such as Claude Giroux and Justin Braun. Should they be on course to miss the playoffs this season, defenseman Travis Sanheim could be the next notable Flyer to hit the trade block.
Cap Friendly indicates the 26-year-old Sanheim is in the final season of a two-year contract with a $4.675-million cap hit. He was among the few brights spots in an otherwise miserable 2021-22 campaign for the Flyers, finishing four points off his career best with 31 points in 80 games and a team-leading plus-minus of plus-nine.
On Sept. 29, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall reported Flyers assistant coach Brad Hall sang the praises of Sanheim and fellow Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov. He believes both could be invaluable to their blueline down the road.
Sanheim’s UFA eligibility and the Flyers’ direction this season, however, could see his future play out elsewhere. Turning 27 in March, the 6-foot-3, 181-pounder will be in a prime position to earn a lucrative long-term contract.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman mused over Sanheim’s future in Philadelphia during last week’s “London Calling” episode of their “32 Thoughts” podcast. Friedman believes the blueliner would attract plenty of interest in the trade market while Marek wondered if the Vancouver Canucks would be a suitor.
With $67.7 million invested in 14 players for 2023-24, the Flyers could find it difficult to re-sign Sanheim and leave sufficient cap room to improve the rest of the roster. That could force them to entertain offers for him as the trade deadline approaches.
