According to multiple reports, the Flyers have checked in on and are interested in J.J. Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram. Both just had career seasons and are looking to receive an extension from the Sabres sooner rather than later.
However, the Flyers seem ready to offer at least one of these players a contract soon. The Flyers want to avoid as many offer sheets as possible, as it would force them to most likely give up their future first-round picks.
It seems that almost every team in the league wants both of these players, but the only way I see the Sabres trading one of them is if the trade they receive can’t be turned down.
The Sabres are most likely done with acquiring future assets as they do not want to sell off any more roster players for a package of draft picks and prospects to try and sell hope to a fan base that hasn’t seen the playoffs since 2011.
With the Sabres also having a top prospect pool, the need for more prospects is out the window in my opinion, as they are in a win-now mentality.
What could a trade look like between the Sabres and Flyers?
To start, Cam York is a restricted free agent who has been a solid defenseman over the years for the Flyers and could be a good replacement for Byram. Bobby Brink might be the odd-man out on the wing, and Owen Tippett had a disappointing 24-25 season after signing his contract extension, which could make for two replacements for JJ Peterka.
Throw in a draft pick or two, and you have yourself a good trade going forward. There are other players the Sabres can target, obviously, but it is going to take at least two current NHL players and a draft pick for the Flyers to land one of these guys.
If the price is too high for the Flyers, then the Sabres have plenty of other teams knocking on their door. From a young talent perspective, the Flyers would be a great match for the Sabres going forward, and they could work on a trade in the near future.