Flyers trade deadline tracker: Forwards

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With the NHL trade deadline just a few days away (Monday, 3 p.m.) and Flyers general manager Ron Hextall on the record as saying the team won’t be buyers, we decided to take a look at who could be on the move. It should be noted that given the Flyers’ cap situation, it’ll be difficult to make any significant deals.

First, we’ll analyze the tradability of some of the team's forwards (here are the defensemen):

Vinny Lecavalier

Age: 34

2014-2015 cap hit: $4.5 million

Contract after 2015: $4.5mm; $3mm; $3mm; UFA

The Flyers have longed wanted to move Lecavalier, at least since the offseason. It became clear early last season he was not a good fit with the orange and black.

Lecavalier chose Philadelphia over other teams because of the opportunity to play in Peter Laviolette’s offensive system. He did so for three games, and then the Flyers fired Laviolette.

After Lavy was replaced with the defensive-minded Craig Berube, Lecavalier was back in a similar situation he was in Tampa and a system he doesn’t fit well in. Also factor in the Flyers wanted Lecavalier to play left wing — a position he never played before. It hasn’t worked well here.

If you had to pick any one player on the roster the Flyers would like to part ways with most it would be Lecavalier. His contract makes him difficult to move, and for a player who has lost his speed and isn’t the same player he was even three years ago, actually moving him seems unlikely.

Lecavalier can still help a team. He has a decent shot and other tools that can work in the right situation. He’s stuck on the fourth line with the Flyers, or in the press box. Send him to an offensive-minded team that will play him at center, he can contribute.

Finding that team, however, is the dilemma Hextall faces. One that comes to mind: The Predators. It would allow him to reunite with Lecavalier, and the Preds need help down the middle. They were linked in the offseason. It could be a fit.

It all comes down to how much of Lecavalier’s remaining contract the Flyers are willing to eat. Lecavalier isn’t immovable. They can trade him. The problem is, how much do you want to pay him not to play for you? Let’s think productively: A late-round pick is better than a buyout.

Possible landing spots: Nashville

Tradability scale: 3

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R.J. Umberger

Age: 32

2014-2015 cap hit: $4.6 million

Contract after 2015: $4.5mm; $4.5mm; UFA

Umberger is in the same boat as Lecavalier: An overpaid veteran on the decline.

The Flyers acquired him this past summer from Columbus, along with a fourth-round pick, in the Scott Hartnell trade. Hextall made it clear the swap was made to give the Flyers more speed up front, but he also pulled the trigger or the deal for salary cap reasons. Umberger and Hartnell have virtually the same AAV, but Umberger has one less year on his contract.

Needless to say, Umberger has been a major disappointment in his first season back wearing an orange and black sweater. Nine goals and 15 points isn't exactly what the team was expecting from a guy who’s making over $4 million a year.

Ridding themselves of Umberger's contract is something the Flyers undoubtedly would love to do. But the question is: What team would want him?

It's possible a contender in need of some forward depth would take a shot on him because Umberger has found success in the postseason before. He has 14 goals in 30 career playoff games, 10 alone during his magical run with the Flyers in 2008.

Thing is, the Flyers would most likely have to retain a good chunk of money owed, and teams aren't going to give up a prospect or early draft pick for him. It would be a difficult sell for Hextall.

Possible landing spots: Pittsburgh, Montreal, Vancouver, Tampa Bay

Tradability scale: 2

***

Brayden Schenn

Age: 23

2014-2015 cap hit: $2.5 million

Contract after 2015: $2.75; RFA

It might be time for the Flyers to move Schenn. He’s still very young, and still can progress into what the Flyers think he can become, but realistically speaking, it’s not going to happen here. Schenn’s a natural center being forced to play wing. It’s not working.

Schenn has a lot of potential, and he’s attractive to a lot of teams. In the past when the Flyers were “buying,” Schenn was often the first name teams asked for. The Flyers refused to move him because they view him as one of the core players.

He’s a restricted free agent in two years, and he’ll be in line for a raise. If the Flyers were buying this year, Schenn would be the ideal piece to move to acquire a big-time defenseman.

Possible landing spots: Winnipeg, Nashville, Florida

Tradability scale: 8

***

Sean Couturier

Age: 22

2014-2015 cap hit: $1.750 million

Contract after 2015: $1.5mm; $2mm; RFA

By now, you know the story. Couturier was an offensive dynamo in junior, as many players are at that level. When he was drafted with the eighth-overall pick in 2011, many expected him to produce right away. That hasn't been the case.

In reality, Couturier has developed into one of the best defensive-minded forwards in the NHL. He has future Selke winner written all over him. So any offense you get out of the 22-year-old is really just a bonus.

And for as much slack as Couturier gets for his, some say lack of, scoring, it's worth noting he has the same number of goals as Schenn, who was thought to be a future offensive stud when he was acquired from Los Angeles, this season.

Which brings us to the point: Couturier still has plenty of time to figure out his offensive game, but is already among the elite forwards in the league when it comes to defense. That makes his trade value very high.

It's going to take a pretty significant deal for Hextall to consider moving Couturier, however. The Flyers' GM remains adamant about keeping his younger players and not mortgaging the future. Teams will be interested, for sure. But Couturier will come at a high price.

Possible landing spots: Arizona, Edmonton, Buffalo

Tradability scale: 9

***

Matt Read

Age: 28

2014-2015 cap hit: $3.625 million

Contract after 2015: $4mm; $4mm; $3.5mm; UFA

Read is an interesting player when thinking about the trade deadline. He has three team-friendly years let on his contract after this season, and he’s been a 20-goal scorer in his first three years. This season, he’s struggled and that makes some more willing to move him.

The 28-year-old battled a high ankle sprain earlier in the season, and is having his worst NHL season by far. He’s on pace to score six goals and 30 points. But he’s starting to show signs of the player we’ve all gotten used to watching. He’s not fully there yet, but he’s getting there.

For a contending team, Read would be a welcomed addition. He’s a versatile forward who can play either wing, the point on the power play and kills penalties. He can score. He’s one of the more tradable players on the roster, and Calgary has long loved him.

Will the Flyers move him? Most likely not. He’s signed for three more years at a reasonable price and has been a cog on the “third line” with Couturier. But he’s very tradable.

Possible landing spots: Calgary, Boston

Tradability scale: 8

***

Scott Laughton

Age: 20

2014-2015 cap hit: $863m

Contract after 2015: $863m; $863m; RFA

Laughton got his first real taste of the NHL when he was called up from the AHL earlier this season. He collected two goals and four assists in 31 games with the Flyers, playing mostly on the second line, before being sent back down to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for more seasoning.

The Flyers selected Laughton with the 20th pick in the 2012 NHL draft. The hope is that the 20-year-old can develop into a solid two-way center with a scoring touch.

Laughton is arguably the Flyers' top offensive prospect. If a team comes calling for a package deal including a defenseman, which many clubs will, Laughton's name will come up.

It bears reminding, Hextall is building for the future. So any deal involving Laughton would have to blow the Flyers away.

Possible landing spots: Florida, Chicago, San Jose

Tradability scale: 5

***

Wayne Simmonds

Age: 26

2014-2015 cap hit: $3.975 million

Contract after 2015: $3.8mm; $4.3mm; $4.75mm; $5mm; UFA

The Flyers wouldn't dare consider trading their leading goal scorer, would they?

Simmonds has scored at least 25 goals, excluding the lockout-shortened 2013 campaign, every season since he joined the Flyers. He's well on his way to surpassing his career-high of 29 and has emerged as one of the most dangerous players in the league on the man advantage.

His hard-hitting style and toughness at even strength also makes him attractive. Perhaps most valuable is his friendly $3.975 million cap hit.

Simmonds will be a hot commodity for any team in need of scoring now. Trading Simmonds could serve as an opportunity for the Flyers to load up on prospects and future draft picks, if they were inclined to do so.

It wouldn't be easy to let Simmonds go, though. He's a fan favorite and excellent presence in the locker room. But if a team panics and the Flyers can sell high, dealing the 26-year-old could bring back a substantial return. We've all seen bad deadline deals before.

Possible landing spots: St. Louis, Chicago

Tradability scale: 7

***

Michael Raffl

Age: 26

2014-2015 cap hit: $1.1 million

Contract after 2015: $850m; $850m; UFA

It all depends on how other teams view Raffl, and if the Flyers would even consider moving him. He’s somewhere between a second- and-third line forward but is mostly playing on the Flyers’ top line with Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. That tells you the state of the Flyers.

Raffl has 13 goals and is on pace to finish with 18 in his second NHL season. Coming over from Austria last season, Raffl’s been a pleasant surprise for the Flyers. He’s proven he’s an NHL player, and that he can score some goals.

He has a team-friendly cap hit, a very tradable one. But is he the kind of player buyers are going to look to add? He has seven career playoff games, so he’s not a playoff-tested player. He’s not a difference maker, so teams aren’t going to throw big prospects the Flyers’ way.

Just because the Flyers are not buying it doesn’t mean they’re going to sell everything. Their problems start with the cap and moving Raffl doesn’t really present a cap issue.

Possible landing spots: Chicago, Detroit, Montreal

Tradability scale: 6

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