One trade that seemed likely sometime before the season would commence is now happening on this NHL Draft Day. Flyers backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who never seemed to mesh well with mega-buck starter Ilya Bryzgalov is on his way to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson has confirmed to the Columbus Dispatch that the deal would send three draft picks the Flyers' way, including a second-round pick which will be the 45th overall in the draft. Nothing has been released from the Flyers as yet.
I'm thinking the Flyers might be after that extra high pick to spice up a possible package that they can flip for a name player.
They continue to seek a defenseman, and might be trying to get the rights to Nashville's pending unrestricted free agent Ryan Suter. But with Anaheim Ducks winger Bobby Ryan suddenly becoming very available for a trade, the Flyers might go in that direction and worry about the defense later.
This comes right on the heels of talk that the Flyers likely won't issue an offer sheet for Nashville's other stud defender, restricted free agent Shea Weber.
As for Ryan, he's a native of Collingswood, N.J. has long been a favorite of Flyers management. I think they'd love to add him.
The other possibility is that the ongoing Rick Nash bidding war is heating up today and the Flyers are trying to stay in that.
For them, James van Riemsdyk continues to be very available. The Blue Jackets and maybe the Ducks apparently like Sean Couturier, and the Flyers would likely jump at the chance to do something if given the opportunity for either Ryan or Nash if it costs them anything short of Brayden Schenn.
Parting with him would likely be a last resort leap, one that the Flyers don't want to take.