The Philadelphia Flyers missed out on landing Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. It’s hard to say whether the Philadelphia truly had a real shot at landing the star defenseman from Vancouver.

I mean, let’s be honest, once Minnesota offered Zeev Buium, it made it pretty hard for the Flyers to land Hughes without parting with either Matvei Michkov or Porter Martone – something that would set the Flyers further back.

That said, that should not deter general manager Danny Briere from looking in other directions to look for that No. 1 defenseman they are in search of, or even just some blueline help.

Briere and company have been stockpiling draft capital and prospects for the future of the organization. However, they should not be viewed as just part of the long-term vision, but as trade pieces to acquire the difference-makers they are looking for.

Not trading Michkov or Martone for Hughes was the correct move, especially when there is no guarantee you can sign him long-term.

So, where can the Flyers pivot now that Quinn Hughes is off the trade market?

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Tier 1: Elite No. 1 Defensemen

Rasmus Dahlin, LDH, Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Dahlin is on a tier of his own when it comes to this trade board. The 25-year-old blueliner is in just his second year of an eight-year deal paying him $ 11 million annually.

So, right off the bat, that gets rid of the big obstacle when trading for Hughes: Dahlin has term. He is an elite two-way defender who can do it all on the back end. Dahlin has an elite offensive game, but can also sure things up on the backside. There is a reason he is always discussed in the “best defensemen in the game” conversation.

Dahlin is not necessarily available and has yet to express interest in being traded out of Buffalo. However, that could change with the recent change in management, as Kevyn Adams was fired earlier on Monday.

With Hughes off the board, that could make Dahlin the next big player to be dealt.

So, let’s look at the pros of trading for Dahlin:

He is an absolute stud—one of the best players in the game. There is no better way to put it. Just like with Hughes, if Dahlin’s name surfaces on the trade market, there will likely be 31 teams interested.

Trading for Dahlin will give the Flyers a true No. 1 defenseman who can bring both offensive prowess and good defensive play. He eats minutes, and to top it all off, he would be an elite power-play QB, something the Flyers desperately need.

Now, let’s look at the cons:

We thought the Hughes package was heavy. Well, if Dahlin ever does get dealt, it will almost certainly start at the Hughes package. Quinn Hughes is undoubtedly the better player, but Dahlin has term on his contract, making it a much different deal.

As much as a No. 1 defenseman is a pivotal part of the future of the team, so are Martone and Michkov. Would the Flyers be able to get a deal done without either player? Who knows.

Tier 2: Top Pair Potential

Rasmus Andersson, RHD, Calgary Flames

Rasmus Andersson has been on the trade block since the summer. The Flames defenseman has generated plenty of interest, mostly from contenders looking for that rental to bolster their Stanley Cup run. I can’t confidently say the Flyers fall under that category.

Andersson is an elite offensive defenseman with smooth skating and a good shot. He is, again, an elite power-play QB, which the Flyers could use.

A trade for Andersson could benefit the Flyers because he is a workhorse, and could pair nicely with Travis Sanheim, pushing the Flyers’ top blueliner back to his natural left side. The fact that he could keep up with the minute-eating style that Sanheim plays is a plus.

I would not go as far as to say Andersson is a true No. 1 defenseman, but he is absolutely a top-pair caliber player. He and Sanheim could be a nice duo.

However, Andersson certainly seems like someone that the cup contenders will be looking for. He is on an expiring deal and will be a UFA on July 1st. The Flyers are not yet ready to be looking for rentals.

Not to mention, Andersson is 29 and might just be slightly ahead of the Flyers’ future.

On the other hand, he certainly won’t command nearly as significant a return as the elite No. 1 types, but will absolutely play a top-pair role. Dealing for Andersson could be as simple as a high pick and a B-level prospect.

With Dahlin, you make that trade as soon as possible. If Andersson becomes a realistic possibility, that is a trade you make much closer to the deadline, IF you are in contention and confident he’ll sign an extension.

It’s also worth noting that Andersson has a six-team no-trade clause.

Bowen Byram, LHD, Buffalo Sabres

Rasmus Andersson is, without a doubt, a top-pair defenseman. Bo Byram, on the other hand, is not quite there yet, but he has the potential to be.

The 24-year-old defenseman would fit in just fine with the Flyers’ timeline. That would not be a question. What could be, however, is if the Flyers can be the team that helps him reach his potential.

Byram is an offensive defenseman with the potential to be great, but has yet to find himself in the position to reach it. When paired with Dahlin, he looked great for Buffalo, but outside of that, it has not been the same.

Could a top-pair role with Travis Sanheim help Bryam unleash his offensive ability? Certainly.

On the flip side, the Flyers could make a move for the defenseman to take on a top-four role, and eventually work his way to that top pair.

Here comes a shocker: Byram is a power-play specialist – I wonder why he made the list?

However, Byram is not a very good defender. He is not very physical and is not great along the boards. Is ANOTHER offensive defenseman what the Flyers are looking for?

With Adams being fired in Buffalo, we could see a flurry of moves by the new regime to get the Sabres rebuild back on track. Byram could be one of the pieces sold off, and would be the most affordable option mentioned to this point.

Byram inked a two-year, $6.25 million AAV deal this past July, and will be a UFA in July ’27.

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Tier 3: Bottom-Four Boost

Mario Ferraro, LHD, San Jose Sharks

At last, we get our first defensive defenseman on the list. Mario Ferraro of the San Jose Sharks could generate plenty of trade interest as the season goes on.

The Sharks are a young team that is very, very close to making some real noise in the league. Like the Flyers, the Sharks will likely be bouncing around that postseason bubble as the season progresses. However, they seem like they are destined for one last year of the rebuild before they turn things around. That would make pending UFAs, like Ferraro, expendable.

I would really like to see the Flyers take a risk on the 27-year-old. He is a sound, physical defenseman who is excellent at retrievals and eats pucks. He won’t be flashy on offense and certainly isn’t a power-play QB like the previous three names.

Ferraro seems like a younger Nick Seeler with much more potential. He is a good player.

Of course, there are risks to trading for a pending UFA, and again, the Flyers are not quite positioned to deal for rentals.

Not to mention, the Flyers have been wary of the size of the defensive core with guys like Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, and now Emil Andrae playing a critical role this season. Neither of those players would be used in a deal for Ferraro, so would adding a 5’11” defenseman be the smartest thing, even if he plays much bigger than he is?

Personally, I don’t see the harm in taking a risk on Ferarro. He would not be too expensive, either.

Pavel Mintyukov, LHD, Anaheim Ducks

The last one is unlike the others. One thing that the previous four target markets had in common is that, for the most part, they are all established NHL players. Pavel Mintyukov is not, but could become an intriguing trade possibility.

The Anaheim Ducks’ barley 22-year-old defenseman had been itching to get more playing time, but the Ducks’ logjam at the blueline, especially with their young talent, made it hard. Mintyukov expressed interest in a trade if he was not going to get more playing time.

The young Duck has fallen to the third pair, with Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger grabbing hold of the top-four spots on the left side.

Danny Briere and Ducks’ GM Pat Verbeek have made two trades in recent years, both involving swapping disgruntled young talent. Could they make it a third?

Mintyukov is an elite skater with speed. He has great vision of the ice, and the hard shot that Rick Tocchet has been looking for on the power play. One area where he struggles is the boards. Mintykov is not the best defensively, lacks physicality, and can be a little reckless, which comes with age.

Further, he may run into the same issues he has in Anaheim in Philadelphia. He would not play on the top pair over Cam York, and Emil Andrae has really secured his spot on the second pair, barring a trade for a solidified talent.

Mintyukov has a ton of potential. He has the tools to be an elite point-producing defenseman and could work his way to a top role, even if the road may not be clear. If he does become extremely available, it can’t hurt to inquire.

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