The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost to the New Jersey Devils in the Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium on Saturday night, but two of its key defenseman won ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline.
The NHL trade deadline is now less than three weeks away. For some players in the league, the stakes are bigger than ever during this time of year.
Nick Seeler and Sean Walker, both Flyers defensemen, could be among those involved.
With only two games scheduled this week, it’s probable that Seeler and Walker, the Flyers’ second defense pairing all season, are playing their final games as Philadelphia representatives (at least for this season).
The Flyers will host the New York Rangers on February 24 and the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 27. For teams interested in Seeler or Walker, this could be their last chance to evaluate how the two stack up against a Stanley Cup contender. The Flyers will also travel to face the Florida Panthers, but that game is on March 7, one day before the NHL trade deadline.
If someone is being or is expected to be traded, they have a slim probability of playing in the game versus Florida. When discussing the Flyers trade rumors, head coach John Tortorella was certain that he and the organization will continue to do what is best for the future, which includes safeguarding the integrity of an ongoing transaction.
On Saturday, Seeler and Walker passed their first, and possibly last, test against a contending Devils club. Travis Sanheim and Cam York struggled to get off the ground at 5-on-5 versus New Jersey, but Seeler, Walker, and Egor Zamula controlled the shot-attempt share when on the ice.
Walker out-chanced the Devils 10-4 when on the ice, and he was responsible for five high-danger opportunities while allowing only two. Seeler, who also scored a timely goal, was exactly the same, except that he was on the ice for six high-danger opportunities rather than five.
On a night when things went sour immediately for the Flyers in a 6-3 loss, Seeler and Walker were two of the few bright spots in Orange and Black. Tortorella does not believe either player wants to be traded, but that needs to be determined.
The Flyers will have many weeks to make their own decision.
