Flyers roundtable: Takeaways from the Ivan Provorov trade and the latest on Carter Hart

It has been just over a week since Danny Brière pulled the trigger on his first major move as general manager and traded defenseman Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The trade set the Flyers’ rebuild fully into motion and felt like a seminal moment in the organization’s direction. Brière likely is not done, so we figured it was time to check in with our insiders, Olivia Reiner and Giana Han, regarding the latest rumblings around the team:

GH: Brière joked after the trade that he only knows how three-way trades work, not two-ways. For as funny as that was, it also was impressive. He found a way, in his very first trade as a general manager, to get creative and work out a trade that suited multiple parties. That’s early proof of what others have said about his brain carrying over from the ice to the front office. But it also told me that he’s willing to move on from the ways of old. He was able to realize that a change needed to be made rather than continuing to hope Provorov would develop.

» READ MORE: Trade grades: How did new Flyers GM Danny Brière make out in the Ivan Provorov deal?

OR: That Brière is doing more than paying lip service to the notion of a rebuild. Since he was named interim general manager in March, Brière has said that he thinks a rebuild is necessary to fix the state of the Flyers. That word, at one point, seemed taboo. So to some number of Flyers fans, Brière’s admission was a breath of fresh air. But a rebuild is more than a buzzword, and Brière needed to (and still needs to) back up his words with actions. He kickstarted the rebuild by trading Provorov, most notably acquiring three draft picks (including No. 22 overall in this year’s draft) and a prospect (defenseman Helge Grans) to be a part of the future. It’s just the beginning. Now, Brière needs to nail the draft, develop the young talent on the roster, and continue to move out players who don’t fit the long-term vision of the team.

GH: I do think there are changes coming, and I don’t doubt there are conversations happening about several of the Flyers’ accomplished veterans. Those players could be an asset to another team, and teams realize they don’t necessarily fit the Flyers’ timeline any longer. However, just because there are conversations doesn’t mean something will happen. Brière has made clear he’s open to calls about any player on the roster, so just because he’s had a call about Konecny it doesn’t mean he’ll move him. Konecny, specifically, could bring a valuable return — but the Flyers also have him at a premium, and John Tortorella really likes him.

OR: Brière has repeatedly said he will listen on every player on the Flyers’ roster. After all, that’s his job. He should be listening on every player. It would be more noteworthy if he wasn’t listening on certain individuals, especially given the rebuild. But regardless of whether the Flyers believe that Hart specifically does not fit their timeline, the reality is that he is part of various ongoing and unreleased investigations into an alleged sexual assault involving members of Canada’s 2018 World Juniors team. How could an NHL team trade for any member of that team without knowing who was involved in the alleged sexual assault and what the repercussions (from the NHL and the London Police) will be? I would expect more changes to the roster this offseason, but as of right now, I would be surprised if Hart was moved.

» READ MORE: Danny Brière: Flyers would at least listen to trade offers for goaltender Carter Hart

GH: Laughton is the heart of the locker room. That’s a strong point for and against trading him. He’s a character guy who could help out a young, competitive team or could provide leadership for a team that needs it. But even rebuilding teams need veterans and leaders to show the younger players what it takes to be a professional, and Laughton is a great example in that Flyers’ locker room. Laughton is coming off a career year, and he is a versatile player. That flexibility helps provide depth, and he’d provide some sort of value to any team.

OR: If you approach team building from a purely on-paper standpoint, then there’s certainly an argument to be made for trading Laughton. He’s a 29-year-old third-liner who often played in the top six for the Flyers over the last couple of seasons because of injuries and the inexperience of his teammates. He has three more years left on his contract at $3 million per, so moving him could clear some cap space. Teams ought to be interested in him after he put up a career-high 43 points (18 goals and 25 assists in 78 games) last season. But believe it or not, there is some degree of humanity involved in the business, and Laughton is defined by more than his age, his role, and his contract. As a career Flyer, Laughton was the only player that wore a letter on the captain-less team last season. He’s beloved by his teammates and could continue to serve as a role model for young players to look up to as the Flyers get younger through the rebuild.

» READ MORE: NHL draft: Flyers could look to replace Ivan Provorov with David Reinbacher

GH: Although all the hype is surrounding the top five this year, the overall draft class is very strong. The seventh pick is not as clear cut, but there are several players who seem like good options there. Zach Benson, Gabriel Perreault, and Oliver Moore might still be around when the Flyers are on the clock. Perrault and Benson are skilled players with incredible vision, but they’re on the smaller side (Benson is 5-foot-10, 163 pounds and Perreault is 5-11, 165 pounds). Last year, the Flyers mostly drafted players with size, and their coach certainly likes to play a heavy game. While Moore is known for his speed, he also has size (5-11, 188 pounds) and strength to his game. His focus on being a two-way player fits the Flyers’ mold.

OR: No. 7 is a tricky spot to predict in this year’s draft. It’s all but guaranteed that (in no particular order … except for the first player) Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, and Will Smith will come off the board before the Flyers pick at No. 7. But what happens after that? Where will Russian winger Matvei Michkov go? He could fall to the Flyers, or the teams ahead of them may believe that the risk is worth the long-term reward and scoop him up earlier. What about U.S. National Team Development Program winger Ryan Leonard and Austrian defenseman David Reinbacher? It’s likely that at least one of them will be available by the time the Flyers are on the clock. The latter three are names that Flyers fans ought to keep in mind in addition to the group that we’ve been featuring in our preview series, including Benson, Dalibor Dvorský, Moore, and Perreault. But even more so than last year, the Flyers will be at the mercy of the teams picking ahead of them.