Bright: Preds’ Suter Would Be Expensive Addition For Flyers
Since Chris Pronger left the Flyers with post-concussion syndrome on Nov. 16, the team has been in need of a sturdy addition to its back line.
Allowing four or more goals in four of their last seven and blowing a third-period lead three times in January alone, the Flyers are now beginning to feel the true effects of their lost defensive captain.
But there is hope for a fix. With the trade deadline on Feb. 27 charging closer, one player could be a permanent solution for the Flyers’ Pronger problem — Nashville Predators blue-liner and budding superstar, Ryan Suter.
Earlier this season, Predators general manager David Poile claimed to not have interest in moving restricted free-agent Shea Weber or Suter, an unrestricted free-agent-to-be, prior to the deadline. But there could be issues keeping Poile from keeping his plan in-tact.
Weber is set to make around $7.5 million and Suter is thought to be asking for similar money. This could potentially handcuff small-market Poile and the Preds, who have the most cap space in the NHL, but do not have the disposable income of other teams to afford multiple high-priced talent.
“Our first and foremost goal is to sign Ryan,” Poile told Josh Cooper of the Tennessean. “We’ve been trying to do that all season long. I’ve not accomplished that to this point, but we’re hoping to continue discussions and get that done at some point.”
The Predators are in the Western Conference playoff race and would seemingly have no interest in trading away either of their defensive cogs should they push up the standings. But those who do not respect history are doomed to repeat it and losing a defenseman for a bag of pucks is something Poile doesn’t want to revisit.
Looking back to the 2009-10 season, Dan Hamuis, a highly-coveted and soon-to-be free-agent defenseman, was not sold to the highest bidder at the deadline, but was kept for the playoff run. The Preds did not win the Stanley Cup and Hamuis’ rights were sold to the Flyers for then prospect Ryan Parent.
Poile was left empty-handed.
The GM is facing a similar dilemma this season. However, in a seller’s market and with many big-name teams looking to add a rare 27-minute-per-night, sizable, two-way defenseman to its armory, the bidding war for Suter could be extraordinarily dynamic, which could force, or at least tilt, Poile’s hand.
“We’ll be prepared,” Poile continued. “if we feel that we weren’t going to be able to sign Ryan, and if we thought we were in a position that we had to or should trade him. I’m certainly hoping that doesn’t happen, I don’t want that to happen, but I want to be prepared for that.”
That fact could leave the Flyers out of the running.
With $3.820 of cap relief heading into the deadline, the Flyers would have enough to afford $3.5 million Suter. But the issue is high-end return they have to pay — and could very well be Brayden Schenn or Sean Couturier. Since the Flyers don’t have any top prospects in the minors or in juniors, Nashville would be asking for inexpensive players right off the Flyers’ roster, along with first-round picks.
And that’s without the bidding war, which could push the price up even further.
Teams that could be interested in Suter and have the money to add him now and for the future include the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild, among others.
Whichever team does move for Suter will want to sign him long term, making the competition strong for the young defender. And although Poile and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren have an excellent working relationship, Suter is going to the highest bidder.
Are the Flyers willing pony up?
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