Trade Rumor: Flyers poked around on Edvinsson

Elliotte Friedman says the Flyers poked around on Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson, but a center might be the problem.

Friedman's note, relayed by NHL Rumour Report, is short and carefully worded. He believes Philadelphia made some calls, and he doesn't know whether the Flyers have the center the Red Wings want. Nothing on a price, a package or terms.

Friedman noted that Philadelphia checked in on Edvinsson, with the open question being whether the Flyers can supply the center Detroit is looking for.

Edvinsson is 23 and was the sixth overall pick in 2021. He has 175 NHL games on his résumé but none this season, and he is listed on injured reserve (Contract Dispute, out indefinitely) according to the latest injury report.

So this is a rumor about a player who isn't playing for Detroit right now. It is not a done deal and nothing in the sheet suggests one is close.

Why would the Flyers make the call? Look at the standings. They are 4-10-4, 30th in the NHL, and the goal differential sits at -22. We put Daniel Briere on the clock earlier today, and the Flyers open a game in Calgary tonight.

The blue line is where the numbers hurt most. Cam York is a -9 in 10 games, Travis Sanheim is a -6 and Simon Benoit is a -4.

Which center would Detroit want from the Flyers?

Friedman didn't name anyone, so none of this is reported. But the Flyers' center group is not deep, and everyone in it matters.

Trevor Zegras leads the group with 14 points, and Matvei Michkov, listed as a center, has 10 goals. We looked at how the Flyers lean on Michkov and Zegras just yesterday, and that hasn't changed.

Then there's the rest of the room. Christian Dvorak has 7 points and Sean Couturier has 5, a number that explains why Couturier blasted the team after a third straight loss on October 29.

Here is the opinion: if the price for a defenseman who hasn't played this season is Zegras or Michkov, Briere should hang up. The Flyers have too little offense to pay with the players who create it, and moving a center to patch the blue line just opens a hole somewhere else.

The Flyers would have to find the answer in the Dvorak and Couturier tier, and that is not the kind of return that gets a team's attention. We'll keep tabs on whether the Flyers and Red Wings talk again.

Quick hits

WASHINGTON CAPITALSElliotte Friedman first reported that the Capitals placed goaltender Remi Poirier on waivers, just a week after acquiring him. That is a short stay.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSVinnie Parise confirmed that Chicago placed goalie Arvid Soderblom on waivers after a 9-2 loss. The timing speaks for itself.

LOS ANGELES KINGSBeat writer mayorNHL reports the Kings are sending forward Martin Chromiak back to AHL Ontario. Another shuffle at the bottom of the roster.

FLORIDA PANTHERSTom Wilson won't face supplemental discipline for his hit on Panthers forward Sandis Vilmanis, Elliotte Friedman reported this morning. Expect Florida fans to have thoughts.

CALGARY FLAMESRyan Huska explained how Kevin Bahl ruptured his Achilles. It happened warming up Friday night, and the coach called it a freak accident.