The Stanley Cup Final may still be in progress, but we have our first big deal of the offseason. Earlier this afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings joined in a three-team deal. Ivan Provorov was sent to the Blue Jackets, with Sean Walker and Cal Petersen going to the Flyers. Here are the full details of the trade:
Provorov’s name was in the rumor mill earlier in the season, but it was surprising to see the trade actually materialize. Likewise, Walker and Petersen were also potential business candidates for cap reasons. Who came out with early offseason deal winners? Let’s evaluate each aspect.
Briere impresses in the first movement as the Flyers GM
It’s no secret that the Flyers want to rebuild heading into the 2023-24 season, and there will be more moves to come. Meanwhile, they’re getting the ball rolling by sending Provorov to the Blue Jackets in exchange for a first-round pick in 2023 (it originally belonged to the Kings, who relinquished it Vladislav Gavrikov at the trade deadlineand a conditional second-round selection in 2024 or 2025.
In Provorov’s transfer, the Flyers cleared $6.75 million in cover space and acquired some valuable assets for a defenseman who has struggled in recent years. That cap space is being exploited by the acquisition of Petersen and Walker from the Kings, but there aren’t many downsides to adding them to the list. One) If the Flyers trade Carter Hart, that is It seems a possibilityThey will need a goalkeeper to play the games.
Petersen has struggled over the past two seasons after posting a . 911 save percentage in 2020-21, but he can at least play NHL games. In Walker, the Flyers get a defenseman who played four minutes earlier, though he saw his use decrease last season. He has one year left on his contract at the $2.65 million cap, so if he recovers in 2023-24, he should be able to get some Flyers assets at next year’s trade deadline.
Not only did the Flyers get Walker and Petersen from the Kings, but they also got Helge Gran, a former second-round pick in 2020 and a B-level prospect, and a Kings second-round pick in 2024. Daniel Breyer is in his first major move as general manager. for pilots.
Bulletin grade: A-
The Blue Jackets move bewilderingly to Provorov
The other important part of this deal is Provorov going to the Blue Jackets. Columbus had one of the worst defenses in the NHL this past season, if not the worst. But I’m not sure Provorov will help them as much as GM Jarmo Kekalainen thinks he will.
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Provorov fed minutes in his time with the Flyers and mostly played as the top pair, but his results in those minutes were less than desirable. The Flyers were constantly outflanked in the defensive zone in his ice time, and his play had little to do with it.
While Provorov has shown some efficiency in getting the puck out of the defensive zone, he is inconsistent. And he struggled with rushing defense, perhaps his biggest weakness as a defenseman. Overall, he ranks just 23 percent in wins above replacement (WAR) among his peers over the past three seasons:
With Zach Werenski as the Blue Jackets’ first dual defenseman on the left side, Provorov should see his minutes and less use in Columbus. However, this is Kekalainen’s incredible risk for the price he paid to buy Provorov. Even if his deployment changes, there is no guarantee that he will improve going forward.
The Kings kept a 30 percent stake on Provorov’s contract, so he’ll be on the books at a maximum of $4.725 million for the Blue Jackets. It helps a bit, but giving up a first-round pick in the 2023 draft load to a team like the Blue Jackets that shouldn’t be trying to fast-track a rebuild could prove costly in the long run, especially if Provorov isn’t. t rebound.
Blue citrate grade: C-
Kings Clear Money to Gavrikov Extension
The Kings haven’t officially announced an extension for Gavrikov, but it’s not hard to read between the lines. They transferred Petersen $5 million and Walker $2.65 million to free up money to re-sign Gavrikov. There’s no word on when the two sides will agree a new contract or what the terms might be, but this appears to be a priority for GM Rob Blake.
The Kings also received Kevin Connaughton in the trade. He hasn’t played in the NHL since 2021-22, but he has 360 NHL games and should provide a bit of defensive depth in the organization’s system. It’s also worth noting that by trading Walker, the Kings freed up some space on the right side of their blue line, where they had an excess of right-handed snaps. That opens the way for Sean Dorsey to play at the right side full-time or for a prospect like Jordan Spence to make up the roster.
Kings degree: b
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Microstats data from Corey Sznajder/JFresh Hockey