Flyers reportedly looking to upgrade at center; here's four players they could target

According to Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period, the Philadelphia Flyers are looking to upgrade at the centre position going into next season.

Currently, the Flyers have Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton, Noah Cates, Morgan Frost, Patrick Brown and Sean Couturier as those that can play centre, with Laughton, Cates and Brown able to play on the wing. Hayes and Laughton are locked up through the 2025-26 season, while Couturier under contract until after the 2029-30 season.

If the Flyers opt to look for a centreman through free agency, here are a few names they could target:

Jordan Staal. The 34-year-old is enjoying a good season with the Metropolitan Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes. In 53 games, he has 27 points, while averaging 16:22 TOI per game. While he might not be the most ideal option given his age, Staal still has at least a few years left in the tank and could help the Flyers with their rebuild.

Ryan O'Reilly. The Blues captain is likely to be leaving St. Louis before the NHL's trade deadline, which is two weeks from now. If he doesn't sign an extension with his potential new team and hits the market on July 1st, he could be a very intriguing option for the Flyers. A gritty forward who can produce and has a Stanley Cup championship under his belt.

J.T. Compher. A younger option than the two players above, J.T. Compher also has a Stanley Cup championship to his name, winning with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Compher is set to turn 28 in April and is on pace to surpass his career-high in points (33) in a matter of days as he currently sits at 32. The AAV on his current contract is $3.5 million and the Northbrook (Illinois) native will certainly be looking for more money and a bigger opportunity this summer.

While those are three solid options for the Flyers via free agency, one name they could target through a trade is Christian Dvorak of the Montreal Canadiens, who is under contract for two more years beyond this season with an AAV of $4.45 million. The only difficult part of trying to acquire Dvorak would be that he has a modified no-trade clause that comes into effect on July 1st, which includes an eight-team no-trade list. It's unclear if the Flyers are on that list.

Dvorak, who recently turned 27, has taken on a bit of a bigger role for the Canadiens in recent months due to the injury of Sean Monahan. The Palos Heights (Illinois) native has 23 points in 55 games this season, while averaging 16:55 TOI per game.

Who do you think the Flyers should target? Let us know your thoughts in the poll below!

Salary Information: CapFriendly
Source: Anthony Di Marco - The Fourth Period

MUST READ

1 hour ago  |  By Julien Trekker Terrifying Scene for Carolina Hurricanes Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov as He Blacks Out on the Ice

14 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Angry John Tortorella Calls Out One Flyers Player: Trade is Likely Per Elliotte Friedman

16 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Quinn Hughes Ejected: Suspension May be Coming for the Reigning Norris Winner

17 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Matvei Michkov Stuns With Crazy Quote in Post-Game Interview Following OT Winner

18 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Jeremy Swayman on the Verge of Losing the Starting Role in Boston: His Contract Looks Like a Disaster

22 hours ago  |  By TJ Tucker Detroit Red Wings Place Massive Six-Foot-Six Forward on Waivers

23 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Connor Bedard's Struggles Prove Chicago Blackhawks are in Dire Need of a Coaching Change

Nov 23  |  By Graham Montgomery NHL Analyst Believes Toronto Maple Leafs are Exploring Possible Reunion With Nazem Kadri

MORE STORIES