The Flyers are eyeing more help at center, and there are several factors shaping who they target. Trade chatter has already kicked off, with high-profile moves like the Oilers-Penguins goalie swap and the Wild-Canucks blockbuster headline-grabbing deals, but Philadelphia’s plans look more modest—yet still active—as they approach the March 6 trade deadline.
From the moment Daniel Briere became GM, the emphasis has been on strengthening the middle of the lineup. The math is clear: over the past year, Philadelphia has traded away three centers (Morgan Frost, Scott Laughton, Ryan Poehling) and added Trevor Zegras—who’s been better suited for the wing after an early center stint—and Christian Dvorak, currently anchoring the top unit alongside Zegras and Travis Konecny. So it’s hardly surprising that the team is pursuing another center, something multiple sources confirmed to The Athletic and that initially broke on Friday.
The primary goal is depth at center, with an eye toward the fourth line. The unit finally showed a spark last week thanks to Carl Grundstrom’s two goals, but it remains inconsistent and too quiet for much of the season. One question is whether bringing in a new center would push Rodrigo Abols toward the wing, potentially replacing Garnet Hathaway, whose performance has been off this year after a concussion kept him out for a month last season. Hathaway has yet to record a point in 31 games this season, a striking statistic in today’s NHL.
Since Tyson Foerster went down with a shoulder injury, another challenge has emerged: the Noah Cates line—with Bobby Brink and Nikita Grebenkin—has slipped in effectiveness. They’ve outscored opponents 2–1 at five-on-five over six games, but they’re being outshot 24–16, and their underlying metrics aren’t favorable. Grebenkin, in particular, has underwhelmed, with just one goal and three assists in 22 games. In six games since moving up to fill Foerster’s spot, he has one assist and three shots on goal. The drop from Foerster to Grebenkin has been noticeable, underscoring how valuable Foerster’s presence is.
With Cates’ faceoff numbers also a concern (42.2 percent), moving him to the wing becomes a more appealing option if Philadelphia can land a quality center in the middle six, especially while Foerster remains out and could return after the Olympic break at the earliest.
But Dvorak’s future looms large in these plans. It’s clear the Flyers will need to keep Dvorak around to fuel a potential playoff push, yet there are no guarantees he’ll re-sign, and there hasn’t been a clear signal about the team’s intentions. At seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points so far, Dvorak would command a solid contract in a thinner 2026 free-agent market. It’s hard to picture Philadelphia signing him to a lengthy deal beyond a couple of seasons, especially given that Cates and Sean Couturier are under contract long-term.
This raises a strategic question: if the organization anticipates losing Dvorak in the offseason, should they push harder this season to acquire a higher-end center with a shorter term impact? Could a veteran like Brayden Schenn (around a $6.5 million cap hit through 2027–28) or Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly (about $4.5 million cap hit next season) make sense? Both are 34-year-olds past their prime, but they would instantly bolster the forward group for the stretch run and give coach Rick Tocchet more lineup flexibility.
There’s also speculation about Jett Luchanko, who turns pro next season and might be slotted into an NHL center role right away. However, rushing him into the lineup would be premature; even Claude Giroux didn’t jump to the NHL at 20, after spending a full rookie year in the minors. The organization values Luchanko but won’t force him onto the roster if not necessary.
Among other prospects, Jack Nesbitt (the No. 12 pick in 2025) isn’t likely to be NHL-ready next season, and Denver Barkey’s future as a center remains uncertain. On the flip side, Porter Martone, likely to debut in 2026–27, could find a path to the NHL by starting alongside a strong two-way center, setting up a developmental timeline that makes sense if Dvorak isn’t in the Flyers’ near-term plans.
In other positions, Philadelphia may already be well-positioned. Rasmus Ristolainen’s expected return will fortify a sturdy top six, and Tocchet has suggested he could even contribute on the power play. The rotation around the defense could primarily revolve around Egor Zamula, who has fallen out of the plans, making room for Ty Murchison to appear in the most recent games.
The goalie situation is relatively stable, with Dan Vladar delivering solid performances and Sam Ersson continuing to settle in. The bigger takeaway from the recent blockbuster with the Hughes trade is clear: Philadelphia remains reluctant to part with their top prospects or high-end young players. They’re not opposed to trading future assets, though, if it meaningfully strengthens their chances to compete in the playoff race. Given the current center-line depth issues, those moves could prove essential to sustaining momentum down the stretch.
