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The NY Islanders could help alleviate a top-6 logjam for the Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers lack of success over the last few seasons has allowed them to stockpile their prospect pool. Now with those prospects ready to make an NHL impact, there's becoming a jam within the top-6. Could the NY Islanders be a suitor to take one of those forwards off tehir hands?

By Michael Stahurski |
Philadelphia Flyers v New York Islanders
Philadelphia Flyers v New York Islanders / Bruce Bennett/GettyImages
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It's uncommon for NHL division rivals to become trade partners but not unheard of. The NY Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers have made two trades of significance over the last 11 seasons, both working out in the Islanders' favor.

In 2013, the Islanders sent Mark Streit to the City of Brotherly Love in exchange for a fourth-round pick, which ultimately turned into Devon Toews. Less than eight months later, with the Islanders and Andrew MacDonald unable to agree on a contract extension, Garth Snow dialed the Flyers again, receiving a 2014 third-round pick, which became Ilya Sorokin, and two 2015 third-round picks, one of which was used to acquire Johnny Boychuck from the Boston Bruins.

The Flyers have missed the playoffs the last four seasons, acquiring some high draft picks along with top prospects. Bobby Brink has joined the Flyers full-time, Morgan Frost and Owen Tippett are 22 and 25, respectively, and Sean Couturier looks to be healthy for the first time in a while.

Expected to remain in Russia for at least three seasons after being drafted, Matvei Michkov has joined the Flyers much earlier than expected.

Additionally, the Flyers gave forward Travis Konecny an 8-year extension, coming with an $8.75M annual cap hit.

So with the log jam emerging in the Flyers' top-6 could the Islanders swoop in to pluck one of their young wingers?

Could Joel Farabee be a trade candidate?

As things stand, it appears Joel Farabee appears to be the odd-man out within the Flyers top-6.

Drafted 14th overall in 2018, Farabee, 24, has been a regular in the Flyers lineup since the 2019-20 season, seemingly improving each season.

Last year, the former USNTDP player had his best season as a pro, finishing with career-highs in points (50), goals (22), and assists (28).

Farabee seemingly checks all the boxes for what the Islanders are looking for in a forward. He may not be a 40-goal scorer, but he's still young and has an incredibly reasonable contract, signed for the next four seasons at $5M a year.

Where this becomes tricky is the cap situation for both teams. The Islanders are currently $950k over the cap and the Flyers are over by $2,472,618. The Flyers however have two potential LTIR candidates in Ryan Ellis and Ryan Johansen - both of which would make them cap-compliant.

The question is what the Flyers would hope to receive in exchange for a player like Farabee. Philadelphia found themselves in playoff position for much of last season, only to fall out of contention in the final weeks. Would they prefer to trade for a current NHL player to help get them over the hump or prefer prospects and picks?

JG Pageau doesn't appear a likely candidate for the Flyers to acquire as they are pretty set down the middle of the ice. They could want a defenseman in return, as they have a relatively young blue line. Shipping out Adam Pelech or Ryan Pulock doesn't make much sense for the Islanders, as it would leave them with holes of their own along the blue line.

Lou Lamoriello could offer a prospect like Calle Odelius along with draft picks to entice Flyers GM Daniel Briere, but then the Isles would need to look to dump cap elsewhere. The Flyers are loaded with draft picks next season, holding six within the first two rounds, meaning that picks further down the line may make more sense for the Islanders to offer.

Ultimately, the Flyers may use Farabee along with their draft capital to land a big fish, leaving the Islanders watching from the outside.

There are plenty of obstacles to getting a deal like this done but is certainly one that is worth exploring.

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