Early Defensemen Trade Candidates Rundown

Since Pronger went down, it's been pretty much assumed the Flyers will trade for a defensemen.  The only question was who and when.  With the team continuing to win, the Flyers were in no rush to make a deal.  Now the trade season is beginning to approach, and some chatter is circulating around about who the Flyers may be looking at.  Here's a quick rundown of a few candidates.


Name - Age - Size - Current Pay - Offseason status

-Shea Weber; 26, 6'4", $7.5m, RFA
A Norris candidate, he is the closest the Flyers could come to a like-for-like replacement of Pronger--big, powerful, physical, and a devastating slapshot.  Can the Flyers afford that salary?  Not if Pronger comes back next season.  Weber is in his prime, and he is a guy you build around, not add haphazardly.


-Ryan Suter; 26, 6'1", $3.5m, UFA
A high quality all around defensemen.  I heard one report that he is the Flyers' top target.  Due for a raise next year (expect $5m+).

-Cody Franson; 24, 6'5", $800k, RFA
Still developing as a NHL player, is an offense-oriented defensemen.  He would help the Flyers PP.  Currently playing 16 minutes a night for Toronto, and doesn't play on their PK.

-Luke Schenn; 22, 6'2", $3.6m, signed long term
A physical stay-at-home defensemen.  His ice time is down this season (from ~22 mins to ~16.5), which may indicate the Leafs would be willing to trade him.  His manageable long term deal adds some cost certainty for the Flyers.

-Tim Gleason; 28, 6'0", $2.75m (cap hit), UFA
A solid defensemen, with a little bit of offensive pop.  A name that keeps coming up for the Flyers, presumably because neither his cap hit (this year or next) or his trade price should be too onerous.

To this point, I haven't heard anything about who the Flyers are willing to trade away in return.  In general, Homer seems fond of trading first and second round picks to bolster his roster in midseason.

The only comments I'll make right now is that I really don't want to trade Schenn or Cooter.  I'm very hesitant to trade Voracek too.  JVR I'm open to trading, but JVR is worth more than Gleason or Franson, and probably worth more than Schenn too.