Flyers trade Sean Walker to Avalanche to kick off their trade deadline
Oct 5, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Sean Walker (26) against the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Flyers’ trade deadline moves have begun two days prior to the cutoff.
The Flyers traded defenseman Sean Walker and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche for center Ryan Johansen and a conditional 2025 first-round pick on Wednesday. The 2025 first-round pick carries top-10 protection. The Flyers then placed Johansen on waivers.
The Flyers acquired Walker from the Los Angeles Kings last summer as part of the three-team trade that involved Ivan Provorov being sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Walker, 26, scored six goals and 22 points and was a plus-9 in 63 games with the Flyers. There were not many expectations surrounding him when he came to Philadelphia, but he became very solid a very solid defenseman. He is in the final year of a four-year, $10.6 million contract.
Johansen, 31, has 13 goals and 23 points in 63 games with the Avs this season. Johansen has an $8 million cap hit, $4 million next season, with one year left on his eight-year, $164 million contract he signed with the Nashville Predators in 2017.
The Flyers now have two first-round and two second-round picks in the 2025 NHL draft, which is most important to this organization right now.
I really like this trade by general manager Daniel Brière and the Flyers today.
They have added another first-rounder and only lost Walker in the process. They also got about $1.4 million back in the deal.
Nick Seeler should also be on this team much more than Walker. It was between the two of which would get sent away by Friday’s deadline. They made the better choice.
The Flyers are reportedly progressing on extension talks with Seeler, who is going to miss a couple of weeks of action after blocking a shot against the St. Louis Blues on Monday night.
Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order
Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO
