The Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly still undecided on the future of pending free agent defenseman Sean Walker.
Walker, 29, was brought over by the Flyers from the Los Angeles Kings in the summer, and has scored five goals, 15 assists, and 20 points in 56 games so far.
On Sunday’s “Rink Fries“, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek noted that Flyers general manager Danny Briere and president Keith Jones chatted with Walker’s agent, Cam Stewart. Marek shared that the three talked during the Flyers’ morning skate this past week in Toronto, and that “It doesn’t sound like any plans for Walker were decided,”.
The Flyers defenseman has been one of the most heavily discussed players in NHL trade talks for what feels like the whole season. Of course, the debate is not whether Walker fits with Philadelphia, but whether extending him is worth potentially passing up high-value assets in return for his services.
The 29-year-old is in his first year with the Flyers, averaging a career-high 19:27 of ice time in a top-four role under head coach John Tortorella. Walker’s previous high in average ice time was 18:50, set back in the 2019-20 season with Los Angeles.
Not only have the Flyers rehabbed Walker back to his early career form, but they also have him playing the best hockey of his career by far. That is going to play a huge factor in deciding his future in the next four weeks.
Walker, alongside fellow pending free agent Nick Seeler, have formed a formidable second-pair duo that has consistently been able to give the Flyers heavy minutes at a high level throughout the 2023-24 season. Despite that, there remains the possibility that neither player is still in Philadelphia by the March 8 NHL trade deadline.
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