It’s no secret that the San Jose Sharks are a rebuilding team, and, apparently, the Philadelphia Flyers are rebuilding too. The main takeaway here is that this can be done in different ways, and these two teams might be able to make a trade that is mutually beneficial in this regard.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, at least one party is already willing to tango.
“The Sharks have let it be known they will will consider a lot on the blueline, in terms of who might be available and what they’re willing to do,” Friedman said on Hockey Night In Canada. “The name that most teams I think will have the most interest in will be Mario Ferraro.”
“He’s got two more years left at $3.25 million and he’s a heck of a young player, but I don’t believe that will be inexpensive. I just also wanna say I don’t think, though, he’s off the table at this time,” Friedman concluded.
How Ferraro Helps the Flyers
Some of you might be asking yourselves why the Philadelphia Flyers would give up not inexpensive assets for a defenseman on a team that is awful defensively. The simple answer is that Mario Ferraro is only 25, blocks shots, throws the body, and can do a little bit of everything.
In terms of left-shot defenders, the Flyers have Cam York and Travis Sanheim for the long haul. However, Sanheim has been playing on the right side this season. Nick Seeler will turn 31 shortly after the end of the season, and is a pending free agent. Everyone else, behind him and York, has left the Flyers with more questions than answers in this revolving door.
On the flip side, even if the Sharks’ ask for Ferraro is a first-round pick, the 2024 NHL Draft is going to be defense-heavy. If the Flyers continue to win and their draft pick isn’t as high as some might have hoped, they may as well flip it for a young defenseman who is a leader on his team and will do all of the dirty work.
Indeed, Ferraro sounds like a ‘Torts guy’, but every cup contender has one or two Ferraros, at a minimum. Plus, the Flyers would also get a defender that they know can play 20 or more minutes a night and help give York and Sanheim a break.
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