Flyers Lose Out on Key Center Target as Draft Day Deals Heat Up

The Philadelphia Flyers have officially lost another potential trade target at center as the 2026 offseason unfolds. The excitement of the NHL Draft on Friday brought with it a flurry of unexpected moves, with teams actively trading draft picks and reshaping their rosters.

One significant development occurred when the Anaheim Ducks traded Mason McTavish, a player who had been on the Flyers’ radar. The Ducks acquired the 15th and 29th overall picks from the St. Louis Blues, adding to their arsenal in the first round of the draft.

Earlier in the offseason, the Flyers had already seen their hopes dashed when Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for an exorbitant price. With McTavish now off the board, the Flyers find themselves looking for alternatives at center. Shane Wright has emerged as a potential option, despite the Seattle Kraken’s decision to select defenseman Chase Reid first overall.

Additionally, there had been discussions surrounding Ottawa Senators centers Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, and Ridly Greig as potential targets for Philadelphia. However, those conversations have quieted in recent days.

With McTavish heading to the Blues, the Flyers will not be adding another Duck to their roster, which already includes former Anaheim players Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Simon Benoit. McTavish, who is 23 years old, has five years remaining on his contract with a $7 million cap hit and will be joining a promising young core in St. Louis that includes Connor McMichael, Dylan Holloway, and Robert Thomas, among others.

As the draft progresses, it appears increasingly likely that the Flyers will hold onto their 21st overall pick rather than pursue a trade, opting to make their selection and bolster their lineup through the draft.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.