With the March 21 trade deadline approaching, all eyes are on captain Claude Giroux, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason and could waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a transaction to a Stanley Cup contender.
Giroux isn’t the only Flyer that could wind up on the trade block next month. Defensemen Justin Braun and Rasmus Ristolainen, along with goalie Martin Jones are among the pending unrestricted free agents who could draw some attention on the market. And with his return to the lineup Saturday against the Washington Capitals after sitting out for 2 1/2 weeks with a hip injury, 34-year-old forward Derick Brassard could also make for a potential trade piece for the Flyers.
The hip injury, which he initially sustained on Nov. 23 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, has been a nagging issue for Brassard for most of the season. He sat out for two weeks after the Lightning game, returned on Dec. 8 against the New Jersey Devils, and swiftly exited the lineup again for a month after aggravating the injury.
