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Exciting hours before the freeze on expansion draft trades, several trades were made that could have major effects on the NHL landscape. Perhaps the biggest blow of the day saw longtime Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis sent to the Philadelphia Flyers in a three-team trade. With Viktor Arvidsson already sent to the Los Angeles Kings, it looks like the Predators have officially started their rebuild. The complete trade is as follows:
Without further ado, here are our notes:
Philadelphia Flyers
On the surface, the Flyers receive the best player in the business. Ellis has been a top defenseman in the league for several years and he provides Philadelphia with the number one defenseman they badly need. Ellis, with Ivan Provorov, could form one of the best defensive duos in the league.
Several high-profile right-handed defenders have been linked to the Flyers this offseason, including Seth Jones and standby agent Dougie Hamilton. Ellis is an acquisition that hardly anyone saw coming, but he could prove to be GM Chuck Fletcher’s smarter choice. While Jones would have cost the Flyers significant assets in a trade and Hamilton would undoubtedly have ordered some serious money on the open market, Ellis is relatively cheap.
Although Myers and Patrick are both young players with potential, neither had yet been established as a high-end player. The color of this profession for the Flyers could certainly change if the two youngsters manage to reach their ceilings, but as it is, both are question marks.
The only concern with Ellis is his contract. Although he is well worth his $ 6.25 million AAV now, he will receive the same amount for the next six years. At age 30, the deal could become of concern within a few years, especially given Ellis’ history of injury. However, the Flyers deserve high marks for giving up minimal talent from their roster while meeting an urgent need.
Final grade: A-
Nashville Predators
In turn, the Predators abandon the best player in the business. Ellis has been a key part of the Nashville Blue Line for nearly a decade, and his departure will hurt in the short term. However, it has become clear that general manager David Poile is, at the very least, embarking on retooling, and cutting veteran pay is the right move for a team that can no longer compete with the current corps.
What hurts the Predators about this deal is the disappointing comeback. Myers, at 24, probably doesn’t have a lot of room to grow up. He’s a useful NHL defenseman, but certainly not a replacement for a true best-pair defenseman at Ellis. Glass, the sixth overall pick in 2017, remains highly touted but has stagnated at the NHL level. Vegas’ first-ever draft pick had ample opportunity to play for the top wingers, but struggled to stay in the lineup. However, the change of scenery that Nashville offers could help him thrive in the frontline center he was meant to be.
The move was the right choice given the direction Nashville is heading, but Poile has failed to secure fair value for a truly elite defenseman.
Final grade: B-
Vegas Golden Knights
On the Golden Knights side, this deal is a bit confusing. Glass was certainly in trouble, but it looks like it’s too early to give up his best hope. He went from an untouchable in the acquisitions of Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty to a expendable asset very quickly.
That said, Glass and Patrick’s exchange isn’t bad. The two centers were drafted sixth and second respectively in 2017, and neither have lived up to that bill. In a vacuum, it is only an exchange of change of scenery for two young players in difficulty.
It is not possible to draw a conclusion on this agreement at the moment. Whether or not Vegas comes out of the winners will be entirely up to which Patrick and Glass do best in their new settings. For the moment, we cannot say which team came out on top in this exchange.
Final grade: B
The Flyers definitely look like they won that deal, but that could definitely change in the years to come. It will be fascinating to see how the three young players involved evolve with their new teams. Whoever wins, this exchange kicks off what should be an active and exciting offseason. Ellis is likely just the first of several top names to be moved before the start of the 2021-22 season.
Jake is a trusted source for the Seattle Kraken here at The Hockey Writers. A native of New York, he is a huge fan of all things hockey and is always involved in the sport, whether it is writing, watching or playing. A strong supporter of sports analysis, Jake will often include them in his publications to support his ideas. More of his work can be found on his Substack page, and he is a contributor with @hky_tapetalk on Instagram. For any questions or inquiries, Jake can be reached on his Twitter, @jakezrihen.
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