The feel good Philadelphia Flyers are “smokingggggggg.” No it’s not the movie The Mask, but they are absolutely on fire after winning five straight games. After losing ten straight games, if the Flyers complete the sweep on this homestand. They would become the first team in NHL history to win eight straight games, following a ten game losing streak.
Of course, it’s that time of year that the rumor mill never dies. Some teams are scattering before the holiday roster freeze is enacted. The holiday freeze runs through December 19-27. Last night before the Flyers-Buffalo game. An article surfaced by Pierre Lebrun about Flyers forward Jori Lehtera:
Some @PierreVLeBrun rumblings: On Jori Lehtera's rough start in Philly, Bruins wanting help for McAvoy, re-visiting the Fleury trade, and more: https://t.co/vWf2Ple16J
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) December 14, 2017
For the season Lehtera has registered 0 goals, 2 assists, and is a minus 5 in 17 games played. Lehtera had a career high 44 points in 2014-15, but he’s far from that this season. Moreover, Lehtera hasn’t seen game action on the five game winning streak, thus making him more than expendable. The last time he saw game action was in the 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on December 2, 2017. Here’s a tweet from Spector’s Hockey:
The latest on the #Sens , #RedWings, #Sharks #Penguins and #Flyers in your #NHL rumor mill. https://t.co/peHACfzBka
— Spector's Hockey (@SpectorsHockey) December 15, 2017
Wowwwwww. General Manager Ron Hextall has worked his magic before with Luke Schenn and Vincent Lecavlier, maybe he can do it again. Of course, the Flyers would likely have to eat half his salary for the rest of the season, and next year as well. However, it would be worth it with the right desperate buyers in maybe the Boston Bruins, as they placed struggling forward Matt Beleskey on waivers yesterday.
Re: @PierreVLeBrun’s report on potential of Flyers eating salary in a Lehtera trade, here’s the ballpark — if they were to buy him out after this season they’d deal with cap hits of $1.37M and $1.67M the next two years anyway.
— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) December 14, 2017
These are just rumblings of course, but there maybe some truth to them. The timing of the Lebrun article and the Spector’s hockey rumbling, leads me to believe their is interest in Lehtera for the right price and retention of salary.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
