Sometimes, you can learn a lot about the trajectory of a player from their exit interview. After the regular season finished, no one felt confident in the Philadelphia Flyers and Cam Atkinson.
A team that fell short of a postseason berth in the beginning stages of a rebuild is shedding aged veterans. Atkinson, a consummate professional in the NHL, is losing his seat with the Flyers. Bluntly put, he doesn’t fit the evolution of this rebuild. Philadelphia is the ship passing Atkinson in the night.
Atkinson is a candidate for a buyout or a trade, but in any case, he won’t remain with the Flyers for long. He is entering a contract season, and his health is a lingering issue during the season. Now 35, Atkinson missed the 2022-2023 in Philadelphia after getting surgery to repair a herniated disc and atrophy in his tricep. If he doesn’t leave, Atkinson will wrap up his time in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ as an unrestricted free agent. There are a few caveats regarding how to handle Atkinson this offseason.
Handling on Atkinson, first and foremost, has to make sense for the Flyers.
Daniel Brière is open to trade discussions if the agreement is a ‘hockey move’ meshing with the rebuild timeline. Keith Jones mentioned Philadelphia won’t be making a big strike in the free agency market until cap space opens. Each of those ideas keeps mindful of retaining assets instead of spending them.
Darren Dreger acknowledged an inquiry from the San Jose Sharks regarding Atkinson. Atkinson does have a modified no-trade clause in his contract, meaning the Sharks need to avoid the no-trade list submitted. He still has ‘juice left in the tank,’ but perhaps his run with the Flyers is on empty.
Atkinson Stays
His role, overall, is diminished. In spurts, Atkinson remained efficient, but his game wasn’t consistent. He notched 12 points (8G, 4A) in his first 15 games, then went on a six-game sprint, grabbing 10 points (5G, 5A) in mid-January.
Then, the room is getting tight. Philadelphia needs to negotiate an extension for Travis Konecny, for Bobby Brink to have a fighting chance, he needs to play in a top-nine role, and if Matvei Michkov does join the Flyers, then it’s as simple as adios to Atkinson. Garnet Hathaway has another season on the fourth line.
Almost the only way Atkinson remains in Philadelphia is if Michkov isn’t on the roster. So, what can the Flyers do in regards to moving Atkinson?
Atkinson Leaves: Buyout
If the Flyers bought out Atkinson by the end of this week, they would take a $2.358mil cap hit next season, then $1.758mil in 2025-2026. A buyout allows Atkinson the most freedom to pick up with a new team, but it doesn’t help efficiently alleviate cap space.
Avoiding a trade, Philadelphia wouldn’t need to send a pick to move Atkinson if they choose the buyout path. Tony DeAngelo no longer goes against the cap next season, and Ilya Bryzgalov doesn’t hold a hit. The Flyers can afford this option, but it isn’t ideal when $1.758mil is effectively still tied up by Atkinson in 2025-2026.
However, John Tortorella and Atkinson have an appreciative history. A buyout isn’t off the table because this regime of Dan Hilferty, Jones, Brière, and Tortorella may want to do right by the player, giving him a chance to sign with a contender.
Atkinson Leaves: Trade
His entire career exists between Philadelphia and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Though San Jose inquired, don’t expect Atkinson to play on the same team as Macklin Celebrini. A return to the Blue Jackets is likely at the top of his list, almost guaranteeing Columbus to be excluded from his no-trade receipt.
Brière is open to making a sensible hockey trade. The Flyers still retain $3.571mil via Kevin Hayes next season, and sending Atkinson away will involve more salary retention. Retaining 50% of the cap hit next season ($2.937mil) by trading Atkinson is cheaper than the cumulative $4.116mil buyout stretching into 2025-2026.
At the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Philadelphia will potentially possess ten draft picks. Sending their 2025 fourth-round or the earlier of the two 2025 fifth-round picks isn’t a poor case of asset management. The Flyers save money, open cap space sooner, lose a mid-round draft pick, but ultimately open space for Michkov if he is on the roster next season.
Trading Atkinson makes the most sense for Philadelphia. The best-case scenario features the Flyers doing right by the player and Atkinson willing to play ball with the plan from the organization. The Blue Jackets seem like a safe bet. Atkinson can play with Johnny Gaudreau, finishing his NHL career in a place he often called home.
