Trade deadline day is upon us, and the Philadelphia Flyers have been involved with wheeling and dealing players and assets even before today. After Saturday’s Claude Giroux-Owen Tippett trade, the Flyers today traded defenseman Justin Braun to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2023 3rd-round pick. This is the third pick the Flyers own in that draft’s round between their own, Florida’s, and now New York’s.
Braun was held out of yesterday’s 2-1 home win over the New York Islanders due to asset management so he could stay healthy in case he was dealt. The 35 year-old right-handed defender from Minneapolis, Minnesota has appeared in 61 games this season for Philadelphia, registering 5 goals and 11 assists for 16 points while averaging 20:02 of ice time a game. He also has racked up 79 hits and 114 blocked shots this year. His 5 goals tie a career-high previously set in 2017-18 while with the San Jose Sharks.
The former 7th-round pick of the Sharks back in 2007 will serve in a depth role with the Rangers, helping shore up their blueline in front of likely Vezina Trophy winner Igor Shersterkin as they prepare to try and make a Stanley Cup run. Braun joins a defensive group in New York that includes reigning Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, budding star K’Andre Miller, 2020 1st-round pick Braden Schneider, and Jacob Trouba. He can help ease the load off from their top-four group and can also play meaningful minutes on a strong Rangers penalty kill that currently ranks ninth in the league.
He probably won’t be used as heavily as a Ranger as he was with the Flyers, as the Rangers can also shield him a bit and allow him to stay fresh and play a bit more relaxed compared to what he was tasked with in Philadelphia. He’s also a player with plenty of experience under his belt with 783 NHL contests and another 100 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In those 100 games includes a Stanley Cup Final back in 2016 with the Sharks along with current Flyers backup goaltender Martin Jones, who could also be potentially traded today.
Braun leaves the Flyers with 9 goals and 32 assists for 41 points in 176 games in Orange and Black. He is a hard worker who played very well in his role with the Flyers and he’ll look to keep up his fine play in New York.
