The Philadelphia Flyers are apparently still unsure about the future of pending free agent defenseman Sean Walker.
Walker, 29, was acquired by the Flyers from the Los Angeles Kings this summer and has five goals, 15 assists, and 20 points in 56 games.
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek said on Sunday’s “Rink Fries” that Flyers general manager Danny Briere and president Keith Jones spoke with Cam Stewart, Walker’s agent. Marek stated that the three spoke during the Flyers’ morning skate in Toronto this past week, and that “it doesn’t sound like any plans for Walker were decided.”
The Flyers defenseman has been one of the most talked-about players in NHL trade negotiations for what seems like the entire season. Of course, the question isn’t whether Walker fits in with Philadelphia, but whether extending him is worth potentially giving up high-value assets in exchange for his services.
The 29-year-old is in his debut season with the Flyers, averaging a career-high 19:27 of ice time in a top-four role under head coach John Tortorella. Walker’s previous high for average ice time was 18:50, which he set with Los Angeles in 2019-20.
The Flyers have not only returned Walker to his early career form, but they are also playing the best hockey of his career by far. That will play a significant role in deciding his future in the next four weeks.
Walker, along with fellow pending free agent Nick Seeler, has helped establish a dangerous second-pair tandem that has routinely provided the Flyers with significant minutes at a high level during the 2023-24 season. Despite this, neither player may still be in Philadelphia by the NHL trade deadline on March 8.
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