The Philadelphia Flyers are allowing 3.27 goals per game, which is 24th in the 31-team NHL, and they obviously miss the retired Matt Niskanen. The Flyers will likely make a trade at the 2021 NHL trade deadline for a defenceman.
NHL Trade Rumors have been going around that the Nashville Predators will have Mattias Ekholm available for a trade.
Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer states, Ekholm, 30, is probably the most interesting veteran defenseman who might be on the market and would fit with the Flyers.
Ekholm is a great shot-blocking, 6-foot-4, 215-pound first- or second-pairing defender, has a team-friendly contract ($3.75 million for this season and next season), and is a steadying player the Flyers need on the back end. In his 10 years with Nashville, he has averaged 21 minutes, 28 seconds of ice time.
It would probably take a high draft pick and a quality prospect to acquire Ekholm. Other teams interested in Ekholm are the Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, and Washington Capitals.
