MONTREAL -- They're watching it. They're following it. But the Flyers don't appear to be sweating it too much as NHL's 3 p.m. Monday trade deadline fast approaches.
As they wrapped up an abbreviated practice Sunday afternoon at the Bell Centre in Montreal, the team had just learned that Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec had been dealt to the Maple Leafs, and the rumors are swirling regarding Montreal captain Max Pacioretty.
"I know what's going on," said Jake Voracek. "It's different. I haven't been in this situation since my first year here (2011-12). Obviously it feels pretty good, but you never know what's going to happen no matter what position you are in."
It's the first time the Flyers, sitting pretty in second in the Metropolitan Division as of Sunday morning and owners of a five-game win streak and points in their last 10 games, have been a potential buyer since Ron Hextall took over as general manager in 2014, and consequently, there's no real threat of trading players to Cup-contending teams like we've seen in previous seasons.
Still, Hextall elected to stay behind in Voorhees fielding phone calls and performing his due diligence as the Flyers prepare to face the Canadiens Monday night. He's already given up conditional draft pick(s) to acquire goaltender Petr Mrazek from Detroit, and he may consider adding depth to a team with a solid nucleus.
And, keep in mind, they have reserves on the way when goalies Michal Nuevirth and Brian Elliott get healthy and Wayne Simmonds returns from his injury in the coming weeks.
"We have good chemistry inside that locker room," said head coach Dave Hakstol. "From my standpoint our whole focus has been finding ways to get better from within - from within our dressing room and from within our own organization. If there's a move or a decision that has to be made that Hex feels will make us better, I'm sure he'll look at that in every way, but our job is to take care of our own business."
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Right now, that's the perplexity of a playoff team that could benefit from adding experience. At the same time, there's a risk tinkering with the chemistry that has developed over the past three months - a team that has endured and bonded following a ten-game winless streak to become one of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference with a 25-8-3 record and 53 points since Dec 4.
"We've done a good job of playing as a team and sticking together, especially when you lose ten in a row," said captain Claude Giroux. "I think you see the true colors of players and we didn't have any negative things with this group. It's definitely a positive. We like where this team is headed. Whatever Hexy decides at the deadline, that's his decision, but we like who we have in this room."
Hextall has stated previously that he believes major deadline deals don't usually yield the desired playoff results, and he's definitely not looking to mortgage the future by giving up prized prospects.
So don't hold your breath that Hextall joins the likes of the Penguins, who dealt for Derrick Brassard, and Bruins, who acquired Rick Nash on Sunday morning, who are taking an "all-in" approach with the postseason nearing.
As for the Flyers, they're breathing a little easier as well.
