The Philadelphia Flyers are looking to shake up their roster, and it seems they’re hoping to revitalize their offense. The team has traded two of its forwards with the Calgary Flames, as per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. Seravalli was the first to break the news, the news on X. “Full trade with pick detail, per sources,” wrote the hockey insider.

“To #Flames: Joel Farabee, (and) Morgan Frost. To #Flyers: Jakob Pelletier, Andrei Kuzmenko,” wrote Seravalli. The Daily Faceoff’s hockey content president also disclosed that the Flyers got the second-round draft pick this year and a seventh-round pick in 2028. However, many hockey fans didn’t agree with the trade and weren’t afraid to show it in the comments.

“Somebody might lose their job in Philly over this deal,” commented one fan. “Pelletier was on waivers at one point and Kuzy and Torts will be a fun mix,” explained the fan. The fact that Calagry’s Jakob Pelletier was on waiver ahead of the 2024-25 season after a disappointing training was a red flag for the fan. However, the player’s performance hasn’t inspired confidence either.

The 23-year-old appeared in only 24 games for Calgary this season. He scored only 4 goals and notched 7 assists, taking the players to 8 goals and 13 assists with 61 games across three seasons. The fan also highlighted how 28-year-old Andrei Kuzmenko and Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella may not get along well.

While Tortorella hasn’t ways gotten along with players such as Tony DeAngelo, there’s little evidence to suggest the same could happen with Kuzmenko. While others also raised issues of compatibility, some pointed out that another issue the Flyers may face with Andrei Kuzmenko. They highlighted a recent rumor that indicated the 28-year-old might not stick around too long.

Philadelphia Flyers fans continued to express their doubts

“Someone check in on the Flyers. Why would they give that up for a guy that was on waivers and a guy that’s gone in a few months?” commented one NHL fan. The player in question is none other than Andrei Kuzmenko. Others raised similar alarm bells. One fan even got quite sarcastic while doing so. “This makes the trade even better. What a steal we got!!” the netizen the Flyer fan wrote.

Yet what is this issue that fans harped on about? Well, it was the rumor that the Philadelphia Flyers’ newest acquisition would leave the NHL for the KHL after the 2024-25 season. On January 19, The Win Column reported it’s ‘likely’ that Kuzmenko may head back to the league where he played eight seasons before coming to the NHL. They added that the decision isn’t finalized yet.

However, the fans latched on to the possibility that Kuzmenko may leave even before the Flyers get any value out of the player. Another fan couldn’t fathom the fact why the team would trade two players who already fit well into the lineup and Coach Tortorella so late in the season. “IMO, Farabee is the best player involved in the trade. Philly traded away 2 guys who fit the Torts mold, for 2 undersized wings. I honestly just don’t understand why the Flyers would make this trade.” the fan speculated.

Yet, Daniel Brière may not have made the trades for the short term, but rather with long-term goals in mind. Instead of trying to salvage what’s left of this season, the Philadelphia Flyers are rebuilding for the future. Farabee had the most expensive contract among all the players involved in the trade, at $30 million for six years. Meanwhile, his performance has been on the decline.

Joel Farabee has scored 8 goals, with 11 assists in 50 games for the Flyers this season. With three years left till that contract expired, the team chose to free up the capital. Maybe that’s why not everyone found the move to be a bad one. “Frost for Pelletier, Farabee for Kuzmenko. 2nd, 7th, I don’t think it’s awful, but it’s not phenomenal.” explained the fan.

However, with the extra cap, the Philadelphia Flyers have the freedom to spend during the 2025 draft. NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that the Flyers will get to pick between three first-rounders, and four second-rounders this year thanks to the trade. Yet, what do you feel got the better deal? Write your views in the comments.