Travis Konecny interestingly popped up on TSN's trade bait list Friday morning.
But don't fret, it does not mean Konecny is being shopped or moved. If anything, Konecny is more than likely staying put and a part of the Flyers' future.
TSN's trade bait list is great because it's put together from an insider's perspective and gives everyone a consistently fresh sense of who could be had in an exchange.
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The list, though, is long, it does change and it doesn't translate to each and every player being moved. Shayne Gostisbehere has been featured on the list since May 2019. James van Riemsdyk appeared on it not long ago and then came off of it in September. By now, many know why Gostisbehere and van Riemsdyk have been rumored. It's not like the Flyers do not value these players. They do and won't just give them away. But in order to pull off substantial trades, if the Flyers so please, you have to be willing to part with pieces.
Konecny could be on this list because if the Flyers were to swing something huge, trade partners will be highly interested in the 23-year-old All-Star, who is under contract for the next five seasons.
The winger had a breakout 2019-20 regular season, putting up six three-point performances after having a combined two over his first three NHL seasons. He struggled in the NHL's return-to-play 24-team tournament, finishing without a goal over 16 games. As a whole, the Flyers struggled to score goals through the first and second rounds.
"There’s no doubt that Travis didn’t perform to obviously his expectations and ours in the playoffs," Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said in September. "He’s a young player full of potential. I believe that I’ll be able to help him a lot moving forward.
NHL
"There’s no doubt that he was pressing and because he was pressing, it led to turnovers that led to good opportunities from the opposition. T.K.’s a great young man that’s got a lot of potential. We’re going to work with him and he’s going to become the best player that he can be."
In 2019-20, Konecny had more points than: John Tavares, Mathew Barzal, Johnny Gaudreau, Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin, Nikolaj Ehlers and Jonathan Toews. He led the Flyers in goals (24) and points (61) through 66 games, while his 37 assists were a career high and he was one marker away from a new personal best.
The Flyers know his value to the present and future.