Could the Flyers pursue Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli or Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes if either player becomes available in the trade market? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.

THE ATHLETIC: Kevin Kurz was asked if the Philadelphia Flyers could get the cold shoulder from other NHL clubs for signing Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson to an offer sheet earlier this summer.

Kurz doesn’t consider it something they are concerned about, pointing out that three other clubs presented Carlsson with offer sheets before he signed with the Flyers. He also noted that other teams had expressed interest.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (NHL Images).

Kurz also dismissed conjecture that the Flyers’ attempt to sign Carlsson had anything to do with any bad blood toward Cutter Gauthier’s unwillingness to sign with them, forcing them to trade him to the Ducks in 2025. “The Flyers would’ve pursued Carlsson whether Gauthier was on the Ducks or not.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers general manager Daniel Briere probably isn’t on Ducks GM Pat Verbeek’s Christmas card list. And yes, another team likely would’ve signed Carlsson to an offer sheet if the Flyers hadn’t. There could be some general managers who didn’t appreciate that offer sheet driving up salaries. However, the rapidly rising salary cap made it inevitable. If it wasn’t Carlsson’s contract, it would’ve been somebody else.

Asked if the Flyers might attempt to acquire Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli, Kurz was skeptical about that possibility. They have the cap space to sign the 21-year-old Fantilli, and not doing so wouldn’t sit well with the Blue Jackets’ already nervous fan base.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Some observers (including me) wondered if the Flyers might attempt to sign Fantilli to an offer sheet after the Ducks matched the Carlsson offer. However, several reports indicated they had no intention of going that route.

Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell remains confident of having Fantilli signed when training camp opens next week.

Kurz also suggested the Flyers pay attention to Quinn Hughes’ contract negotiations with the Minnesota Wild. He noted that Hughes had a great relationship with Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet and is good friends with Flyers forward Trevor Zegras. Any Hughes trade would have to include a contract extension, likely be a three-year deal.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers might be interested if Hughes becomes available in the trade market. Whether they could meet the Wild’s asking price is another matter. For now, there’s no indication that Hughes is on the trade block as the Wild continue their efforts to re-sign him.