Report: Flames interested in Flyers pending UFA RHD Justin Braun

The Calgary Flames are reportedly interested in acquiring Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Justin Braun, according to The Fourth Period.

The Flames, Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, and Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly among the teams that have expressed interest in Braun, although The Fourth Period noted that the Leafs may be out of the running after acquiring @Ilya Lyubushkin from the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.

Braun, 35, is a 6’2″, 205-lb right-handed defenceman who has played with the Flyers and San Jose Sharks during his 12-year National Hockey League career. He has four goals, 13 points, and 65 hits while averaging exactly 20 minutes of total ice-time in 49 games with Philadelphia this season.

According to Evolving-Hockey’s goals above replacement (GAR) model, Braun ranks seventh on the Flyers (and second among defencemen) with 2.9 total GAR this season. Braun’s 5.3 total defensive GAR (shorthanded plus even strength) ranks ninth in the entire NHL.

The Minneapolis product has the remaining balance of this season left on the two-year, $1.8 million-AAV contract extension he signed with the Flyers in Oct. 2020. He does not have any trade protection included in his deal.

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