Philadelphia Flyers eye trade for Golden Knights’ Nicolas Hague amid Cam York contract impasse

The NHL offseason is heating up, and the Philadelphia Flyers might be ready to make a significant move to bolster their blue line. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman via NHL Rumor Report, Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague has emerged as a trade target for the Flyers.

The 6-foot-6 blueliner offers the kind of physical presence Philadelphia has been lacking — and with Cam York’s contract situation in limbo, a shake-up on the back end could be coming sooner rather than later.

Philadelphia Flyers reportedly targeting Golden Knights’ defenseman Nicolas Hague

The Philadelphia Flyers have been exploring a potential “hockey trade” for some time — a deal that helps both teams improve in areas of need without diving into full-on rebuild mode. With extension talks between the Flyers and RFA defenseman Cam York seemingly at a standstill, rumors of a potential trade are gaining momentum.Enter Nicolas Hague. The 26-year-old pending RFA fits the mold of what Flyers GM Daniel Brière has repeatedly emphasized: size, grit, and playoff durability on the blue line. With York, Jamie Drysdale, and Emil Andrae all listed at or under six feet tall, the addition of a towering defender like Hague would address the team’s urgent need for more physicality on the back end.Vegas, on the other hand, faces cap constraints with just $9.6 million in space and several key forwards to re-sign, including Reilly Smith, Brandon Saad, Tanner Pearson, Victor Olofsson, and Alex Holtz.

Hague’s name has come up in trade rumors frequently, and this may be the window where the Golden Knights look to move him to free up salary.

From Philadelphia’s side, cost-controlled assets like Jakob Pelletier or Bobby Brink could pique Vegas’s interest. Brink, despite being just 5-foot-8, put up a career-high 41 points last season and carries a team-friendly $1.5 million cap hit for one more year.As July 1 free agency nears, all eyes are on the Flyers' next move. If Cam York’s extension talks don’t progress, Nicolas Hague appears to be at the top of Philadelphia’s contingency list. A potential deal could give both teams exactly what they need — and shake up two NHL blue lines in the process.Also Read: Top NHL prospect Matthew Schaefer returns from injury ahead of 2025 draft