Dave Isaac | The Courier-Post

DALLAS — With the entire league operating rather slowly in the trade department over the weekend, Flyers general manager Ron Hextall has to explore other options to make a splash.

And, unlike recent years, he wants to.

“I told you guys the other day we’d like to add a top forward. We’d like to add a veteran D if we could,” Hextall said at the conclusion of the draft Saturday. “Those are the two positions. If you say we have a wish list, that’s our wish list. Our pieces can move around so it doesn’t necessarily have to be a center or a winger. It can be a guy that can play both because we have some adaptability because we have some guys on our team that can move around.”

Hextall has said there’s still some interest in Valtteri Filppula, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent, but it’s likely the Flyers only bring him back if they totally strike out in free agency or via trade.

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The top defensive candidate that could have been had in a trade was Dougie Hamilton, a top-pair, right-handed defenseman on a very reasonable $5.75 million salary cap hit for the next three seasons…but he was traded from Calgary to the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday.

If the Flyers want to upgrade the defense, they may have to find another deal because the free agent pickings are slim since John Carlson re-signed with the Washington Capitals Sunday night on an eight-year, $64-million deal.

Starting Sunday, teams could talk to pending unrestricted free agents and even agree to terms, but new contracts can’t be signed until July 1. Here’s a few candidates the Flyers might be reaching out to.

NHLI via Getty Images

Tyler Bozak, center, Toronto Maple Leafs

Age: 32

Last season: 11 goals, 32 assists in 82 games

Current salary-cap hit: $4.2 million

The skinny: The Flyers need help on the penalty kill and Bozak didn’t play in that role for Toronto, but he could still be a fit as an offensive option in a third-line role as long as the Flyers bring in someone else to improve their awful penalty kill. Bozak played mostly with ex-Flyer and 36-goal scorer James van Riemsdyk this season. At his age, he won’t be able to command a long-term deal and his production would suggest a new deal being worth roughly the same as his last one, perhaps a little cheaper. Reportedly the phones at Newport Sports Management were already ringing Sunday about Bozak, including the Maple Leafs trying to keep him.

NHLI via Getty Images

Michael Grabner, winger, New Jersey Devils

Age: 30

Last season: 27 goals, 9 assists in 80 games

Current salary-cap hit: $1.65 million

The skinny: Grabner went from the New York Rangers to the Devils just before the trade deadline last season and even though the Flyers were looking for help back then, they weren’t serious contenders in acquiring the Austrian winger. He’ll be 31 by the time the season starts, but still has excellent speed and is a force on the penalty kill. He’s scored 27 goals in each of the last two seasons so he’ll probably be due a raise on his next deal, but still a reasonable cap number.

NHLI via Getty Images

Riley Nash, center, Boston Bruins

Age: 29

Last season: 15 goals, 26 assists in 76 games

Current salary-cap hit: $900,000

The skinny: There’s always a risk in signing a free agent who is coming off his career best season and that’s the case with Nash. He was surrounded by talent in Boston and did well replacing Patrice Bergeron, so he’s going to get a lot of attention during the free-agent courting period. He’s also been an effective penalty killer, which makes him all the more attractive. He’d fit as a third-line center for the Flyers, allowing Nolan Patrick to build on the momentum he had going in his rookie season as a second-liner and obviously Sean Couturier would remain the top center.

NHLI via Getty Images

Mike Green, defense, Detroit Red Wings

Age: 32

Last season: 8 goals, 33 points in 66 games

Current salary-cap hit: $6 million

The skinny: The free agent market for defensemen is very shallow. The Flyers’ best bet to address this area is probably trade, but if they go the free-agent route, Green is probably the best fit. Even still, it’s like trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. He would have to take a pay cut and can’t be counted on for big minutes anymore. Coming off back surgery he’d be in a precarious position and Detroit is reportedly trying to re-sign him, but that hasn’t happened yet.

NHLI via Getty Images

Derek Grant, center, Anaheim Ducks

Age: 28

Last season: 12 goals, 12 assists in 66 games

Current salary-cap hit: $650,000