Report: Flyers' Luke Schenn 'a strong candidate' to be traded prior to season opener

Luke Schenn may be the odd man out in Philadelphia.

With less than two weeks to go before the start of the regular season, the Flyers have eight defensemen under contract for 2015-16 with a number of promising prospects waiting in the wings. Add in the fact that the club is close to the salary cap ceiling, and a trade appears more than likely.

Schenn has reportedly been on the market all summer, and remains a strong candidate to be moved, according to Randy Miller of NJ.com:

Luke Schenn, a $3.6-million cap hit for another season who has been on the fourth defense pair all camp, is a strong candidate to be traded before the Oct. 8 season opener in Tampa. A deal for a draft pick would give the Flyers' cap relief, as they're just $583,000 under.

General manager Ron Hextall admitted to working the phones, but wouldn't confirm a deal is imminent.

"I have no idea," he said. "Guys call and I call and you end up seeing what works out. You're always looking to better your team."

Schenn was acquired by the Flyers in 2012, and has not developed into the kind of physical, shut-down defenseman the team thought they were receiving in exchange for winger James van Riemsdyk, who has scored 75 goals in 210 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Limited last season due to injury, Schenn recorded three goals, 11 assists, and 67 shots on goal while averaging 18:04 of ice time per game, with a Corsi rating of 50.6 at even strength.