Philadelphia Flyers targeting Alexander Romanov and Arber Xhekaj

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere is actively seeking defensive reinforcements following unsuccessful pursuits of John Carlson and Darnell Nurse. Reports indicate the team has shown interest in New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj.

Romanov, a 26-year-old stay-at-home defenseman, is viewed as a potential replacement for the physical style provided by Rasmus Ristolainen, who is entering the final year of his contract. While Romanov carries a higher salary cap hit, Xhekaj is considered a more economical option as a restricted free agent.

The Flyers currently possess nearly $14 million in projected cap space, a figure that could increase if Ristolainen is traded during the offseason.