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David Goyette trade gives Flyers proven 117-point OHL scorer

Dustin JudgeDustin Judge
David Goyette in a Seattle Kraken preseason game in September 2024, before the David Goyette trade to the Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Devin Kaplan to the Seattle Kraken for forward David Goyette on Thursday, Oct. 1, the Flyers announced on NHL.com. The David Goyette trade is a one-for-one swap of 22-year-old forwards, and Goyette will report to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

No other players or picks were included in the announcement.

Who Philadelphia gets in the David Goyette trade

Goyette, a native of St-Jerome, Quebec, was Seattle’s second-round pick, 61st overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft. His junior résumé is the headline: he scored 282 points (114 goals, 168 assists) in three seasons with the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves from 2021 to 2024 and led the league with 117 points (40 goals, 77 assists) in 2023-24.

The pro jump has been slower. Goyette played 108 games for the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds over the last two seasons, totaling nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points, plus three assists in 11 Calder Cup playoff games, per the Flyers.

What Seattle gets in Kaplan from the David Goyette trade

Kaplan played three seasons at Boston University from 2022 to 2025 and made his NHL debut with the Flyers after his final college season. He spent 2025-26 with Lehigh Valley, where he had five goals and eight assists in 49 games.

Why the swap makes sense on paper

Both players are 22 and both are still fighting for NHL roles, so the deal reads as a change of scenery for two prospects rather than a move for immediate help. Philadelphia is betting that Goyette’s junior scoring touch can return in a new system. Seattle adds a college-developed forward who has already logged NHL time.

The deal landed during a slow start for the NHL club. The Flyers opened with a 7-0 home loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday and lost 3-2 in overtime at New Jersey on Thursday night, according to ESPN, leaving them 0-1-1. Goyette will not join the NHL roster right away, but the David Goyette trade gives Lehigh Valley another scoring option.

A busy opening week for both clubs

After the David Goyette trade, Kaplan joins a Seattle organization that opened its season Thursday night in Calgary, according to ESPN’s schedule. The Flyers return home Saturday to face the Carolina Hurricanes, still looking for their first win. Goyette, meanwhile, will start with Lehigh Valley, the Flyers’ top affiliate, as the Phantoms prepare for the AHL season.

For more on the Kraken’s season, see our Kraken vs. Flames preview, and follow every move in our NHL news section.

Dustin Judge

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.