The Flyers have no business taking back bad contracts at this point. They've done it with Lehtera, RJ Umberger, and sticking it out with MacDonald. They don't need to be taking back crappy players to ice them. The Flyers should be willing to use an asset or two to improve the roster.
They don't need to take bad contracts, but they can take overpays.
Stars on long-term contracts tend to be overpaid the last couple years, but it doesn't mean they can't still play.
The trick is to get a Filppula a year early rather than a year late, that is, identify which overpay has some game left in him.
Flyers really just need to bridge for 1-2 seasons before the prospects arrive en masse.
You really can't trade them until then, how much value does say Ratcliffe have right now?
But pick up a 3C and that gives you a year for Frost to arrive, and then Rubtsov next spring.
Pick up an upgrade over Folin/MacDonald and you don't have to rush Morin back off injury or Myers from LHV.