44 players were traded in 25 deals on Tuesday before the NHL trading deadline. The Flyers acquitted themselves nicely, gaining several draft picks, young players, and a guy who should be able to step in to be the number one netminder that has been missing for years.
I can't believe I'm writing this, but I really like the moves the GM Paul Holmgren made in the past few weeks. He's had some duds to be sure -- Mike York, anyone? -- but in dealing Peter Forsberg, Alexei Zhitnik, and Kyle Calder he shed a significant amount of payroll while at the same time getting younger and quicker, especially on the blueline.
Given these developments, it's not entirely unreasonable to make the argument that Holmgren should be retained as the team's general manager. The only drawback that I can see is that in dealing Zhitnik, Holmgren guaranteed that Derian Hatcher will remain with the team as the only veteran defenseman (not counting Joni Pitkanen, but really -- is anyone?). And, while the Daily News' Ed Moran would disagree with me, I still say the team needs to cut its losses in regards to Hatcher.
**See below for some extra deadline day commentary and analysis:
Showing posts with label Hatcher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hatcher. Show all posts
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Something is better than nothing, but . . .
I thought I wouldn't get around to blogging about the deal, but wound up pulling my thoughts together pretty quickly. All in all, a shrug of the shoulders is about all I can manage in response to the deal.
On one hand, it would have been nice to have seen Forsberg stick around, since, with the right moves made in the offseason, the team -- contrary to popular opinion -- most likely won't be as bad next year as they are this year.
On the other hand, since he would not sign an extension I'm glad they got anything for him at all.
Now, that being said, I am a little bothered over what they did get.
Scottie Upshall is a high-energy, character-type guy who has yet to find his way in the NHL after putting up good numbers in junior and the AHL. This season, he has missed around three months with a groin injury. This is not a good sign for a player who is (a) only 23 years old and (b) relies on his skating ability for a good portion of his game. This has all the makings of a career-long, nagging injury.
Ryan Parent is allegedly the centerpiece of the deal, as he projects to be a top-flight, stay-at-home, shutdown defenseman. Another big character guy, Parent is already troubled with a bad back at the tender age of 19. Another situation that sounds like it will be a career-long injury.
Also included in the deal is a first-round pick -- which will likely be somewhere between 28th and 30th overall -- and a conditional third-round pick which will go to the Flyers if Forsberg re-signs with Nashville.
So, the sum total of the Forsberg trade will be two young players who have some upside but already have injury troubles and a first-round pick in a draft that most experts consider to be one of the weakest in years.
While it's better than nothing, it won't go down as the greatest deal in Flyers' history. Now, if only they could get rid of Hatcher . . .
LINK: More on Parent and Upshall.
On one hand, it would have been nice to have seen Forsberg stick around, since, with the right moves made in the offseason, the team -- contrary to popular opinion -- most likely won't be as bad next year as they are this year.
On the other hand, since he would not sign an extension I'm glad they got anything for him at all.
Now, that being said, I am a little bothered over what they did get.
Scottie Upshall is a high-energy, character-type guy who has yet to find his way in the NHL after putting up good numbers in junior and the AHL. This season, he has missed around three months with a groin injury. This is not a good sign for a player who is (a) only 23 years old and (b) relies on his skating ability for a good portion of his game. This has all the makings of a career-long, nagging injury.
Ryan Parent is allegedly the centerpiece of the deal, as he projects to be a top-flight, stay-at-home, shutdown defenseman. Another big character guy, Parent is already troubled with a bad back at the tender age of 19. Another situation that sounds like it will be a career-long injury.
Also included in the deal is a first-round pick -- which will likely be somewhere between 28th and 30th overall -- and a conditional third-round pick which will go to the Flyers if Forsberg re-signs with Nashville.
So, the sum total of the Forsberg trade will be two young players who have some upside but already have injury troubles and a first-round pick in a draft that most experts consider to be one of the weakest in years.
While it's better than nothing, it won't go down as the greatest deal in Flyers' history. Now, if only they could get rid of Hatcher . . .
LINK: More on Parent and Upshall.
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