Flyers trade Pitkanen

The Philadelphia Flyers are reporting that defensemen Joni Pitkanen and forward Geoff Sanderson have been traded to the Edmonton Oilers for defensemen Jason Smith and forward Joffrey Lupul. Smith, the captain of the Oilers is a solid defensemen that brings toughness, character and experience to the Flyers. Lupul is a finesse player coming off a poor year statistically with only 16 goals, but has a lot of skill and potential, showing some of his potential production with 28 goals in the 2005-06 season.

Flyers secretly shopping Pitkanen?

After being drafted fourth overall in the 2002 NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers , Joni Pitkanen was expected to be a star in the NHL almost immediately.  But after showing good numbers in his first couple seasons in the NHL, Pitkanen’s 2006-07 season could be the one that defines, as well as ends his career with the Flyers.

From bad to worse: Flyers miss out on number one overall

It has been reported by multiple media sources, that despite the having the league’s worst record in the NHL, the Philadelphia Flyers will choose second overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft. They lost out to the Chicago Blackhawks, who beat the odds to jump from the league’s fifth worst team to choose first overall. This is a depressing thought for Flyers’ fans, who’s only consolation from the Flyers’ record breaking bad season, was the first overall draft pick. Luckily for the Flyers however, there is no clear cut number one overall pick to choose. This years draft lacks an official top tier stand out, much like Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin were in their drafts, but is still loaded with talent at the top. Because of all the talent available high in the draft, falling to number two is not the nightmare it may have been in years prior. The Flyers could very likely still get the player they targeted the entire time. The draft will be held in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22, 2007.

John LeClair Back in Orange and Black?

According to the Camden Courier Post, former Philadelphia Flyers’ great John LeClair was at the Flyers’ practice facility Friday, undergoing a physical for what could be a contract signing with the Flyers. The signing would most likely not be an active one, but would allow 37-year old LeClair a chance to retire as a Philadelphia Flyer.

Flyers Acquire Biron as Deadline Nears

The Philadelphia Flyers continued their dealing on Tuesday Feb 27, acquiring 29 year old Buffalo goaltender Martin Biron, for the Flyers’ second round draft pick in the 2007 draft. The Flyers, who have had struggled in goal all season aimed to secure their goalie ranks in an attempt to recover from their atrocious 2006 season as quickly as next year.

Flyers’ Captain Forsberg Traded

After being told by Philadelphia Flyers’ owner Ed Snyder to decide his fate by February 18th, The indecisive Flyers’ captain Peter Forsberg was declared a healthy scratch in the Flyers’ February 15th game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite contributing in the pre-game skate. This is a screaming indication that the Flyers have all but completed a deal with a team for Forsberg, which is heavily rumored to be to the Nashville Predators for two prospects and a 1st round draft pick in the 2007 entry draft. One Nashville player rumored to be involved in the trade for Forsberg, is quick playing solid defensemen Ryan Parent, who’s surname will surely fit in Philadelphia. Though this is speculation at best, more draft picks could be added, as well as a possible NHL ready player. The trade has to be approved by league offices in Toronto which could be the cause of the information delay.

Update: ESPN is reporting the Philadelphia Flyers have officially completed a trade with the Nashville Predators for Peter Forsberg. The trade consists of Peter Forsberg to Nashville for agitating forward Scottie Upshaw, shut down defending prospect, Ryan Parent, a first round draft pick, and a conditional 3rd round draft pick in the 2007 draft. Regardless of the trade, Forsberg is a free agent at the end of the season, and could possibly re-sign with the Flyers at that time.

New Style Flyers’ Need Old Style Hockey To Improve

The legacy of the Philadelphia Flyers is not one of star players or charismatic coaches. It is not made up of 50 goal scorers or Stanley Cup runs. The Philadelphia Flyers legacy is built on the backs of nameless grunts who would never tolerate losing because they despised it. This mindset was engrained into the fabric of Philadelphia Flyers hockey, and no matter which generation of players played in the orange and black, they were endowed the nickname “The Broad Street Bullies”.

Forsberg’s Upcoming Free Agency Not A Worry For The Flyers

The NHL season is right around the corner for the Philadelphia Flyers, who have spent the past month solidifying their future. Finalizing deals with coach Ken Hitchcock and Simon Gagne, put at ease the Flyers’ faithful who were pained to see in the off season, these deals linger undone. With these contract issues put to rest for a few years, the Flyers attention is slowly turning to their new captain Peter Forsberg, whose contract with the Flyers expires after this season.

Gagne Contract Status Still Uncertain: Should Flyers Fans Be Worried?

In the old NHL, the Flyers, specifically Bobby Clarke, would have picked up an A-list free agent to make up for the possible loss of Peter Forsberg to injury. With training camp just around the corner, this off season was a first for Flyers fans who are still getting used to the NHL’s new salary cap.

Unfortunately, the new NHL limits spending which leads to the number one question Flyers’ fans are asking coming into the new season: “Why haven’t the Flyers signed Simon Gagne? And is it time to panic?” The initial reaction is that the ownership is being cheap; not throwing out the big bucks for a legitimate star, but that is far from the truth.

In the old NHL there is no doubt that the Flyers would pay Gagne, believing that he deserves a big pay day coming off a team-leading 47-goal season. In the new NHL this problem is a little more difficult to solve. Gagne’s agent Bob Sauve is looking for a deal around 3 years/$15 million, similar to the contract one Alex Tanguay, a 30 goal scorer for the Calgary Flames (whom Suave is also an agent for) signed. This deal would provide Gagne with roughly $5 million a year, which creates some tricky arithmetic.

The NHL salary cap is at $44 million and the Flyers currently have roughly $40 million against it, leaving only 4 million maximum to spend on Gagne. This doesn’t mean the Flyers will be unable to sign Gagne, but what it does mean is that the Flyers’ roster needs some finagling and questions need to be answered to acquire the money under the cap to ink Simon.

It has been rumored that Antero Nittymaki is going to be the Flyers’ weight-bearing goalie this season, which will leave Robert Esche disgruntled since he has great distaste for sitting on the bench. Dealing Esche could be a way to relieve pressure on the salary cap but the problem with putting a goalie on the market so early on in the new season is that goalie value is extremely low. Teams want to see what they get out of their young talent and have confidence in their current situations. The value for goalies rises during the season as injuries mount and the season goes on because the team’s confidence in their net minder drops. Relieving Esche’s contract may become more likely as the season progresses but a deal early on in the season might not be out of the question if Clarke hears a good offer.

Keith Primeau is also a contractual question mark. Lately Primeau has been practicing and looking like his old self. “He looks like a man ready to play,” says coach Ken Hitchcock. Regardless of a few post-concussion relapses he had, Keith seems to be playing well, though he could be one game time hit from another long injured reserve trip or possibly early retirement. If Primeau cannot recover fully and decides to retire, his $3 million dollar contract will be lifted from the Flyers salary cap, leaving enough room to sign Gagne.

If Keith does make a full recovery however, it will leave the Flyers’ roster very forward heavy even with the experimentation of Sami Kapanen playing consistent defense. The excess of forwards should force the Flyers to make a move to get rid older players with relatively big contracts such as Petr Nedved and Turner Stevenson; but finding a buyer for them would require Clarke to put on an award winning performance that would be nothing less than artful and magnificent.

The Flyers expect Gagne to be in camp on time and to not start a hold-out like Colorado Avalanche restricted star Marek Svatos has stated he would do if not signed. Holding-out hasn’t become a habit among NHL players yet, but with a salary cap, roster situations could soon go the way of the NFL and any player unhappy with their current contract will put pressure on the organization to make a deal by skipping out of training camp.

With the recent success of a similar restricted free agent in Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins signing a 5-year 23.75 million dollar contract, Gagne’s camp, along with Flyers fans, should be optimistic that a deal will be made before Simon becomes a unrestricted free agent — regardless of the trade rumors swirling about involving Gagne for Peter Forsberg’s childhood friend and Swedish teammate Markus Nasland in Vancouver.

The situation may look dire from a fans point-of-view but it’s just going to take some stalling by Bobby Clarke, the lowball offers the Flyers already put on the table, and some ironing out of salary cap issues, that in time, will paint a clear picture of how Clarke will free up Gagne’s cash.

*UPDATE – 09/06/06
Gagne and Clarke continue to be at odds over a multi year contract. Gagne’s agent Bob Sauve has made it clear Simon will holdout of camp or maybe longer if a deal is not reached. Gagne and his agent have clearly stated he would like to remain a Flyer regardless of whether he holds out or not. The more time Gagne misses out of camp the more likely it will be that he gets moved to a team with adaquit cap space — though the Flyers DO NOT want to take those actions, it is a growing possibility.

*UPDATE – 09/11/06 
On Monday both Gagne and the Flyers agreed to a five-year, $26.25M deal which averts a major problem as Gagne will now show to camp.  It still seems likely the Flyers will have to move some players to relieve money against the cap.

Photo by Getty Images

Edited by L. Olivia Piotti

Flyers Swap Defensive Play For Speed

This off season has been unusually slow for the Philadelphia Flyers, without the habitual wheeling and dealing of previous years. Between Peter Forsberg’s chronic ankle problems and the inability to ink Simon Gagne to a major deal, Flyers fans have a collective nervous feeling of turbulence, not much improvement after a disappointing season.

But as they say, it is always darkest before the sun rises, and for Bob Clarke and fans, it has gotten a lot brighter because the Flyers suddenly got active and much quicker. Bobby Clarke’s love affair which the Chicago Blackhawks organization continues, as he made his first major offensive upgrade of the off season, acquiring speedy left-wing Kyle Calder for hardworking stalwart center Michal Handzus.

No fan or member of the flyers organization should be happy to see Handzus go. He is the kind of player that would be immortalized in Philadelphia lore if he was here as long as John LeClair or Rod Brind’Amour. A quiet person with a leather face, Handzus left his last ounce of effort on the ice every game, frequently diving to knock pucks out of the zone and absorbing punishing shots from the point. Handzus’ playing style befitts the “Zeus” chant he received from the fans when he came up huge in a game.

Kyle Calder, a 27 year old left wing, is two years younger then Handzus. A small, quick forward, his skill led an offensively deficient Black Hawks team with 26 goals and 33 assists, and earned him a silver medal for Team Canada in the Olympics. His playmaking ability and penalty kill effort will fit well with the Flyers young players who lacked finishing power at the end of the season and into the playoffs. This move, along with the acquiring of quick veteran Geoff Sanderson, whom the Flyers picked up from the Phoenix Coyotes on July 19th, is part of Clarke’s attempt to arm this team with quicker more offensive minded players.
By the numbers, the Flyers got the better of the deal, but Chicago needed a position filled and Handzus is the perfect piece to their Martin Havlat puzzle. Calder also won an arbitration case earlier in the off season, winning a one-year, $2.95 million contract. This apparently didn’t sit well with the Black Hawks front office who immediately put Calder on the trading block, and it was this arbitration case lost that helped the Flyers make out extremely well.

The Blackhawks needed a defensive minded center who could control the puck and could defend against the larger forwards in the west, like Joe Thornton and Joe Sakic. Handzus’ size could win battles in the corners and free up loose pucks for the goal scorer Martin Havlat. His passing ability would create the chances needed for Chicago to become respectable in the league again. Both Havlat and Handzus were born in Czechoslovakia, matching up lines with players who speak the same language and style of play has been a successful strategy for coaches in the NHL, but because of the Czechoslovakia split, both players played for different teams in the Olympics, Handzus played for Slovakia and Havlat, Czech Republic.

Flyers fans should cheer on all that Handzus did for the team. They should also cheer on Bob Clarke for making the Flyers faster and for creating a more exciting off season.

Photo by the AP

Edited by L. Olivia Piotti