Well I guess the conversation will shift from the sticky'd NHL thread to here... I said in that thread, I don't understand the timing. Richards & Carter were experienced NHL players ready to compete now. They traded them away so they could sign a legit #1 goaltender, and traded them for younger and more inexperienced players. In the case of Brayden Schenn, he only has 8 games NHL experience. This bolsters their depth in net, but weakens their depth up front for the immediate future. I wonder if by the time these younger players are more experienced and really ready to step up and contribute in a significant manner, if the rest of their roster will experience more turnover. Pronger isn't getting any younger, and had multiple injuries last season. Timonen with just 2 years remaining on his contract. Coburn & Carle are both UFA's next summer. They may find themselves trying to address their depth on defense a couple years out.
I don't see them as being a threat with a younger team up front. I would give the nod to the Bruins, Lightning, or a healthy Penguins roster over how Philly's current depth is shaping up.
What gift? This is still a very talented Flyers team and I'm sure there's a plan...as if they would actually lay down just for us.
They can't fit Richards without gutting the team even further. As they sit, they are worse today by a decent amount. Simmonds and Voracek are both going to get near 3M as RFAs.
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They can't fit Richards without gutting the team even further. As they sit, they are worse today by a decent amount. Simmonds and Voracek are both going to get near 3M as RFAs.
I've got a feeling Simmonds is waiting to see what Dubi and Cally get on their next deals, so that Simmonds number could even be higher.
The guy who has to be smiling right now is Richards. I'm thinking there would be a pretty serious bidding war shaping up.
Always liked Simmonds as a player. Very much the kind of player I think Biggs will be. Nothing flashy, but big, powerful, drive the net and hits hard. A pain to play against.
You gotta hand it to 'em. The Fleas have no trouble pulling the trigger and reshaping their entire team.
Things could get pretty wild in the next 24 hours.
Actually I think the Kings were one of the three teams likely to go big for Brad Richards. Now it's down to 2 -- NYR and T.O.
The Carter trade I understand for the Flyers. Can't play 4 centers. The Richards trade I don't understand at all. You are turning the locker room over to a 36 year old Chris Pronger and gutting your young veteran leadership. Mike Richards was (is) a heart and soul player. Those don't come along that often. He makes the LA Kings a very formidable team and a Stanley Cup contender.
Pardon my language, but Holy ****ing ****. Are they gutting their team? I don't care if Schenn is a top prospect, he's a relatively unknown and they shouldn't have traded a great NHLer like Mike Richards for him. But hey, now we don't have to see either of them 6 times a year.
This also probably take LAK out of the Brad Richards sweepstakes.
Holy ****ing **** what is Philly thinking? Re-build mode with 2 stud young players being the first to go? You'd think they'd start with Pronger and work their way down. Wow.
Actually I think the Kings were one of the three teams likely to go big for Brad Richards. Now it's down to 2 -- NYR and T.O.
The Carter trade I understand for the Flyers. Can't play 4 centers. The Richards trade I don't understand at all. You are turning the locker room over to a 36 year old Chris Pronger and gutting your young veteran leadership. Mike Richards was (is) a heart and soul player. Those don't come along that often. He makes the LA Kings a very formidable team and a Stanley Cup contender.
You and some other folks are making some good points here. I can always benefit from everyone's knowledge. But I confess to being pretty confused. Why would the Fleas do this? There must be more going on here that we don't know.
Holy ****ing **** what is Philly thinking? Re-build mode with 2 stud young players being the first to go? You'd think they'd start with Pronger and work their way down. Wow.
Not gonna see many teams banging down the door for a 37 yr old D-man with a really bad back and a monster contract.
That or they are rebuilding full on. But if they are rebuilding, why trade away two 26-year-olds instead of Pronger, Timonen, Briere, O'Donnell, Shelley?
And if they are after Brad Richards, again, why clear space by dealing their young stars?
Well, at least LA is out of the running for Brad. Too bad we did not deal them Gabby for Schenn. On the other hand, our division rival just got much, much weaker. The Rangers are suddenly the second-best team in Atlantic.
Well i've heard LA is interested in Statstny. I think a good trade for both sides would be Gaborik for Richards. LA trades for Statstny, they have a line of Kopitar-Statstny-Gaborik.
Rangers get a player which fits the identity they want, Richards brings talent heart and grit game in and out. Gaborik does not.
We get the first line center we need to move forward.
We'd obviously need a winger after this but i like the team dynamic a lot better with Richards than with Gaborik.
Actually I think the Kings were one of the three teams likely to go big for Brad Richards. Now it's down to 2 -- NYR and T.O.
The Carter trade I understand for the Flyers. Can't play 4 centers. The Richards trade I don't understand at all. You are turning the locker room over to a 36 year old Chris Pronger and gutting your young veteran leadership. Mike Richards was (is) a heart and soul player. Those don't come along that often. He makes the LA Kings a very formidable team and a Stanley Cup contender.
NHL LIVE saying that there may have been some off-ice and lockeroom issues going on there..
Confused and pissed off, it seems. They are none too pleased about trading away Richards and are unhappy about the length of Bryz's contract.
I would be bitter if I was a Flyers fan. Two homegrown players traded away within minutes of each other, one of whom was a a captain and the other who was capable of scoring 35-40 goals a season. That must be demoralizing.
Ladies and Gentlemen, for the love of all that is holy, please do not let your Flyer fan friends near ropes or sharp objects. Their whole fan base has officially been placed on Suicide Watch.
Confused and pissed off, it seems. They are none too pleased about trading away Richards and are unhappy about the length of Bryz's contract.
I would be bitter if I was a Flyers fan. Two homegrown players traded away within minutes of each other, one of whom was a a captain and the other who was capable of scoring 35-40 goals a season. That must be demoralizing.
Imagine the Rangers traded away Staal and Lundqvist for prospects and picks.
The Flyers, after these deals, have $7.5 million in available cap space, and still have to sign Simmonds, Voracek and Leino. Holmgren's got a lot more work to do to fit Richards in, too.
Leino has made Briere a better player. Briere has shined playing with Leino. The Flyers want to re-sign him at the end of the season but they had tagging issues. Their commitments with Leino at $4 million for 11-12 was more than $59.4 million upper limit.
Carter and Richards are good buddies. Good drinking buddies. Too much of the latter. Scottie Upshall was traded two years ago because he was part of the party club. Pronger is old school and didn't like the commitment or leadership level. Coach Lavy couldn't get through to the anointed guys with the long term contracts and million dollar shore houses. The malaise was spreading to young guys, particularly Giroux and the Flyers were forced to blow it up. The locker room was choosing sides and obviously the Coach and Pronger won the war. Four straight losses to the Bruins sealed the deal. If you recall, Carter sat out a few games with a suddenly sore knee, then played the last two. Richards disappeared on the ice. There are more reported details locally but you get the picture. Richards comes out smelling like a rose in LA where he can contend for a Cup now and upgrade his choices in young women! Flyers get the cap space to sign the goalie they have needed for years.
That or they are rebuilding full on. But if they are rebuilding, why trade away two 26-year-olds instead of Pronger, Timonen, Briere, O'Donnell, Shelley?
And if they are after Brad Richards, again, why clear space by dealing their young stars?
Well, at least LA is out of the running for Brad. Too bad we did not deal them Gabby for Schenn.
yea, i know, we could've been a lottery team... sigh...
Actually I think the Kings were one of the three teams likely to go big for Brad Richards. Now it's down to 2 -- NYR and T.O.
The Carter trade I understand for the Flyers. Can't play 4 centers. The Richards trade I don't understand at all. You are turning the locker room over to a 36 year old Chris Pronger and gutting your young veteran leadership. Mike Richards was (is) a heart and soul player. Those don't come along that often. He makes the LA Kings a very formidable team and a Stanley Cup contender.
Yeah, I like this move for L.A. as well. Happy to see Richards out of our conference and in the West.
