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In one fell swoop, okay, more like two, the Philadelphia Flyers kicked off the summer by subjecting themselves to a self-administered facelift. Just 24 hours ahead of the draft the Flyers traded away two players who just a couple years ago were viewed as franchise building blocks. In fact, GM Paul Holmgren felt so strongly about these cornerstones that he handed them contract extensions totaling 23 years and $127 million, both within the last couple of years. Today however, Holmgren moved team captain MIke Richards to the Kings and Jeff Carter to Columbus in exchange for prospects, draft picks and more importantly, cap space.
In return, the Flyers added RW Jake Voracek, Columbus' first-round pick, 8th overall, and a third-round choice from the Blue Jackets in return for Carter. The price to acquire Richards was prized prospect Brayden Schenn, RW Wayne Simmonds and a second-round pick this year. With the added salary cap space the Flyers signed G Ilya Bryzgalov, whose rights they acquired recently from Phoenix, to a nine-year, $51 million extension.
Let's analyze each deal from the perspective of the participants.
Philadelphia/Columbus
The Jackets add a three-time 30-goal scorer to pair with franchise star Rick Nash. Carter could center Nash but since both are known for their goal-scoring rather than their playmaking ability, it may behoove head coach Scott Arniel to split his stars up. GM Scott Howson was desperate to improve his club enough to make the playoffs next year and made an important step in that direction. Sacrificing the eighth overall choice in Friday's draft was inconsequential considering they need help today and given their frequent first-round failures.
Philadelphia sacrifices a talented goal-scorer in Carter but picked up a skilled winger in Voracek and a draft pick they may use to either further improve next year's club or add much needed young talent to the organization. With a $5 million plus cap hit, it was widely believed Carter was going to be dealt to clear the cap space necessary to sign Bryzgalov.
In the end, I think the deal will have a more profound impact on the ice for Columbus than it will for Philly. Voracek is highly skilled, but a project that hasn't lived up to expectations. The player chosen with the eighth choice this year will probably have the ceiling of a 2nd line forward or 2nd pair defenseman. Former NHL head coach Barry Melrose used to say the team adding the best player usually wins a trade. In this case then Columbus is the easy winner.
Philadelphia/ Los Angeles
Los Angeles has desperately searched for another top-six forward. Last summer they whiffed on Ilya Kovalchuk. Prior to the deadline they added Dustin Penner via trade but the big winger was a bigger disappointment in L.A. The Kings were expected to pursue Brad Richards in free agency but instead of rolling the dice against noted big spenders like New York and Toronto in the Richards sweepstakes, GM Dean Lombardi moved to acquire a player he was quite familiar with.
Before joining L.A. as GM, Lombardi worked for the Flyers and got an up close and personal look at Richards. Richards is a perfect fit for the Kings. He can slot right in behind Anze Kopitar and take some of the pressure of the Kings young star. The Kings have wanted a prototypical second-line pivot for a while and Richards will fill that bill.
The Flyers add the guy TSN called the best player outside the NHL before the 2010-2011 season began. Brayden Schenn was picked fifth overall in the 2009 draft and has been a highly sought after commodity in trade talks ever since. The scouting report on Schenn sounds similar to that of Richards; a solid two-way center with scoring upside.
Simmonds is a high-energy player that can also chip in offensively. Two years ago he posted 40 points as a twenty-one year-old with L.A. He'll fit in on any club's second or third line.
This is a good deal for both clubs. L.A. added a piece that can help them advance further than round-one in next year's playoffs. The Flyers added a player who can eventually be just as good as Richards and a physical forward that will fit right in with the team known as the Broad Street Bullies.
We'll discuss further how today's deals may shape the rest of the off-season in a later post.
Photo: bridgetds, Creative Commons 2.0