Flyers Flying Around | Trading Craziness | June 23rd, 2011

After a busy time writing articles during the Playoffs I thought I would give myself a bit of time off and write a new post or two next week. Was still considering the topics. Basically the idea was to have a quiet hockey week. Then I logged on to Twitter an hour or two ago and got engulfed in a maelstrom of Flyers trading tweets! A bit like an 'all hell broke loose' Twitter evening.


First point of discussion: Carter. He got traded to Columbus. Now some of you may know one of my faves is ♥ Rick Nash ♥ ... but I always envisioned him coming to the Flyers ;) ... I definitely did not think any of our guys would be traded to his team. I am fine with the trade. Never was a fan of Carts and just did not get him at all. Sure, there are the points, but something about his on ice and off ice persona did not sit well with me. Here the official Flyers tweet confirming the deal:

NHLFlyers Philadelphia Flyers
#Flyers acquire from CBJ Jakub Voracek, a 2011 1st Round pick (8th overall) & 2011 3rd Round pick (68th overall) in exchange for Jeff Carter

Second point of discussion: Richards. A few minutes after the Carter rumours, folks in the know started tweeting about a possible trade involving Richie. Now I was mad at him at times, but I never lost faith in him as our Captain. Just wanted him involved just a bit more, but when all was said and done I always saw him as a great Flyer. And now he is headed for L.A.? I am not liking this at all. In fact I feel a bit sick about the whole trade. But apparently Richie is happy. Here the official Flyers tweet:

@NHLFlyers Philadelphia Flyers

#Flyers have acquired from LA C Brayden Schenn, RW Wayne Simmonds and the Kings 2012 2nd Round Draft choice in exchange for Mike Richards.

I was hoping the locker room issues folks discussed were in fact not true. But that something was not quite the same shortly after the ASG was quite clear. I was forever coming up with reasons to explain the slow but sure disintegration of our great team, but sometimes things just cannot be salvaged. Carts & Richie moved out shortly one after another? There has got to be more to that than making cap room for ...........

Third point of discussion: Bryzgalov. Signed for a nine-year deal worth $51m. Good goalie obviously, with sometimes debatable work ethic. Let me use a cliché: Time Will Tell. After the other two trades, this one was confirmed as well by the Flyers organisation:  

NHLFlyers Philadelphia Flyers
#Flyers have agreed to terms with goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov on a multi-year contract.

If we do not get a few experienced players back, we might as well start considering our team as one that is in build-up phase. In which case I wonder why we need Bryzgy at all. Might as well keep going with Sergei, right? I hope Holmgren has something up his sleeve. Well, something that does not include giving up our other prized possessions. And now I am going to cry over the sudden disappearance of our Captain. Really? L.A.? *sighs*

And just as I am about to post this article, this pops up on Twitter:

Pat Gallen
A source close to @973ESPN saying Flyers discussing a deal for Lightning star Steven Stamkos. Hockey world could explode.

That one I am going to chalk down to idiocy, but shit, after a night like this, I am sort of not going to be surprised by anything lol. What I need is a good night's sleep and perhaps I will see things differently tomorrow. Perhaps I will be less shocked and I might see possibilities the new additions bring us ... *ponders*

PS Who is next? Versteeg? I hope so.