Dispelling Flyers Trade Deadline Rumors

There are many rumors flying around Philadelphia these days. Often though these rumors are not actually started by the Flyers own moves. They range from being able to steal players and prospects from the Flyers for almost nothing to the ever popular inability for the Flyers to be players at the trade deadline due to salary cap restrictions. The vast majority of them happen to be false. The Flyers pride themselves on making deadline moves to put their team in a better position to win the Stanley Cup. History actually shows that teams that make some kind of move perform better in the playoffs than teams that don’t so to believe on of the best GMs in the league, Paul Holmgren, will not get involved is hoping or a lot.

1. The Flyers Cannot Obtain Bouwmeester Without Sending Giroux Or vanRiemsdyk
The Flyers have always drafted well especially when it comes to forwards. Currently their two prized possessions are winger Claude Giroux, QMJHL standout currently playing well with the Flyers, and power forward James vanRiemsdyk, 2nd overall pick in 2007 currently attending UNH. These two could end up being even better than Mike Richards and Jeff Carter for the Flyers in the future so expect to pay a lot in order to get them. Though people sometimes have the tendancy to overrate potential it’s highly unlikely that the organization will give these two up. When discussions break out over the Flyers trade deadline moves however the two prospects are almost always included. The biggest piece Philadelphia is likely to be after is Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panther blueliner. Though there is still plenty of speculation as to what will happen to the defenseman in the upcoming months many still feel that he could be traded even with the team in a position to possibly make it to the postseason. A playoff birth for the struggling Panthers franchise is something not to be taken lightly. They are very desperate to fend off the teams around them until the playoffs; Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Carolina. That being said Bouwmeester didn’t want to return to the Panthers. Many believe that it was because he wanted to be with a winning organization. So if the Panthers make a stong push it is still very possible that Bouwmeester doesn’t even want to leave. Let’s say for the sake of argument that the organization fails to sign him by the deadline. What could they do with him? They could obviously keep him in the hopes for a playoff run and try to get rid of his rights at the draft before he becomes one of the biggest free agents on the market, or they could use him at the deadline to get some offensive and defensive players added to their team as well as some picks and prospects. The second is far more likely since they want to make the playoffs this season, they want to stay competitive for multiple seasons, and they want to get the highest possible return for the young Bouwmeester should he still want to leave. So who could offer the Panthers such a deal at the deadline; one that keeps them in the run this season and future seaons? The Philadelphia Flyers can.

2. Jay Bouwmeester (c0nt.) And Philadelphia “Salary Dump”
While many feel that Joffrey Lupul and Randy Jones are just “salary dump” pieces from the Flyers at the trade deadline due to their contracts this is something completely untrue. Lupul is a young right winger and former first round draft pick with a proven history of 30 goal/50 point+ seasons. When you look at young players putting up similar numbers at the NHL level his $4.25m/year extension for four years that kicks in after this season is very reasonable for a top line winger. On many teams he is in fact a first line winger. While people complain about his inconsistency, most players in the NHL under 65 points a season are iconsistent. First line minutes would do wonders for a winger like Lupul. Randy Jones is another player that many feel Philadelphia would just be dumping at first possible opportunity. The thing with Jones is that on the Flyers defense another PPQB is redundant. They have multiple players who could fill in for Jones. They survived on the 2nd overall NHL powerplay for months while he was out so of course they can survive without him. While he is not a top pairing defenseman he does add an element to a team in need of a spark on the powerplay. Both of these players could help the Panthers now and would free up enough salary cap room for the Flyers to bring Bouwmeester in. The Panthers of course would get a top line winger and another defenseman who can score points on the powerplay. That alone would not be enough to get Bouwmeester so other incentives would likely include prospects like winger Andreas Nodl, a former 2nd round selection, who has proven he can play a solid two way game at the NHL level. The Flyers have a large crop of talented forwards who may never see time on the Flyers because of the team’s depth up front. The Panthers have a solid defense but could use more scorers. The Flyers and Panthers make ideal trading partners at the deadline. Other players could be substituded from the Flyers or added from both sides as well such as switching the Flyers newly acquired, young, and talented defenseman Matt Carle in for Randy Jones. Because Bouwmeester is a UFA though, should a deal such as this go through, expect a conditional draft pick to be added from Philadelphia as high as a first rounder should Bouwmeester resign with the Flyers. If you are someone expecting a team to have to shell out a lot for Bouwmeester should he be on the block, history shows that it’s not an overpayment offering that brings high end players back. Instead it’s usually the correct deal for both sides.

3. The Flyers Are Still Interested In Kaberle
At the last trade deadline the Flyers reportedly went after the Toronto defenseman Tomas Kaberle with Jeff Carter and a 1st rounder. It has also been reported that the reason the deal didn’t go through was because Kaberle refused to waive his NTC to go to Philadelphia. It is important to point out that this offering could still be completely fabricated. There has never been proof that Holmgren offered Toronto such a deal. Though many rumors spring up that Philadelphia still has interest in Kaberle along with the ever popular switch-up proposal of Kaberle and Toronto’s 1st rounder for Jeff Carter, it is foolish to believe that the Flyers not only still have interest in a play who becomes redundant on the Flyers defense and that wouldn’t waive his NTC to come to a winning organization like Philadelphia but also that the Flyers would be willing to give up Jeff Carter who is currently in a race with the great Alexander Ovechkin for the most goals in the league. Though Kaberle’s contract seems to be a steal he is not as appealing with one less year to go on his amazing bargain contract. Other rumors have begun to pop up including vanRiemsdyk, Giroux, and Philadelphia’s first rounder for this upcoming draft. While Kaberle would have been nice on the slow, clunky defense that Philadelphia had last season he becomes relatively useless with this currently more mobile Flyers blueline crew. If anything Philadelphia would be looking for a better two-way defenseman at the deadline if not another slow, clunky shut-down guy. The Kaberle to Philly ship has sailed. The Flyers no longer need a man of Kaberle’s abilities so to think that important players and prospects such as Jeff Carter, Claude Giroux, and James vanRiemsdyk could be shipped off to Toronto for any kind of package is absurd.

4. Philadelphia Is Trying To Move Briere
It is very easy to destroy this theory by mentioning a minor little NMC on Briere’s contract. He likes it in Philadelphia. He would not have signed with the Flyers if he didn’t want to be in Philly. While some speculate that Paul Holmgren could try to convince Briere to waive his clause don’t expect it to be so easy. In any case why would Holmgren want to? The Flyers have a point per game center on three scoring lines. This is invaluable in the playoffs where it could very easily cause matchup problems for opposing defenses. On top of that Briere has currently scored more playoff goals since the lockout than any other player in the NHL. Why would the Flyers give up such a vital part of their offense? It’s true that they can win without him. While he has been injured most of this season the Flyers have done just fine. Still that doesn’t mean that Philadelphia doesn’t see him as a big part of the organization in terms of winning the Stanley Cup. Could his salary be used elsewhere? Of course it could, but the Flyers have chosen to go in a certain direction. Don’t think that they will deviate from their plans just because Briere has had groin troubles for one season.

5. Upshall Could Be Traded By The Deadline
TSN currently has a list of the top 10 players it thinks will be traded at the deadline. On this list is Flyers winger Scottie Upshall who becomes an RFA after this season. While anyone looking at Upshall’s production and draft position would think that he is not living up to his potential, the forward has become a vital part of this organization. He is a playmaker and role player on the third line who adds energy to an already fast paced unit. As with many players on the Flyers he is more valuable to the organization than he would be to other teams. He adds intangibles and while he doesn’t score as many goals as the Flyers would like he could end up being exactly the type of player the team could use with a bargain contract down the line. While he will likely get a raise when he signs a deal it won’t be a huge salary increase, and with the salary cap expected to stop growing bargain contracts for talented young players will become even more important. Upshall still has the potential to be a 50 point player when given more minutes, and it’s very possible that teams are inquiring as to his availability. Still, it wouldn’t make sense for the Flyers to move him right now. If he even gets traded the draft would be a far better option for Philadelphia.

Posted by Chris Shafer on Feb 5 2009. Filed under Atlantic, Eastern Conference, Featured Articles, Florida Panthers, NHL Rumors, Northeast, Philadelphia Flyers, Southeast, Toronto Maple Leafs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.