On the eve of the NHL Draft, there's still big moves happening in the league...
The Philadelphia Flyers needed to clear cap space so they could add free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (whose rights were dealt the club by Phoenix several weeks back), and did so by dumping $110 million in combined salary through 2020 and 2022 in the form of Jeff Carter and captain Mike Richards. Congratulations, you solved the long standing problem in net that let to a second round playoff exit by getting rid of arguably your top two players who combined for 59 goals and 132 points this year!
Carter, ended up with the Columbus Blue Jackets (so now there will no longer just be Rick Nash wasting his talent there), and Richards, well, he'll need a nine year supply of sunscreen. Having planned on ending his career in Philly, Richards said he would have never signed his 12 year extension in 2007 if he knew he'd end up getting traded, but was excited about the opportunity:
"I was fortunate enough to go to L.A., where I’ve heard nothing but tremendous things, not only about the organization but about the city and how nice it is out there and how great the organization treats you. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit in, but I like the makeup of the team. They’ve got an extremely gritty team with a lot of skill. They have two great goaltenders, up to a defense that is skilled and play the game hard, and then you’ve got a lot of depth at the forward position too."
Of course, there was a price to pay - Wayne Simmonds and coveted prospect Brayden Schenn. The initial reaction was mixed in L.A., as Simmonds, though slumping last season, was still a fan favorite and a hard, young player with plenty of time to continue to grow. But as a restricted free agent (as of July 1), the clock was ticking if there were plans to deal him. Schenn, who came up from juniors to play nine games with the Kings this year, had been the object of trade inquiries from the day the team drafted him.
GM Dean Lombardi often said he would not give up the budding star, who many believe could become a "Mike Richards-type" player, "unless the timing has to be right and it has to be the right player". Well, I think getting the actual Mike Richards qualifies. And the 1-2 centers of Anze Kopitar and Richards make the team level with other heavyweight opponents. "You go into Vancouver and it’s Sedin and Kesler. You go into Detroit, it's Zetterberg and Datsyuk. You go to San Jose, it's Thornton, Pavelski, Couture. Those models of strength down the middle — Boston is another example — that still holds," said Lombardi.
Also surfacing this week has been the story of Ryan Smyth, who the Kings seem to be angling for a trade to Edmonton, where Smyth played for years and was reportedly seeking to return. While it would weaken the team at it's already weakest spot (LW), dealing the 35-year-old would free up close to $16 million, money which would be spent on a new long term deal for stud defenseman Drew Doughty (and other RFA's like Brad Richardson and Alec Martinez).
The Philadelphia Flyers needed to clear cap space so they could add free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (whose rights were dealt the club by Phoenix several weeks back), and did so by dumping $110 million in combined salary through 2020 and 2022 in the form of Jeff Carter and captain Mike Richards. Congratulations, you solved the long standing problem in net that let to a second round playoff exit by getting rid of arguably your top two players who combined for 59 goals and 132 points this year!
Carter, ended up with the Columbus Blue Jackets (so now there will no longer just be Rick Nash wasting his talent there), and Richards, well, he'll need a nine year supply of sunscreen. Having planned on ending his career in Philly, Richards said he would have never signed his 12 year extension in 2007 if he knew he'd end up getting traded, but was excited about the opportunity:
"I was fortunate enough to go to L.A., where I’ve heard nothing but tremendous things, not only about the organization but about the city and how nice it is out there and how great the organization treats you. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit in, but I like the makeup of the team. They’ve got an extremely gritty team with a lot of skill. They have two great goaltenders, up to a defense that is skilled and play the game hard, and then you’ve got a lot of depth at the forward position too."
Of course, there was a price to pay - Wayne Simmonds and coveted prospect Brayden Schenn. The initial reaction was mixed in L.A., as Simmonds, though slumping last season, was still a fan favorite and a hard, young player with plenty of time to continue to grow. But as a restricted free agent (as of July 1), the clock was ticking if there were plans to deal him. Schenn, who came up from juniors to play nine games with the Kings this year, had been the object of trade inquiries from the day the team drafted him.
GM Dean Lombardi often said he would not give up the budding star, who many believe could become a "Mike Richards-type" player, "unless the timing has to be right and it has to be the right player". Well, I think getting the actual Mike Richards qualifies. And the 1-2 centers of Anze Kopitar and Richards make the team level with other heavyweight opponents. "You go into Vancouver and it’s Sedin and Kesler. You go into Detroit, it's Zetterberg and Datsyuk. You go to San Jose, it's Thornton, Pavelski, Couture. Those models of strength down the middle — Boston is another example — that still holds," said Lombardi.
Also surfacing this week has been the story of Ryan Smyth, who the Kings seem to be angling for a trade to Edmonton, where Smyth played for years and was reportedly seeking to return. While it would weaken the team at it's already weakest spot (LW), dealing the 35-year-old would free up close to $16 million, money which would be spent on a new long term deal for stud defenseman Drew Doughty (and other RFA's like Brad Richardson and Alec Martinez).
UPDATE 1: The Smyth trade to the Oilers, for the time being, has fallen apart. Apparently, the teams agreed on the trade, at issue is the health of Gilbert Brule, who the Kings would get in exchange for Smyth. By all indications, the Kings don’t intend to keep Brule, and the most-likely scenario would be a buyout, but that can’t happen if Brule is considered injured (he had concussion issues last season).
UPDATE 2: Mike Richards will wear No. 10. The three previous owners - Marco Sturm, Brayden Schenn and Alyn McCauley, lasted a combined total of 35 games with it. Let it not be cursed!
No comments:
Post a Comment