Richards, Carter traded; Bryzgalov signed
In a span of just 30 minutes on Thursday, the Flyers dismantled the nucleus of their team by shipping leading scorer Jeff Carter to Columbus and captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles.
Richards, Carter traded; Bryzgalov signed
Let the record show that the day the Flyers decided to blow up the nucleus of their team was June 23, 2011.
Thursday started with the Flyers' need to begin to clear cap space in order to sign goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
In a span of just a few hours, general manager Paul Holmgren traded away not only leading scorer Jeff Carter but also team captain Mike Richards in two separate trades within 30 minutes of each other.
"Today was a huge day for the Flyers organization," Holmgren said at a press conference in Minneapolis. "What we've done today is change the direction of our organization with these two moves. I’ve always said over the last few years that I like our team. I still like our team, it’s just a different team."
The moves left the remainder of the NHL - not to mention the Flyers' fan base - in total shock.
"Those are two elite players to be traded in one day," Columbus general manager Scott Howson told reporters. "It's a little bit unprecedented in our league."
Howson acquired Carter by sending off Jakub Voracek, the 8th overall pick in Friday's Entry Draft, and a third round pick to the Flyers. He also said the Flyers repeatedly asked about prospect Ryan Johansen, who the club opted not to move.
It seems like Howson pressed the Flyers into making the move, saying it "got to a point where it just had to be done" before the draft.
"I don't take trading away a Jake Voracek — a 21-year-old player that's got tremendous upside — or the eighth overall pick lightly, but our fans have been very patient," Howson said. "It's been 10 years now. And we just had to do something that's going to make us better right now."
Carter has averaged 38 goals over each of the last three seasons and was about to begin an 11-year, $58 million contract extension next season. Through his agent, Rick Curran, Carter said he would need at least the weekend to gather his thoughts before addressing the trade publicly.
It is unclear at this time whether close friend Richards requested a trade from the Flyers.
Holmgren said both players were "very upset" and emotional during their trade calls.
“Those are two hard phone calls to make," Holmgren said. "I think the world of both of them. That’s difficult, that’s the hard part of the job. That was tough. They both made long-term commitments to stay in Philadelphia. Probably at a lower number [than they could've gotten]."
Richards will be re-united with former coach and mentor John Stevens in Los Angeles, where he was shipped in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a second round pick.
Simmonds, 22, and the 19-year-old Schenn, accompanied by the 21-year-old Voracek have not only significantly reduced the Flyers' salary cap stress but also their new team's average age.
Voracek was drafted 7th overall in 2007 and Schenn was the 5th overall pick in 2009. Schenn is the brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn.
With the moves, Holmgren said the goal was to spread the depth from center to wing while adding size.
"We were a little bit overloaded in the middle of the ice," Holmgren said. "To take a step back and try to add size on the wing, and still maintain our presence in the middle... We’re a much different team."
As if that wasn't enough for the day - on a day that the Flyers were officially added on the schedule as the recipient of the 2012 Winter Classic on Jan. 2 at Citizens Bank Park - they dotted the i's and crossed the t's with Bryzgalov on a 9-year, $51 million deal. That means Bryzgalov, who turned 31 this week, will have a $5.667 cap hit until he is 40 years old.
It's safe to say that Flyers chairman Ed Snider now has his man. It only cost the gut of his team.
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Congratulations idiots. The Flyers just traded 132 points & got 28 in return + a guy who spent 99% of his time in the AHL last year. So what if they sign Bryzgalov & re-sign Leino. WHO IS GOING TO SCORE GOALS???? To all of you complete jack***es who dogged Richards - I hope you enjoy first round playoff exits b/c this team isn't sniffing the cup anytime soon. I almost hope Richie hoists the cup so that you clowns will finally shut your damned mouths.— thomaspfoolery- Actually they traded 132 points and got 86 back. And they got bigger. And younger. And oh by the way they got a guy who is maybe the top NHL ready prospect. And they are going to come out of both deals about +3 mil in cap space. — sla6yer
- Wow, there must have been a run on crystal balls this afternoon, because suddenly everybody around here knows exactly how next season is going to turn out. Yeah, I realize these are prospects we're talking about here, but come on, they are *exciting* prospects. Very exciting prospects. And cheap - you guys are aware there's a salary cap, right? We need a massive distribution of chill pills in this town stat. — 3-hit shutout
- Now the vocal minority can finally be happy. We shall see if these moves were/are worth it. I fear the worst.— Penfold18
- Great moves. Schenn is going to be a superstar.— Rod72
- I think I would have been happy with one or the other leaving but not both at the same time. One trade would be a good wake up call, but both trades might be overkill and leave the team behind the eight ball. If the Flyers sign this new goalie, he better be prepared to serve up shut out after shut out.— Penfold18
Who else was tired of every year watching Carter sleep walk through the playoffs? Homer for one.— AznPhan- Carter gets you in the playoffs every year and then takes you out of the playoffs every year. It is good to break up the olde city crowd too. It helped a few years ago when they moved Upshall!— Bigkahuna3131
- Carter - no heart no and no heart ever. Richards - total lack of production and an insistence on doing things his way to the detriment of th team. Good riddance. And for those of you thinking this was a terrible day for the Flyers, the moves that Homer made are only the beginning; he is going to go after players with heart and desire which is long overdue. GO FLYERS!— CTL
- bryz just signed for 9 years at $51 mill— arb
- Homer, you are exquisite. Redone damage of draft losses for last four years. New farm system. The frat pack is finally gone. Maybe Stephens can keep enablin them in Cal. Keeps Leino. Dumps soft Carter. Gives us a real captain. Need a center faceoff specialist. Bryz is Parent. God i love these moves. Go Flyers— LaCroix,Nolet,Gendron
- You must live in Glen Falls, b/c there won't be anything to watch in Philly for about 5 years.
- we traded TWO players. We did not "gut" the team. We traded the gutless parts of it. (not so much Richards, he had alot of heart and I respected him as a player)
- Wow...gotta hand it to the Flyers, they do make sig moves. Haha, loved the pupu platter comment. Hello, Ilya.— PhillySubsMac
- "And just to clarify, Richards isn't going anywhere.... they love this guy." azguz
Love it when fans think they know something when they really don't. Wish you could delete that comment, huh azguz?
— amg
