Flyers acquire Meszaros from Tampa Bay
Daily News Flyers blog
Flyers acquire Meszaros from Tampa Bay
Just a few minutes before free agency opened at noon, the Flyers traded a 2012 second round pick to Tampa Bay for defenseman Andrej Meszaros (pronounced AWN-dray MEH-zahr-ohsh).
Meszaros, 24, is a former first round pick from Slovakia.
"I was surprised for sure," Meszaros said in a conference call with reporters. "But that's part of hockey life. I've got to move on now. It's great, Philadelphia was always a tough team to play against. I'm excited."
"We're excited to add Andrej to our team and defensive group," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Andrej is a young, durable defenseman who can play in all situations and will be a good fit on our club."
Meszaros' stats over the last two years dropped significantly in Tampa Bay from the lofty numbers he posted over three seasons in Ottawa, making him expendable by the Lightning. In his time in Tampa, Meszaros was depended on as a No. 1 or No. 2 defenseman.
"It seemed like it didn't want to go in [in Tampa Bay]," Meszaros said. "Maybe I was trying to hard."
Here are Meszaros’ stats:
2005-06 - Ottawa – 10 goals, 29 assists, 39 points, plus-34 (82 games)
2006-07 - Ottawa – 7 goals, 28 assists, 35 points, minus-15 (82 games)
2007-08 - Ottawa – 9 goals, 27 assists, 36 points, plus-5 (82 games)
2008-09 - Tampa Bay – 2 goals, 14 assists, 16 points, minus-4 (52 games)
2009-10 - Tampa Bay – 6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points, minus-14 (81 games)
The biggest number is Meszaros’ cap hit. Meszaros has four years left on his deal at $4 million per season.
As you can see, Meszaros has been pretty durable over his career - except for the 2008-09 season when he had shoulder surgery and also broke his jaw.
The book on him says he is a big defenseman, 6-foot-2, 220 pounds and a strong skater. Since he is from the former Czechoslovakia, Meszaros said he knew Lukas Krajicek - who doesn't figure to be in the Flyers' plans - and he played briefly with Matt Carle in Tampa Bay before the Flyers traded for Carle.
With a $4 million cap hit, Meszaros could limit the Flyers’ other moves in free agency. The Flyers have also re-signed restricted free agent Braydon Coburn to a two-year, $6.4 million contract. With that, they have approximately $3.2 million remaining on the $59.4 million cap but still need to re-sign restricted free agent forwards Darroll Powe and Dan Carcillo.
Meszaros said he briefly spoke with Holmgren, and though they did not talk about his role on the team, which figures to be as a depth defenseman despite his salary, Meszaros vowed to be a team player. Meszaros said he was tuned-in to the Flyers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals.
"We didn't talk yet about that, but I'm sure we'll talk when we see each other in person," Meszaros said. "I want to be a part of the team. I want to win. I'm all for the win."
More coming…
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers).
Poll: Was re-signing Leighton a good move?
Yea its reported coburn is resigned, but our one of these guys traded for a goalie?— xMikelaw19- This, coupled with signing Leighton, suggests to me that we are done trading now. Homer wanted to upgrade the D in front of Leighton and he has. I don't see any other D/Goalie signings in the future. Forwards? That's another story...— DrM
- therev, normally this would be of concern, but given that they don't know a thing about hockey, i could care less about what they have to say. Maszeros is a good defenseman— mike
- dont know anything about meszaros but hopefully he is a great fit on our d— bigmookalookie
Why can't the Flyers ever acquire a top flight goalie? This does improve the team, but it kind of make getting a top goalie improbable unless there is another deal brewing. Oh yeah, and there goes another draft pick.— NHLfan
Comment removed.- http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=533377 == nhl.com confirmed the coburn signing.— therev
- only 1.8 mil left for carcillo, powe, asham....or their replacements. Let Carcillo walk...nothing but a undisciplined diver who gets no repect, and deserves it. I'd like to keep Asham, and indifferent on Powe.— pmolishus
- This article also mentioned that Coburn was resigned: "The Flyers have also re-signed restricted free agent Braydon Coburn to a two-year, $6.4 million contract"— mrbean
This is a huge pickup for the Flyers and it shouldn't come as a surprise. New owner Jeff Vinik is a hedge fund manager who came in this March and saw a bloated payroll. They've been speculating for weeks on NHL Network about what he'll do about Vinny Lecavalier now that Stamkos is the top dog. Meszaros is a victim of payroll trimming and the Flyers are the beneficiary.- I think it possible Meszo can turn it around.— bobdiz
- Sounds to me like they're going to stick with their current goalie crew and beef up the defense to make the goalies life easier.— cartoong98
- Biron ends up with the Rangers.
- Prism is reporting Adam Burt signed with the Hartford Whalers— CrayzeeGuy
- you were right on until your last comment, flyler...the cap hit now limits other moves, especially when he will be at best a 4th d-man on the team. mez has to be good now or this can really sting, lots.— john dorian
