Posted: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 2:00 PM | 22 comments |
 

Flyers have inquired about Adam Foote
options
 

The Flyers search for a depth defender includes Colorado.

According to two sources – one an agent that represents multiple big-name players, and the other is a league executive – Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has made inquiries with Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman about captain Adam Foote.

Foote, 39, has had injury questions himself this season – and over the last few seasons – but has the leadership, experience and skill to be a decent fit with the Flyers.

Foote has not played in the last 3 weeks with a quadriceps injury, according to the Denver Post, but returned to practice Thursday for the first time.

The interesting thing is that Foote, set to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, would likely come at the right price from the Avalanche, who are all but out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

If Alexei Kovalev’s deal to Pittsburgh on Thursday for a conditional 7th round pick told us anything, Foote may also require a conditional late-round pick.

Foote is owed $241,935 for the rest of this season, a prorated number of $1 million that decreases every day. According to one of the sources, Foote’s $250,000 bonus – which would also count against the cap – is playoff performance-based.

With Nik Zherdev clearing waivers earlier in the day, removing his $2 million salary cap hit if the Flyers choose to assign him to AHL Adirondack, and Oskars Bartulis ($650,000) likely to head to the long-term injured list, the Flyers are not sold on Foote. But he may be the No. 7 guy, at a cheap price, that the Flyers could bring in as an insurance policy.

Acquiring Foote would still allow the Flyers enough cap space to bring in another scoring winger.

Foote has spent 15 of his 17 seasons in the NHL with the Colorado/Quebec franchise. He is just the second captain in Avalanche history behind Joe Sakic. Foote has 8 assists in 41 games with Colorado this season while averaging 18 minutes per game.

For my money, you would need to convince me that Foote would be healthy enough for a long playoff run. On the other hand, is there a real downside?

The Flyers are kicking the tires on Foote, though one source says "not a whole lot cooking." We’ll see where it goes from here before Monday’s deadline.

For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers

Get exclusive videos and analysis in our new app for iPhone and Android. Download it here.
Posted by Frank Seravalli @ 2:00 PM  Permalink | 22 comments
22
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:09 PM, 02/24/2011
    There really isn't a downside for a 7th dman insurance policy with experience. I'd trade a conditional 6th or 7th for him.
    — Phillyflu
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:24 PM, 02/24/2011
    This is the year. No doubt i would deal a 6th or 7th round pick for a guy who bleeds leadership. get him in here and along with him pronger and o'donnell i think we have a core leadership group to get this team where we all want it to be come june
    — jsavino
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:38 PM, 02/24/2011
    what about picking up bernier who the panthers just put on waivers? He could be effective on a line with Giroux/Carter with Nodl moving to the fourth line with Powe and Betts. His prorated cap hit would be relatively inexpensive since he cap figure is 2 mil for the whole year. Don't have to give up a pick, don't ever have to look for Z again.
    — lawsuit time
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:48 PM, 02/24/2011
    a 7th for kovalev? really>?
    — azguz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:51 PM, 02/24/2011
    penguins offered a 3rd. but the senators insisted that they only get a 7th in return.
    — lawsuit time
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:30 PM, 02/24/2011
    Another scoring winger? Is this just guessing on your part Frank or have you heard legitimate rumors? I don't see another winger being added unless it's part of a larger deal where the Flyers are subtracting a player as well. It wouldn't surprise me if Holmgren moved to get bigger/more physical on the wings if he can also add a goalie. Something like this has gotta be a longshot though.
    — sla6yer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:52 PM, 02/24/2011
    This Team is loaded , Anything Homer can do to add to this Cup run , he's going to do . Leadership in the Playoff's is so important , you need more than one vioce , flyers have Prongs and richie , adding another in foote , can only help . . .
    — ingy9
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:59 PM, 02/24/2011
    Flyers are at 50 contracts, unless they eliminate Z's contract. So they can't take Bernier or anyone else off waivers, without eliminating another contract.
    — GA_Expat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:12 PM, 02/24/2011
    "A Scoring winger" would be someone like Tanguay or Hejduk.
    — MichaelZoe
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:33 PM, 02/24/2011
    Foote, Hejduk, Tanguay, Bernier,,,,not a goalie...therefore not relevant. Foote would be good depth. Bernier is not an NHL player. His fitness is not that of a professional athlete. All the tools without the toolbox.
    — Hexy4GM
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:42 PM, 02/24/2011
    lawsuit time that was brilliant.....water shot oat my nose, nice work
    — JohnnyN
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:08 PM, 02/24/2011
    This deal is a no brainer. When we get into the 3rd round, the depth will be just as important a piece of the puzzle as Richards. We then would need a top penalty killer to have all the pieces.
    — 2011StanleyCup
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:11 PM, 02/24/2011
    The downside is... will Foote be healthy? Can he grind out a long playoff run ? I agree he is an awesome leader, but this team is loaded with leaders (pronger, richards, briere, shelley, odonnell, boucher).
    I just dont see this rental being anything to get excited about or really make a difference in the long run.
    — inkd0874
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:31 PM, 02/24/2011
    Adam Foote is still playing? I know that so many ave stars got their start in philly before being traded away for great eric, but are the flyers going to be the retirement home for the other half of the 95-96 championship team?
    — flavious27


22 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2
About Frank Seravalli
Frank Seravalli is in his fourth year with the Daily News and third season covering the Flyers. He started at the Daily News as an intern writing about the boozing legends of the Lincoln Financial Field lots and hasn't left. Since joining the Flyers beat, he has covered everything from the Winter Classic to the Stanley Cup Final and everything in between. Prior to joining the Daily News, the Bucks County native did a large amount of freelance work for local media outlets, covering high schools, colleges and all four of Philly's major sports teams. He resides in Center City. E-mail Frank at seravaf@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter @DNFlyers.

Join on Facebook    Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here
XML
 
RT @alyssanichele: @DNFlyers RT for Kevin who's battling cancer for the 2nd time and trying to get Taylor Swift as his prom date @taylor ... - 1:25am
 
Thanks to @garylawless for showing some Philly guys a great time in Winnipeg. Must say it's a pretty cool town. - 02/22/2012
 
Jaromir Jagr says Flyers pushed for 3 forwards in OT to try and avoid getting to the shootout. Plus tons of reading: http://t.co/TyDJGGI6 - 02/22/2012
Latest Flyers Videos