Cote waived; Courting Nashville's Hamhuis?
The Flyers could be courting Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis at the trade deadline. Also inside: updates from today's practice.
Cote waived; Courting Nashville's Hamhuis?
UPDATED: Flyers goalie Ray Emery has been placed on long-term injured reserve. The move clears $1.5 million off the salary cap.
Earlier:
TAMPA, Fla. – Before we get to the trade rumors, here are a couple quick hits from practice today as the Flyers make their way to Tampa Bay to begin their 22-game march to the playoffs:
- The Flyers have waived forward Riley Cote today, perhaps in anticipation of a move that would require some salary cap space. It is the first time Cote has been waived this season. He has not played since Dec. 21.
- Oskars Bartulis did not practice again today. As I mentioned in Monday’s paper, I believe Bartulis is suffering from a groin injury sustained in Vancouver when competing for Latvia. He is doubtful for tomorrow night’s game.
- Ryan Parent skated on a pair with Braydon Coburn, meaning he is likely to play tomorrow night. Here are the anticipated pairs:
Pronger-Carle
Timonen-Krajicek
Coburn-Parent
- By deductive reasoning – with roster and cap space issues – Joey Mormina could be returned to Adirondack at any time. It is unclear, as of this posting, whether Mormina accompanied the team to Tampa.
- Chris Pronger and Mike Richards will re-join the team in Tampa at approximately 3:30 this afternoon.
- I am also hearing that today is judgment day for Ray Emery with regards to his status for the rest of the season. That could play a part in the trade deadline as well.
NOW, with the deadline just 48 hours away, I am hearing from league and team sources that the Flyers are talking shop with the Nashville Predators.
That’s not surprising… the Flyers have connections to Nashville GM David Poile, they play in the West, and they nabbed Peter Forsberg from the Flyers a few years back.
The name I keep hearing is Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis.
Hamhuis, 27, is due to be an unrestricted free agent come July 1. His current cap hit ($2 million) is pretty manageable to fit this season.
Interestingly enough, I’m hearing that the Preds would like to re-aquire Ryan Parent. Nashville drafted him 18th overall in 2005. Parent was part of the Forsberg to Philly swap, even though the Flyers knew about his back problems.
Now that those back problems are taken care of, Nashville may want to take another run at him. Like an old girlfriend, the Preds just can't let Parent go...
Hamhuis, also a former 1st rounder, plays big minutes (22 min., career average) with Shea Weber and Ryan Suter down there in Tennessee. He isn’t offense minded but lays a big hit (6-foot-1, 200 lbs.) and is extremely durable: Hamhuis has only missed 5 games in 6 full NHL seasons.
With Ray Emery moved to the long-term injured list and someone like Riley Cote waived, the Flyers could fit Hamhuis into the cap for this season.
He is a guy the Flyers could re-sign for next year, too.
Hamhuis wouldn’t be a major move – an offensive shake-up that some are hoping for – but he would really solidify the Flyers’ defense corps for the playoffs. With Hamhuis, it may be the strongest set of Flyers defensemen in team history.
Hamhuis told The Tennessean that he’d like to remain in Nashville but hasn’t made any significant progress on an extension there.
I’ve heard that Nashville is dangling Hamhuis to Boston and New Jersey, as well. The Predators are trying to decide whether to keep Hamhuis for their own run (they leave the Olympic break in 7th place with 13 teams in the hunt) or get something in return.
I am working on a few other rumors, too. The Flyers and Blue Jackets have definitely spoken, possibly for Raffi Torres or Milan Jurcina, but those rumors don’t seem to be too serious.
Both the Flyers and Nashville seem poised to tango. Stay tuned.
Follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/DNFlyers) for the latest updates.
Dan Hamhuis would be a good add but they still need a another winger in my opinion.— Crosbysucks- I would definitely take Hamhuis for Parent. They do need another winger. While I like Carcillo, Laperriere and Asham, they are all the identical player. No sense having 3 guys of the exact same role/skill set taking up 25% of your forwards.— UncleEddie
- A Parent-for-Hamhuis swap is fine, given that Hamhuis is so durable. But unless they move Emery to the long term injury list, they still have no Cap space to add a top 6 two-way forward to play with Mike Richards. Holmgrem has made some good moves on D lately, but bottom line is that Richards has played with Pylora, Briere, Giroux, and Hartnell with no success. They need to be able to shut down Crosby, Malkin, or Ovechkin to get to the Cup finals. With the game in Tampa, might we go after Alex Tanguay? Malone would look really nice next to Carter or Richards, but at $6 million, forget it.— MichaelZoe
Comment removed.- Interesting that he states aboe "He isn’t offense minded but lays a big hit". Yet the Hockey News player bio states......ASSETS: Can play a sound defensive game, log big minutes and also be used in a shutdown role. Moves the puck well out of the defensive zone. Has loads of hockey sense. FLAWS: Isn't a physical defenseman, which somewhat limits his effectiveness against big NHL forwards. Is also a limited contributor in the offensive zone. CAREER POTENTIAL: Big-minute defenseman.....So I wonder which one it is. No offense, but I know whom I trust more for an opinion.— FlyFifty8
- If Riley Cote goes can we still keep Holly?— jimf
- You people don't actually think you will get Hamhuis for Parent straight up to do you?— jbruder02
- I do like Parent however he has way too many injuries would like a trade for Hamhuis however they would not have any cap room for another offensive player and I think that is there biggest need now. Coburn has been playing better lately on the third pairing and Krajicek was a good waiver wire pick up. The defense was playing good befor the break. The biggest problem is streaky goal scoring, will light up a couple games and then nothing for a couple.— kingback
- jbruder- absolutely, i would also anticipate being able to get a pick as well. with hamhuis being unrestricted and the fact the parent is still a coveted young prospect (at least to nashville) with a manageable contract, i think it is doable.— Legion of Doom
jimf- can she fight? cote barely could.- If Emery gets shelved for the year the Flyers will look at a goaltender prior to a top 6 forward. I can't see them going into the playoffs with Leighton/Boucher. We are likely stuck with the Gagne/Briere/Hartnell trio which will ultimately kill us. Watching the Olympics just showed how little skill we have up front compared to the elite players in this league. Even Richards showed that he is not on the puck control skill level of these guys. Will be a rocky road until we can unload the higher paid poor performers.— ant8817
- Cory Stillman!!!!!! Panthers are sellers and trading...Holmgrem, make this happen. Stillman fits under the cap, is a plus +1 on a mediocre team, has TWO STANLEY CUP RINGS. Cory has 11 goals and 14 assists with only 14 PIMS.— MichaelZoe
- GAGS, BRIERE AND HARTNELL HAVE NO TRADE CLAUSES. DUDES WAKE UP.— MichaelZoe
- Now that Cote's gone, will all the "goon it up" people please STFU?— uncle meat
- I hope Cote gets picked up and terroizes the Flyers. The Flyers have no heavywheight, and Asham, Lappy, and Carcillo can continue to spot pick.— Ferrell31
