Flyers' new defenseman adds experience
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Flyers' new defenseman adds experience
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
OK, so he's not Dion Phaneuf.
But Lukas Krajicek, the player the Flyers signed as a free agent late Saturday night, WILL give the team some much-needed depth on defense.
He was cheap _ according to a source, he signed for about $650,000, which will be prorated for the final 29 games _ and he fits under the Flyers' salary cap. Phaneuf ($4.1 million cap hit), who was traded from Calgary to Toronto Sunday, wouldn't fit.
Krajicek, 26, had played with Tampa Bay this season before being demoted to the AHL. He had one assist in 23 games with the Lightning this season.
In 301 career games with Florida, Vancouver and Tampa, he had 10 goals, 70 points, a minus-20 rating and 231 penalty minutes. Krajicek is a former No. 1 pick (24th overall in 2001) with Florida.
Defensemen Danny Syvret and Ryan Parent are injured, causing the Flyers to seek more depth.
Look for Krajicek to replace Ole-Kristian Tollefsen in the lineup, probably on Monday night in Calgary. He is much quicker than the injury-prone Tollefsen, and he could be paired with rookie Oskars Bartulis.
After Sunday's practice, coach Peter Laviolette wasn't ready to name his starting goalie for Monday. Ray Emery has started the last seven games.
Calgary has struggled mightily, losing nine of its last 10, but the Flames could be invigorated by Sunday's seven-player deal with Toronto. Calgary sent all-star defenseman Phaneuf, forward Fredrik Sjostroma prospect to the Maple Leafs for forwards Niklas Hagman, Matt Stajan and Jamal Mayers and defenseman Ian White.
The Flyers dealt Ratchuck in the deal for Stefan Legein, I believe.— mesigmond- I don't care how we do it, but sometime before I die I would like to see us get a right handed defenseman with a shot to tell my grandkids about. I really don't care if he can do anything else, just as long as he can shoot the puck— the Guffaw
- I don't know what ANYONE is complaining about. He cost us no current Flyer and is almost free. He was a number one pick so SOMEONE at SOME POINT saw him as someone with some potential. Maybe coach can keep him in check a little allowing him to develop more as a player. "duffers" is right, though - Clarkie blew it with the Markov deal. Then again, this is the same guy who traded for Adam Oates...— Exiled Flyers Fan
Comment removed.- FACT: he is another over-rated first round pick by a lousy team who couldn't cut in the NHL with the Panthers, couldn't handle playing the AHL, walked out on his team, and is a poor excuse for a 6th or 7th D Man on a win that was picked to win the Cup.— MichaelZoe
- Comment removed.
- MichaelZoe: you never give Holmgren any props. He brought us Timonen and Pronger, arguably both in the top 15 defensemen in the NHL. He also brought Carle, who has been decent, and Coburn, who everyone thought was awesome prior to his unanticipated drop off this year. He has brought in scorers in Briere, Knuble, Lupul, and Hartnell, and some character heart guys in Lappy, Betts, and Carcillo. He has unloaded some wastes of life ...too many to count, and had to give up some good players and overspend for others. It is a day in the life of a general manager. It is easy for any of us to sit here and say this trade or that trade should have been made, we overpaid, etc., but managing the cap is a very difficult task and I applaud Homer's efforts to manipulate the system to get us the best talent (remember the NHL investigation into the Pronger signing?). Considering this team was dead last in the NHL a couple of seasons ago, and were predicted to win the Cup this year, well, that pretty much makes my case that Homer has done a solid job. Don't be the typical complaining Philly fan... you generally make intelligent comments and can do better than that.
- Pretty much anyone is better than Bartulis and/or OKT, so i am happy with this signing as a plug for a leaking 5-6 pairing. I agree with the comments about developing d-men, but i am sure glad we ditched Sbisa, who was way overhyped here. He may end up being a solid player, but Anaheim (24th in the league in goals allowed per game), demoted him to the minors after less than 10 games (add in Lupul's injury-plagued season, and the move for Pronger is looking brilliant). Imagine this defense WITHOUT Pronger and with Sbisa instead....now THAT is scary.
- Enough about Krajicek. There are like 4 repetitive articles/blogs about him. Sam, did you get in touch with the NHL to find out how they could disallow that goal on Sunday? Also, since Holmer inquired about Phaneuf and nothing was mentioned here, I'd be surprised if you could break any stories on if any movement will happen before the roster freeze.— HandNik
