Nash, Ryan on Flyers' radar; 2014 draft in Philly
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Nash, Ryan on Flyers' radar; 2014 draft in Philly
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH — The Flyers aren’t done talking with the Columbus Blue Jackets, a source confirmed on Friday.
They are still having conversations with Columbus general manager Scott Howson about a potential deal for Rick Nash, a star left winger with a $7.8 million cap hit (ouch) through 2017-18.
Earlier Friday, the Flyers sent backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to the Blue Jackets for three draft picks, including a second-rounder (45th overall) on Saturday.
The Flyers are also in talks with Anaheim about bringing South Jersey product Bobby Ryan ($5.1 million cap hit through 2014-15) back home. The right winger, a Cherry Hill native, has scored more than 30 goals in each of the last four seasons.
In other developments, a source said it was “highly unlikely” the Flyers would sign an offer sheet when Nashville defenseman Shea Weber becomes a restricted free agent on July 1. Nashville would have the right to match the offer and keep Weber.
As for potential unrestricted free agents, the Flyers have most of their interest in left winger Zach Parise, defenseman Ryan Suter, and defenseman Justin Schultz, who was drafted by Anaheim in 2008 but did not sign. A star at Wisconsin, Schultz is regarded as a “can’t-miss” prospect and believed to be NHL-ready; he would give the Flyers a much-needed right-handed shot on defense.
The first round of the draft starts at 7 p.m. Friday in Pittsburgh.
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The NHL announced that the 2014 draft will be in Phialdelphia at the Wells Fargo Center.
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
I am not feeling Nash at 7.8 miilon over the next 6 years. I would rather spend that kind of money on Shea Weber since we know Suter isn't interested incoming to Philly!— srcdaddy1216- Nash is the next Pronger. One good year and collect the big bucks for five years. — redstaterightwinger
- both players are good, but we don't need them. offense is the least of this team's problems, and adding big contracts up front is a mistake without taking care of defense first— FlyersKevin
- I hope this is about driving up the bidding so someone else overpays. They don't need a winger.
- Parise would look great in a Flyers uniform, he and Suter would be HUGE!— Tar Heel 1
- When the bidding wars finish up for these two players, the Flyers braintrust will have already gone to bed for the night. No chance the Flyers get either of these two. Parise will be totally overpaid when the bidding ends, so will Suter. — redstaterightwinger
- Stay away from Nash. He's good but not that good. They'd have to give up a ton to get him (many youngsters and picks) and then pay him a whopping $7.8/year! Please no.— philly57
- I hope these rumors are not true, what is Holmgrem thinking?
He signs Richards and Carter to ridiculous long term deals and then he realizes they are poor contracts and trades them before they kick in. He then signs a goalie to an even more ridiculous contract, considering the history of signing goalies long term (DiPietro, Luongo, etc). And now he wants to trade for a guy who is at or near the downslope of his career for 6 years at $7.8 mil per yr??— astroqueen0 - Carter should have been traded even before those horrible pics of him and Richards with the girls of ill repute and the Whiskey bottles in their hands hit the internet. That's right, Richards and Carter forced their own trades by making total as-ses out of themselves, DURING THE SEASON! Not too smart. — redstaterightwinger
- "not to smart" Richards and Carter just won the Stanley cup....id say there pretty happy where they ended up.
— flyerfan18 - Carter and Richards did things with the Flyers that leaders should not have done. Homer traded them and I have no issue with that.
Carter and Richards got on with the 8th seed in the West, with a goalie that was playing out of his mind, good for them. Hopefully those two dipsh*ts learned something, though i'm not holding my breath. At the very least they can walk around LA, even today, and no one knows, or cares, who they are.— SPE - Flyers lack any strategic direction. Holmgren should not be making trades. We need to ditch him and Snider and bring in an owner who will let someone like the BC coach run the franchise. These deals will lock the team into many more years of average to above average records.— casehop
Ryan and Schultz. DO IT!- Parise would probably be the best option, although, he will cost a fortune as well. They need D, not offense. Nash is a great player, don't get me wrong, but he costs a ton while our most glaring need is to protect the net. To bring bobby ryan here because he is from new jersey is the dumbest idea yet. Yes, he is a nice player, but Parise is head and shoulders about him. Incidentally, JVR is also from NJ. If we have to get someone else here from that horrible state, I'd rather Parise.— kozykoz26
- Wouldn't mind the Bobby Ryan deal, but what about dealing for a defenseman. Justin Shultz is a nice piece but still an unknown. Really a thin market for defense this season unless they go the restricted route.— paulNC
