In 22 playoff games, Umberger was a force, scoring 11 goals and five assists - eight of those coming against Montreal - and moving all through the lineup to fill in where ever he was needed.

But in the NHL of the salary cap and unsigned free-agent players, things change fast.

In one of two moves that brought two defensemen to the Flyers, the rights to Umberger, 26, were dealt to Columbus for the 19th pick overall, along with a pick in the third round, reuniting Umberger with former Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock.

In another deal late last night, made just before they were to select in the 27th slot, the Flyers traded the pick for Washington defenseman Steve Eminger, a restricted free agent who was a first-round pick in 2002.

Eminger played only 20 regular-season games with the Capitals and was a healthy scratch for most of the time off, but injuries opened up a spot for the 24-year-old, 6-2, 212-pound blue-liner during the first-round playoff series against the Flyers and he caught the eye of Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.

While Eminger is unsigned, Holmgren said he did not see a problem getting him under contract - and one the team can afford. "We didn't trade for him with the intention of not signing him," Holmgren said.

With the No. 19 pick from Columbus, the Flyers took 18-year-old Swiss defenseman Luca Sbisa.

The 6-1, 190-pound Sbisa is considered to be the kind of defenseman the Flyers are hoping to develop.

While Sbisa is just a prospect and Eminger is a depth player with potential to develop, the big news last night was the Umberger trade.

The Flyers are in need of salary-cap space to shop for a free-agent defenseman who can make an immediate impact, and they could not find a way to make Umberger fit into their plans and at the same time ink their other restricted free agents, center Jeff Carter and defenseman Randy Jones.

Carter is still negotiating a deal with the Flyers, but it is believed that he has either agreed to the terms of a new deal or is very close. Jones, meanwhile, has the right to take the team to arbitration, but it is unlikely that the Flyers will let that happen.

"We gave up a real good player on our team," Holmgren said. "It was a very difficult move to make and it's an unfortunate position we got ourselves in with the salary cap.

"We were really limited about what we could do and most of it had to be around a 1-year deal with the idea of opening up negotiations again in January on a longer-term deal and any way I looked at it, it was just a situation that wasn't going to fit. By the time we get [Carter] signed and [Jones] signed, the numbers just don't add up.

"I don't particularly like giving up a solid NHL player, but we really had no other alternative," Holmgren said. "The defenseman we got for that pick [Sbisa] we really like. We think he's a good, solid, passionate, competitive, two-way defenseman.

"He can skate and defend and move the puck and do all the things we like. He's a Swiss kid that came over to Canada and played in the Western Hockey League and all our guys just rave about this kid. We're excited about having him."

The trade sends Umberger back to Columbus, where he played his college career at Ohio State. Throughout his time with the Flyers, Umberger has been a determined, versatile player, moving up and down the lineup and from center to wing whenever the need dictated.

In 228 games with the Flyers, Umberger scored 49 goals and contributed 67 assists.

"I can't say it caught me by surprise," Umberger said. "The whole situation with the salary cap in Philly was a difficult one and I was hoping there was a chance we could work something out, but I knew it was a possibility that I would get traded.

"Obviously I have mixed feelings. It's really sad to leave Philly because it's where I got my start and it became a home for me and my wife, but to go to Columbus is exciting. It's closer to home and I spent a few years there when I went to college, and I'm still a big Buckeyes fan.

"Also, getting a chance to play for Hitchcock again is a great opportunity. He is a coach I liked playing for and a guy I respect deeply. I just spoke to him and he stressed that I'm going to be playing big minutes in a big role there. I'm excited about that. The fact that he wants me there means I must have been doing something right."

Hitchcock said last night he was just as excited to get Umberger.

"For our team, R.J. is going to fill a significant role," Hitchcock said. "We can really use his versatility. He will probably play in a top-six role, which is more significant than he would have played in Philadelphia.

"This is the nature of our business. When R.J.'s name came up we felt that he would help us get more competitive. It was a steep price to pay, but we have to have a much deeper team to compete in the NHL this year." *