Trade from Flyers discloses injury
Luca Sbisa disclosed yesterday that he has a groin injury, but that should not void the blockbuster trade that brought standout defenseman Chris Pronger to the Flyers, general manager Paul Holmgren said yesterday.
"It's nothing serious, so it shouldn't be anything to hold it up," Holmgren said.
Ducks general manager Bob Murray could not be reached for comment.
The 19-year-old Sbisa showed poise and promise as a rookie last season. On Friday, the Flyers sent the young defenseman, forward Joffrey Lupul, two No. 1 draft picks, and a conditional third-round selection to Anaheim for Pronger and minor-league forward Ryan Dingle.
Speaking yesterday from his temporary home in Stratford, Camden County, Sbisa said he had been bothered by a sore groin and said Anaheim wanted one of its doctors to examine him shortly. He is waiting for the Ducks to call with the examination date. The doctor is in Toronto, Sbisa said.
Sbisa said the groin pain started during training camp last year, "but I didn't say a lot because I was trying to make the squad. It was good for a while, and then [the pain] was off and on" during the season. "I don't think it's a big deal."
He said Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin told him that even if he needs surgery, it should not prevent him from being ready for the start of the 2009-10 season.
As for the trade to Anaheim, Sbisa said he had accepted it.
"I was pretty shocked at first," Sbisa said. "But I know it's part of hockey and part of the business."
After talking on the phone with Murray and having a few days to digest the developments, Sbisa said he felt good about going to the Ducks.
"This will give me a great opportunity," he said. "[Murray] said I have a really good chance to make the squad, but I know it will depend on how I do in training camp."
Sbisa called it "an honor to get traded for a future Hall of Famer."
Sbisa, who was born in Italy and grew up in Switzerland, said he would "miss the unbelievable fans and the guys. They're really good guys, and I talked to a lot of them after the trade happened. It's sad to let friends go, but I will stay in touch. This is a great city and a great organization."
The trade was easier for Lupul to accept. For one thing, he was a walking trade rumor because of his big salary ($4.25 million in each of the next four years). For another, he is returning to Anaheim, where he spent two previous seasons. He still has a house in Newport Beach, Calif.
"This is an awesome place," he told the Los Angeles Daily News. "I hope to be here for a long time."
Breakaways. With Lupul traded, it would seem the Flyers will have more urgency to sign right winger Mike Knuble, a prospective free agent. Holmgren will meet today with Knuble's agent, Kurt Overhardt. . . . Holmgren said the club is a little under $5 million under the salary cap - not much money when you consider that the Flyers still need a right winger, a backup goalie, and perhaps a seventh defensemen and a fourth-line center who is skilled at winning face-offs. . . . The free-agent period starts Wednesday. . . . Holmgren said his scouts "had long faces" when the team traded its first-round pick, "but they regrouped, and they seem very happy with the draft." . . . Defenseman Eric Knodel, a 6-foot-6, 216-pound West Chester Rustin High graduate, was selected by Toronto in the fifth round of Saturday's draft.
Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.
