Inside the Flyers: Flyers' lack of trades could pay off if . . .

When they play to their capabilities, the Flyers are a very good team. Their record since Dec. 23 - 18-8-1 entering the weekend - attests to that.

But are they good enough to win their first Stanley Cup since 1975?

That was the question facing Paul Holmgren at Wednesday's trade deadline. Based on the number of hours he spent on the phone during the days and nights leading to the trade cutoff, it's fair to say the Flyers' general manger felt the team could have used some improving.

No matter how you spin it.

After failing to make a deal, Holmgren, whose options were limited by cap space, a lack of high draft picks, and some highly questionable no-trade clauses he handed out, said he was happy with the team that was left standing.

Coach Peter Laviolette, not surprisingly, concurred. When the Flyers bring their A game, he said, they can compete with anybody in the league.

It's true, of course, but the problem is that the Flyers are potentially a very good team in a conference that includes two great teams. And those two great teams - Pittsburgh and Washington - helped themselves immensely at the trade deadline.

While the Flyers were unable to add a proven scorer or defensive depth, Pittsburgh acquired winger Alexei Ponikarovsky and defenseman Jordan Leopold, and Washington added winger Scott Walker - who scored two goals in his Caps debut - defensemen Milan Jurcina and Joe Corvo, and center Eric Belanger.

Buffalo, also one of the East's upper-echelon teams, acquired Raffi Torres, a forward whom the Flyers coveted.

On paper, those three teams are much better than they were at the Olympic break. That said, additions don't guarantee improvement. New players can disrupt chemistry and not fit into a new system.

Holmgren did the right thing by not making changes just for the sake of change. Yes, 33-year-old Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun, who carries a $5.7 million cap hit, would have brought experience to the table. But the Panthers wanted Jeff Carter, a 25-year-old with superstar potential, and the Flyers would have been foolish to give him up.

Nashville apparently wanted Braydon Coburn and Ryan Parent for defenseman Dan Hamhuis. Again, it was too much to give for a player who can be a free agent in July.

The Flyers probably could have made other deals if they had parted with high draft picks. But they already have a bare cupboard of draft picks - they don't have a No. 1 or a No. 2 this June, for instance - and it would not have been wise to deal a future high pick for a rent-a-player (Atlanta winger Colby Armstrong, for instance) who could become a free agent after the season.

The fact is, the Flyers would not have been searching for offensive additions if Simon Gagne and Scott Hartnell had been having seasons similar to the last one, when they combined for 64 goals.

Entering the weekend, Gagne, who has had an injury-plagued season, and Hartnell had combined for 21 goals.

If Gagne and Hartnell can rediscover their scoring touches in the final 19 regular-season games and the postseason, it will be as if the Flyers had made a major splash at the trade deadline.

If they don't, this team has little chance to beat Pittsburgh or Washington in the playoffs.

No matter how management spins it.

In honor of tonight's Oscars, here is a synopsis of the Flyers' tradeless week in movie titles:

As in having high draft picks available to trade, if necessary. The Flyers didn't have them for 2010. Washington, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo (among others) did.

Sign that should hang over the locker of defenseman Mike Rathje, who is still on the Flyers' payroll but has been unable to play since 2006. That he is on the long-term injured-reserve list has limited the Flyers' ability to make deals. Because Rathje guaranteed that the Flyers would have at least one player on LTIR list, the club had to absorb an acquired player's full cap hit rather than his prorated salary.

What most fans would have called GM Paul Holmgren had he dealt Jeff Carter for Tomas Vokoun.

That summarizes the Flyers' playoff hopes nicely.

Getting Atlanta winger Colby Armstrong would have been an upgrade, but not for a No. 1 pick.

Goalie Michael Leighton, defenseman Lukas Krajicek, and forward Ville Leino were among the players the Flyers added during the season. No, they're not big names, but they could play key roles. Because of those additions - and the high asking prices for players they wanted - the Flyers didn't feel it was imperative to make a deadline-day deal.

In trying to make a deal, the Flyers were hamstrung by no-trade or no-movement clauses given to four players, including Scott Hartnell and Simon Gagne. There's a message in there.

- Sam Carchidi

Read Sam Carchidi's Flyers blog, Broad Street Bull, at www.philly.com/flyers.

Subject: Flyers stand pat at trade deadline.

Posted by: MikefromNJ at 8:45 p.m. March 3

The Flyers have NO players in the TOP 30 in the league in points, goals, or assists. Their goaltending is certainly not in the elite class, though I'm proud of Leighton and wish him well, but don't see him carrying this team on his back in the playoffs against the Pens or Caps. Do you? You can't win in this league without some level of elite talent. So, Holmgren sits idle and does nothing at the trade deadline? How is this respectful to Flyer fans in this area who support this team faithfully, especially in this horrendous economy? Very disappointing.