Flyers trade Richards, Carter in roster makeover
The Philadelphia Flyers cleared up salary cap space in a hurry June 23, 2011, dealing centre Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Photograph by: Fred Thornhill, Reuters
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers changed the complexion of their franchise on Thursday, shipping out centres Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in blockbuster deals, while signing goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a multi-year contract.
Richards, who was the Flyers’ captain, and Carter were both selected in the first round of the 2003 NHL entry draft and considered the heart and soul of the organization.
By the middle of the afternoon Thursday, both were on their way out of town.
Richards was sent to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds along with a second-round draft pick in 2012.
Carter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the eighth-overall pick and a third-round pick in this week’s entry draft along with forward Jakub Voracek.
“This is obviously a huge couple of moves today by our organization,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren told reporters.
The moves clear up considerable cap space for Philadelphia. Carter’s contract has 11 years remaining that carries a cap hit of a little more than $5.272 million US. Richards has nine years remaining on his deal. His cap hit is $5.75 million.
Holmgren played down the financial angle of the moves, saying they were about improving the product on the ice.
“This had nothing to do with the financial at all,” Holmgren told reporters. “What we did today was make two good hockey trades, in our opinion, and I think Columbus and Los Angeles would say the same thing.
“Both Mike and Jeff were good players for our organization and did a lot of great things, and we wish them both well. The players we acquired for those players are good players in their own right.”
Holmgren said the acquisitions of Simmonds and Voracek allow the Flyers to get bigger on the wing and he called Schenn, the fifth player selected in the 2009 entry draft, a “hidden gem.”
Statistically, Carter and Richards, both of whom are 26, enjoyed solid years in Philadelphia.
Last season, Carter scored 36 goals with 30 assists in 80 games, while Richards had 23 goals and 43 assists in 81 games.
The development of young forwards Claude Giroux and James VanRiemsdyk was a key to the deal, Holmgren said.
“This is obviously a huge couple of moves today by our organization. Certainly the emergence of Claude over the last few years has been a factor. I think the ascension of James over the last part of the season and particularly the playoffs — I think we have two good young players there that are on the verge of doing even better things for our team.
A good portion of the cap room created by the Richards and Carter deals will be chewed up with the signing of Bryzgalov, whom the Flyers hope will shore up their chronic weakness in net.
Bryzgalov’s contract is for nine years and $51 million.
The Flyers acquired his negotiating rights from Phoenix at the beginning of June. Bryzgalov, 31, could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 had he not come to terms with the Flyers.
In 68 games with the Coyotes last season, Bryzgalov collected 36 wins and posted a 2.48 goals-against average with a .921 save percentage.
In Schenn and Simmonds, Philadelphia lands youth and grit.
Simmonds — a restricted free agent centre — is 22 years old and had 14 goals and 16 assists with 75 penalty minutes in 80 games with the Kings last season. He was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2007 draft.
Signed to an entry-level deal, Schenn, 19, played in eight games on the wing with the Kings last season collecting two assists. The bulk of his time was spent in the Western Hockey League where he scored 22 goals and added 35 assists in 29 games.
The Kings were happy to acquire a player of Richards’ calibre.
“We felt at this stage of the franchise it was time to make a significant move for an impact player,” Kings GM Dean Lombardi said. “Mike Richards is not only one of the top players in the league, he’s also universally recognized as one of the finer leaders in the game and one of its elite competitors. Additionally, given that he’s only 26 years old and he’s on a long-term contract, he fits our plan now and for the long-term future.”
In other news:
• The Kings’ acquisition of Richards revived talk of a deal that would send forward Ryan Smyth to the Edmonton Oilers or Calgary Flames. Smyth has one year left on his contract at $4.5 million next season. Smyth’s cap hits is $6.25 million.
• The Flames have reportedly asked longtime defenceman Robyn Regehr to waive his no-trade clause, which would clear the way for the Flames to trade him to the Buffalo Sabres.
• Dallas Stars centre Brad Richards is not prepared to waive his no-movement clause and will test the free agent waters on July 1. Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk told ESPN on Thursday that Richards will become an unrestricted free agent — becoming the jewel of a light free-agent class.
“That’s their right but it’s frustrating from our end. But what can you do, right?” Nieuwendyk told ESPN.com of his discussion with veteran agent Pat Morris. “We’ll just turn the page. But it’s real disappointing.”
The Stars, who decided not to trade Richards at the deadline this season, will now likely have to watch the all-star centre walk away from the team without any compensation.
• The San Jose Sharks ensured Devin Setoguchi isn’t going anywhere, signing the right-winger to a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $9 million on Thursday.
Setoguchi, who would have become a restricted free agent on July 1, scored 22 goals and added 19 assists for 41 points in 72 games last season.
“We feel Devin is an important part of our team and we look forward to him continuing to elevate his game to the level he is capable of,” Sharks executive vice-president and general manager Doug Wilson said.
Richards, who was the Flyers’ captain, and Carter were both selected in the first round of the 2003 NHL entry draft and considered the heart and soul of the organization.
By the middle of the afternoon Thursday, both were on their way out of town.
Richards was sent to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds along with a second-round draft pick in 2012.
Carter was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets for the eighth-overall pick and a third-round pick in this week’s entry draft along with forward Jakub Voracek.
“This is obviously a huge couple of moves today by our organization,” Flyers GM Paul Holmgren told reporters.
The moves clear up considerable cap space for Philadelphia. Carter’s contract has 11 years remaining that carries a cap hit of a little more than $5.272 million US. Richards has nine years remaining on his deal. His cap hit is $5.75 million.
Holmgren played down the financial angle of the moves, saying they were about improving the product on the ice.
“This had nothing to do with the financial at all,” Holmgren told reporters. “What we did today was make two good hockey trades, in our opinion, and I think Columbus and Los Angeles would say the same thing.
“Both Mike and Jeff were good players for our organization and did a lot of great things, and we wish them both well. The players we acquired for those players are good players in their own right.”
Holmgren said the acquisitions of Simmonds and Voracek allow the Flyers to get bigger on the wing and he called Schenn, the fifth player selected in the 2009 entry draft, a “hidden gem.”
Statistically, Carter and Richards, both of whom are 26, enjoyed solid years in Philadelphia.
Last season, Carter scored 36 goals with 30 assists in 80 games, while Richards had 23 goals and 43 assists in 81 games.
The development of young forwards Claude Giroux and James VanRiemsdyk was a key to the deal, Holmgren said.
“This is obviously a huge couple of moves today by our organization. Certainly the emergence of Claude over the last few years has been a factor. I think the ascension of James over the last part of the season and particularly the playoffs — I think we have two good young players there that are on the verge of doing even better things for our team.
A good portion of the cap room created by the Richards and Carter deals will be chewed up with the signing of Bryzgalov, whom the Flyers hope will shore up their chronic weakness in net.
Bryzgalov’s contract is for nine years and $51 million.
The Flyers acquired his negotiating rights from Phoenix at the beginning of June. Bryzgalov, 31, could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 had he not come to terms with the Flyers.
In 68 games with the Coyotes last season, Bryzgalov collected 36 wins and posted a 2.48 goals-against average with a .921 save percentage.
In Schenn and Simmonds, Philadelphia lands youth and grit.
Simmonds — a restricted free agent centre — is 22 years old and had 14 goals and 16 assists with 75 penalty minutes in 80 games with the Kings last season. He was selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2007 draft.
Signed to an entry-level deal, Schenn, 19, played in eight games on the wing with the Kings last season collecting two assists. The bulk of his time was spent in the Western Hockey League where he scored 22 goals and added 35 assists in 29 games.
The Kings were happy to acquire a player of Richards’ calibre.
“We felt at this stage of the franchise it was time to make a significant move for an impact player,” Kings GM Dean Lombardi said. “Mike Richards is not only one of the top players in the league, he’s also universally recognized as one of the finer leaders in the game and one of its elite competitors. Additionally, given that he’s only 26 years old and he’s on a long-term contract, he fits our plan now and for the long-term future.”
In other news:
• The Kings’ acquisition of Richards revived talk of a deal that would send forward Ryan Smyth to the Edmonton Oilers or Calgary Flames. Smyth has one year left on his contract at $4.5 million next season. Smyth’s cap hits is $6.25 million.
• The Flames have reportedly asked longtime defenceman Robyn Regehr to waive his no-trade clause, which would clear the way for the Flames to trade him to the Buffalo Sabres.
• Dallas Stars centre Brad Richards is not prepared to waive his no-movement clause and will test the free agent waters on July 1. Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk told ESPN on Thursday that Richards will become an unrestricted free agent — becoming the jewel of a light free-agent class.
“That’s their right but it’s frustrating from our end. But what can you do, right?” Nieuwendyk told ESPN.com of his discussion with veteran agent Pat Morris. “We’ll just turn the page. But it’s real disappointing.”
The Stars, who decided not to trade Richards at the deadline this season, will now likely have to watch the all-star centre walk away from the team without any compensation.
• The San Jose Sharks ensured Devin Setoguchi isn’t going anywhere, signing the right-winger to a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $9 million on Thursday.
Setoguchi, who would have become a restricted free agent on July 1, scored 22 goals and added 19 assists for 41 points in 72 games last season.
“We feel Devin is an important part of our team and we look forward to him continuing to elevate his game to the level he is capable of,” Sharks executive vice-president and general manager Doug Wilson said.
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