So, the first day of the NHL Draft was yesterday, and while other teams were making moves toward the long term future, the Flyers went and put all their chips on the table for next year.
The Flyers traded away Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa, first-round picks in 2009 and 2010 and a conditional third-round pick in 2010 or 2011 to Anaheim for defenseman Chris Pronger and prospect Ryan Dingle. Yes, it's a huge trade for the Flyers, who gave up a lot to get Pronger. However, it's a trade that needed to be done, since the Flyers were hurting for a great defenseman.
Pronger gives the Flyers that edge on defense that they didn't have last season. He's a former Hart Memorial Trophy winner, as well as a Norris Award winner, and he brings size and performance to Philadelphia. Everywhere he's gone, the team has been good. Hell, he even got Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Finals. Either way, he's a huge upgrade for a defensive unit that needed a player like him last season.
What this move does is basically tell Philadelphia fans that the Flyers are going to try and make a run to the Stanley Cup this next season. Lupul was a good player, but the Flyers had six 20 goal scorers last year, and that's not counting Danny Briere or Claude Giroux, who both should score 20 this season. Two first round picks is a steep price, but it had to be done to bring in one of the best defensemen in the game. Pronger might not make the Flyers on the same level as Pittsburgh, but it certainly puts them closer, and in a seven game series, all you need to be is close. Better doesn't always win.
No comments:
Post a Comment