SAN JOSE -- Not that often that a trade deadline passes and the Flyers upgrade without losing a roster player.
Yet they managed to do that this time, picking up Nicklas Grossman and Pavel Kubina earlier for draft picks and a minor league player, then held pat at Mondays deadline.
It didnt go unnoticed by players in the room or by coach Peter Laviolette, as the Flyers prepare for Tuesdays game against the Sharks.
The moves to pick up the defensemen and not waiting till the deadline and getting them here and getting them situated and avoiding the whole 3 oclock thing, was good for our team, Laviolette said.
Theyve been on the road trip now with our team, spending some time and I think thats important. Theyve jumped in and played well and are have learned the system.
With regard to the deadline, I didnt think about it too much, just based on we knew what we it wanted to do. Paul Holmgren did a great job picking those players up. And did it early.
Danny Briere, Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell all felt management boosted morale in the room by leaving the club intacta sign of belief that this group can get it done in post-season.
NHL
For the younger players such as James van Riemsdyk, Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn, it was relief.
Definitely great for the rookies, Briere said. I didnt expect us to do anything big. You look at the future of this team with all the young guys we have. Its very bright. Im not very surprised by that.
Schenn said he talked to his older brother, Luke, leading into the deadline about all the rumors surrounding both their names. Luke, a defenseman in Toronto, was rumored to possibly go to the Flyers.
I love it here, good guys here and I was real happy to stay here and remain a Flyer, Schenn said. Theres a good mix of young guys and old guys here.
I wasnt nervous because its something you have no control over. Its whatever happens, happens. My brother, his name was tossed around for the last, little while. For him, maybe a little nerves. I think he was happy to remain a Leaf.
Hartnell said the best part of the two deals the Flyers made earlier this month was that Grossman and Kubinas presence has really made a difference in terms of net play against the opposition.
You look at their size, Hartnell said. I thought we were a little, too easy in front of our net. Teams were standing there and whacking away at our goalies and not getting touched. For me, its being in front of the net a lot of the times on offense.
Scoring some dirty goals, you are going to get bumps and bruises and hacks and whacks. It almost makes you not to want to go there in front. To have a couple of those bodies for us, is going to make it harder on teams to get in front of our net and score goals.
Loose pucks
This is the fourth and final game of the road trip. Ilya Bryzgalov will make his fourth straight start in net. And yes, he will talk after the game, club officials said. ... Sharks coach Todd McLellan will miss the game with a concussion. He was hit with a stick on the bench earlier this week in Minnesota. ... Last week, Edmonton coach Tom Renney missed the game against the Flyers, as well, with concussion symptoms after being struck by a puck during a previous game.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net