Friday, June 24, 2011
Posted: 1:22 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.Flyers chairman Ed Snider says he feels the organization needs to take a breath and not make any more major moves this summer.
Speaking to CSNPhilly.com from his home in California, Snider said not to look for the Flyers to sign a major name when free agency begins on July 1.
Were not looking to make any more deals, he said emphatically. Weve got to catch our breath. We dont want to be just keep making deals, just to keep making deals.
On Thursday, the Flyers stunned the hockey world by trading Mike Richards to Los Angeles and Jeff Carter to Columbus. They were, arguably, the two young faces of the franchise.
Their departure leads a void in goal scoring and point production.
NHL
There are reports that the Flyers could be among several clubs bidding for Brad Richards services in free agency or even Erik Cole, a winger, who some feel would like to be reunited with Peter Laviolette again.
Snider is not allowed to comment on pending free agents. He did say, however, he doesnt foresee the Flyers trying to sign a major free agent in the weeks ahead.
I dont feel there are any moves we have to make, he said. Basically, we may have to sign an inexpensive free agent to round out the roster because I dont know who is coming backbut thats up to general manager Paul Holmgren.
Snider did say he wants to see Ville Leino re-signed.
Im hoping we can sign Leino, he said. It has nothing to do with cap room. In Leinos case, it has to do whether we can agree on a number with his agent Bill Zito. Wed like to sign him.
Leino turned down offers of a multi-year deal last season that would have paid him 3 million a year. He obviously wants more.
The trade of Richards and Carter ranks among the more pivotal moments in Flyer history, given both had signed virtually lifetime deals, plus Richards was the captain.
Well see how it turns out, Snider said. It was a dramatic day for us. For Pauls part, it was very, very difficult. This wasnt spur of the moment. It was going on for a while. He felt we needed a change.
Were not afraid to make any move that we feel helps our team. Like anything in life, youre not always right. Certainly, were not afraid to make deals.
It wasnt something done lightly. It started with the rumors with Carter and his situation in playing him out of position. Hes a natural center. We had four centers and we needed wingers
The Richards deal? Paul was offered a lot, liked the deal and went ahead.
Snider had to sign off on both trades. He said that wasnt easy, either.
These were two that we drafted and nurtured and came through our farm system successfully and were outstanding players for us throughout their careers, he said. It was difficult. Its a helluva lot easier when guys arent performing or doing things you want.
These are two top notch players, both playing center. It was a pretty gutsy deal on Pauls part. I feel bad for the players themselves because they did sign long term deals and now they have those long term deals with teams other than us. Its the way the sport works.
Snider said the opposite end here is that the Flyers got younger and hopefully, better.
With these moves that brought Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds from Los Angeles (Richards trade) and Jakub Voracek from Columbus (Carter trade), plus the signing of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, the question remains, are the Flyers any closer to winning that ever elusive third Stanley Cup?
Adding Brzygalov gives us the one thing we have not been as solid in as other positionsgoal, Snider said. Im not saying our goalies were horrible, but they werent at the level of Bryzgalov. If a goalie wins a few more games for you in the season and the playoffs, its a big difference.
The Flyers didnt have a shutout last season.
I dont think a Flyer team ever went through a season and playoffs without having a shutout, Snider said. Sometimes, you get a shutout by accident.
We needed to upgrade in goal, just like when we got Chris Pronger, we needed to upgrade in defense. It was something that had to happen.
Time will tell whether it all comes together for the Flyers.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanaccio@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow him on Twitter @TPanotchCSN.
Related: Pronger reacts to Flyers' trades, captaincy rumorsGreenberg: Post trades, Flyers need size at center