Monday, June 27, 2011
Posted: 11:54 a.m.Updated: 5:49 p.m.
By Sarah Baicker and Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
In what looks to be a move to clear more space under the salary cap, the Flyers traded away restricted free agent Darroll Powe on Monday to the Minnesota Wild for a third-round pick in the 2013 draft.
The move will likely help the Flyers re-sign newly acquired forwards Jakub Voracek and Wayne Simmonds (from the Columbus Blue Jackets and L.A. Kings, respectively). Both received qualifying offers on Monday, along with Jon Kalinski.
"It was a little bit surprising," Powe said. "You become attached to a city after four years. I'm grateful for Philadelphia, but at the same time, I'm excited about the new opportunity in Minnesota and hopefully things go well there."
The space created by sending Powe to the Wild could also potentially help the Flyers re-sign winger Ville Leino, whom general manager Paul Holmgren has repeatedly stated he hopes to bring back for next season. Leino reportedly turned down offers of a multi-year deal last season that would have paid him about 3 million a year.
Powe, 26, was among the Flyers' best penalty killers last season, receiving increased ice time and responsibility because of the absence of Ian Laperriere. He led the team with 196 hits, and his 257 shorthanded minutes were second among all Flyer forwards to Blair Betts, who had 271.
Though he was more a grinder than a glamorous skater, Powe was one of the more underrated players on the Flyers' bench. However, Andreas Nodl, whom the Flyers just re-signed (see below), could likely fill Powe's role on the team.
NHL
The move could likely signal that the Flyers feel they can develop Nodl into a shutdown forwardthe type of player they've had success developing in the past.
Nodl, Sestito re-signed
The moves revealed by the Flyers on Monday morning certainly won't make national headlines in the way last week's dealing of Jeff Carter and Mike Richards did, but the team has continued to rebuild by re-signing forwards Nodl and Tom Sestito.
Nodl, 24, registered 11 goals and 11 assists in 67 games with the Flyers last season, his first full year at the NHL level. Per TSN's Bob McKenzie, Nodl's deal is two years at 845,000 per year.
Sestito, 23, played 11 games with the AHL's Adirondack Phantoms after he was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in February. He hasn't yet made an appearance with the Flyers.
The end for Carcillo?
Dan Carcillo, another restricted free agent, did not receive a qualifying offer on Monday, which obviously means the Flyers are not going to re-sign him.
Carcillo was in and out of the lineup throughout the season under coach Peter Laviolette.
Jersey switches
Winger Kris Versteeg will now wear No. 32 on his jersey. Brayden Schenn, acquired as part of the deal that sent Richards to Los Angeles, will wear No. 10, which Versteeg wore upon arriving in Philadelphia last season.
Simmonds, who was also acquired as part of the Richards deal, will wear No. 17, which had been Carter's jersey number. Jakub Voracek, whom the Flyers acquired when they sent Carter to the Blue Jackets, will wear No. 9.
Prospect camp
Flyers' development camp will begin July 5 at Skate Zone in Voorhees. Newly acquired forwards Schenn and Sean Couturier, the eighth overall pick in this past weekend's draft, are expected to participate.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SBaickerCSN.E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net. Follow him on Twitter at @TPanotchCSN.
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