SUNRISE, Fla. — One of the better known Eastern Conference general managers was standing there, thinking.
"I saw the Flyers' brass at their hotel," the GM said. "No one has heard from them."
Said another NHL veteran who's been to many drafts, "Gone are the days when Clarkie (Bobby Clarke) would make news with trades."
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall is calm, patient and goes about his business with a very, very quiet approach and it all held in place Friday night.
The Flyers were unable to make any moves to gain salary cap space.
Hextall is trying to trade Vinny Lecavalier to gain an immediate $4.5 million in salary cap money. He's also believed to be shopping both Nicklas Grossmann and Luke Schenn, which gain him a combined $7.1 million and give him a legit chance to make a major move in free agency next week.
Hextall admitted the focus Friday was more about the draft and there was so much “stress” that he felt handling the roster might be suited to tackle Saturday morning.
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In fact, Hextall thinks something could go down Saturday that offers the Flyers some much needed cap relief.
"We've talked, people have called us and they know we have a lot of defensemen," Hextall said. "I don't know how it's going to shake out or whether something happens (Saturday) or after July 1.
"I'm confident something will happen."
These type of things are best left for Day 2 of the NHL draft, Hextall said.
"The second day is a little more relaxed," he said. "I think it's easier."