Holmgren Knows Flyers Will Miss Knuble

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com

Another 28 goals and 25 power play points have vanished off the Flyers’ roster.

Forward Mike Knuble signed with the Washington Capitals for the same amount of money he was making with the Flyers – $2.8 million a year.

His new deal is two years.

“Mike was a true gentleman at all times here,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. “He was a zero maintenance player. He’s a guy we will miss. His presence in front of the net on our power play and five-on-five will be missed. It sounds like lots of teams were chasing Mike at the end. We did make an offer but it wasn’t enough.”

The Flyers were initially only willing to give Knuble, who turns 37 Saturday, an incentive-laden one-year deal in which he could have earned more money under the CBA’s over-35 veteran clause, but then offered a two-year deal for less money.

According to CSN’s John Boruk, Pittsburgh, Ottawa and Los Angeles also pursued Knuble, who said all along he wanted financial security and a multiyear deal. Plus, he didn’t want to move his family far from Philadelphia.

“I wanted to go to a place where I had the chance to contend and good city to live in,” Knuble said. “Washington was a pretty good fit from that respect.”

The right wing was a key power play specialist and penalty killer for the Flyers. His loss, coupled with losing Joffrey Lupul in the Chris Pronger deal, lessens the Flyers’ offense by 50 goals a season – no small amount in today’s NHL.

Right now, the Flyers have no way of making up that offense entirely, although Pronger is expected to produce about a dozen goals and 52 points a season.

Knuble played on a top line with the Flyers and talked about the chance to play with Alexander Ovechkin.

“A chance to play with that guy but no guarantees I will mesh with him, but I think that I have proven playing with Joe Thornton and Peter Forsberg, guys like that, I can help these guys,” he said.

“I feel I have confidence and what to do for these guys and how to work and battle in corners. I can get these guys the puck. I take pride in that. And it’s brought me a lot of success.”

Around the league
Marian Hossa didn’t win a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh. So he signed in Detroit.

He didn’t win a Cup in Detroit. So now, the Czech right wing will try to win a Cup in Chicago.

Hossa appears to be the NHL’s biggest winner in the first day of free agency as he signed a stunning, 12-year deal worth a reported $62.4 million, according to various news outlets, with the Blackhawks.

The Hawks also signed another Detroit castoff, gritty center Tomas Kopecky. Plus, they weakened the Devils by signing John Madden, a player who is annually nominated for the Selke Trophy. Madden signed a one-year, $2.75 million deal.

The other big news from the Western Conference was agent J.P. Barry’s successful flight to Sweden where he worked out a deal from Europe with Canucks’ general manager Mike Gillis and got the Sedin Twins to re-sign in Vancouver.

Daniel and Henrik each signed identical five-year deals worth $30.5 million.

Anaheim’s Scott Niedermayer, who forced the Pronger trade last weekend by informing Ducks’ general manager Bob Murray he would return to the team for another year, agreed to a one-year deal at $6 million.

A couple goalies signed on Day 1 of free agency, as well.

Craig Anderson, the young netminder who was impressive in Florida, signed a two-year deal in Colorado worth $3.6 million. Ty Conklin, the backup in Detroit, signed a two-year, $2.6 million deal in St. Louis. Dwayne Roloson left Edmonton for the Islanders, signing for two years at $5 million.

Nikolai Khabibulin left Chicago for Edmonton, getting $15 million for four year.

The Rangers got a jump on free agency late Tuesday by clearing some cap space in trading Scott Gomez to Montreal in a multi-player deal that saw the Rangers get Chris Higgins in return.

New York had interest in Hossa, as well as, Dany Heatley. Ottawa attempted to trade the disgruntled winger to Edmonton, but Heatley, who has a no-trade clause, vetoed the deal, asking to be dealt to the Rangers.

New York gave up tough guy Colton Orr, who signed a four-year, $4 million offer with Toronto. Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke vowed he would put a tougher club on the ice next fall. At the same time, the Rangers picked up older, less expensive Donald Brashear for $2.8 million over two years.

Late Wednesday night, the Rangers added Marian Gaborik, who has been plagued with serious hip and groin injuries the past two seasons. The former Minnesota forward agreed to a five-year deal worth $37.5 million. 

Tampa Bay, which continues to have in-fighting among its ownership as to what direction the club is moving, not only opted this week not to trade Vinny Lecavalier, but signed defenseman Mattias Ohlund to a seven-year, $24.5 million contract.

Pittsburgh picked a good defensive center in former Devil Mike Rupp, who signed for two years ($1.65 million total).

Former Devils’ backup goalie Scott Clemmensen, a player the Flyers had interest in, signed with Florida, for three years at $3.6 million.
 
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.