Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Kings and Blue Jackets excited about their blockbuster trades with Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers' Richards celebrates his game-winning goal against Ottawa Senators with teammate Carter during their NHL hockey game in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Flyers’ Mike Richards (R) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammate Jeff Carter (17) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 20, 2011. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

REUTERS

Former Flyers Mike Richards and Jeff Carter were both shocked by the trades this afternoon. Richards said he first heard of his trade on the internet, while Carter’s agent explained that the Philadelphia organization repeatedly assured him his client would not be moved. Whether or not the star centers were prepared for change, one thing that’s for sure is their both of their new teams are ecstatic with their newest acquisitions.

Both of the teams that made trades with the Flyers on Thursday were singing the praises of their acquisitions. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson knew it was important for the Blue Jackets organization to make a splash this offseason. He said, “Anytime a franchise acquires a player of this status it energizes the franchise.” He continued by talking about how the trade could make the team more attractive for not only the fans in the market, but also for any potential free agents they would be interested in.

“I think the time has come for us to do something like this to try and bring an immediate impact on our team. I don’t take trading away a Jake Voracek, a 21-year-old player who’s got tremendous upside, or the eighth overall pick, lightly. But our fans have been very patient. It’s been 10 years now and we just had to do something that’s going to make us better right now.”

(snip)

“I think (the trade) shows people we made a statement. We’re trying to get better now and hopefully they’ll see us as a more attractive destination because we haven’t done enough winning in Columbus to let that sell itself.”


In Jeff Carter, Columbus may have finally found the center they’ve been looking to pair with Rick Nash. Ever since Nash was drafted first overall in 2002, the Blue Jackets have desperately needed a talented center on their #1 line. Carter has already racked up 181 goals and 162 assists over the course of his six-year career. The 26-year-old is actually younger than his new linemate as well. With both players locked into long-term deals, the Blue Jackets look like they’ll have some firepower for foreseeable future.

A mere 2,000 miles away, the Los Angeles Kings were celebrating their own acquisition via Philadelphia. GM Dean Lombardi has made no secret that he’s respected Mike Richards ever since his days as an assistant GM with the Flyers. Four weeks ago he learned that it may be possible to bring Richards to LA, but he admitted that only in the last two days did the deal really come together.

He
explained on a conference call his excitement for Richards as well as helping fill a void on the Kings roster:
“I think it’s fair to say that when I found out this player was available, there was no doubt in my mind — given what I know about his character and his competitiveness — and the thought of having him and Kopitar down the middle, that allows us, I think, essentially, to match up to any team in the Western Conference. I think that was a big hole. So I think we’ve cleaned that up today.”

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren acknowledged that informing Richards and Carter of the trades was a “tough (call) for me to make and tough for them to receive.” For his part, Richards was saying the right things to the media in a conference call this afternoon. Even though he was shocked by the news of his trade, he expressed the positive things he’s heard about his new team:

“I was fortunate enough to go to L.A. where I’ve heard nothing but tremendous things about the city and how nice it is out there and how great the organization treats you. When I signed that extension I wanted to stay in Philadelphia for the rest of my career. That’s what I envisioned, up until probably about 2:00 or 3:00 this afternoon when I got the call.

“You don’t understand it’s a business until you’re traded. But it is. It’s the worst part about it.”


Much has been made about the Flyers and their excitement for Ilya Bryzgalov and their ability to jump into the 1st round of Friday’s draft. But in the midst of their transformation, they made two Western Conference teams better in the short-term. The Blue Jackets immediately have one of the most dynamic top-line pairings in the entire league; the Kings filled the biggest need on their roster with one of the most respected professionals in the game.

Hopefully they’re happy with their moves, because it certainly sounds like the Blue Jackets and Kings are happy with theirs.