Heading into Friday's NHL draft, all eyes were on Ottawa's Dany Heatley and Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier when it came to potential blockbuster trades. When all was said and done, the first domino to fall was Anaheim sending defenseman Chris Pronger to Philadelphia for Joffrey Lupol, Luca Sbisa, and two first-round picks. Now that, my friends, is a blockbuster.
First of all, is there a better fit than Chris Pronger and the city of Philadelphia? Absolutely not. That's a match made in heaven, and Pronger is going to be a fan favorite for as long as he plays in the City of Brotherly Love, which brings us to the potential problem with this deal: Did Philadelphia give up too much for one year of Pronger (his contract expires after the 2009-10 season)?
There's no question that the addition of Pronger to the Flyers' lineup makes them a serious contender in the Eastern Conference. Putting him with Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn on the Philadelphia blue line is as good a top three as any team in the NHL, and I certainly can't hold it against a team for putting it all on the line and going for a championship. But, let's be honest here, that's a steep price for one year of a 34-year-old defenseman. Simply put: Philadelphia has to make a serious run at the cup to make this deal worth it.
This deal means a couple of things for Flyers: 1) Jay Bouwmeester isn't going to Philadelphia, as some rumors and recent speculation suggested. 2) Daniel Briere is probably on his way out of town as soon as general manager Paul Holmgren can find somebody to take on that cap-killing contract. 3) It's all about this season.
Interesting note that this is the second time Lupul has been traded for Pronger, as he went from Anaheim to Edmonton in the July 3, 2006 deal that saw the Ducks acquire the rugged defenseman.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-26-2009 @ 8:52PM
billyp01 said...
first off as a flyers fan i couldnt be more excited.. we got one of the top 3 D in the league and i you know hes gonna hit the hell out of everyone he sees, especially in a pitt jersey wearing #87.. sbisa its sad to see go but you have to give up something to get something.. lupul, huge underachiever and im glad to see him go..
now i could understand a 1st rounder and conditionl pick next year, but a first this year next year and a conditional?? i think thats throwing in a little too much.. and i cant seem to find anything on ryan dingle who is the other player the flyers got which isnt a good sign.. now the question everyone will be asking is, is it worth what we gave up when we could of had a 26 year old stud for half the price..
i personally am glad to see brieres contract gone and hopefully we can get something decent in return..with our potent offence and possibly one of the leagues best D you have to put the flyers into stanley cup contention!
(until the yearly goalie controversy comes along)
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6-29-2009 @ 4:39PM
gwdokken said...
how is brieres contract gone,he didnt go anywhere
6-29-2009 @ 5:09PM
billyp01 said...
his contract isnt gone, yet.. signing pronger is an almost guarantee that briere will be traded. i think he is top 5 overpaid athlete in hockey and dont really care to see him on the flyers. we could have vinny from tampa bay on our team for that kind of money.
6-26-2009 @ 9:20PM
wittstl03 said...
Do all Flyers fans spell as well as you? I see you abbreviated "Pitt" because Pittsburgh has a second syllable...Pronger will be golfing again next year during the conference finals...stick with the Phillies dude, you're going down again next year to 87, 71, 25, and the rest of the Stanley Cup Champions!!! LET'S GO PENS!!!!!!!!
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6-26-2009 @ 10:14PM
tommyart00 said...
You're team got lucky! Cindy and Gina are two girls who cry to the refs every time they get touched. Nothing like having the league protecting those two sissys.
6-27-2009 @ 9:51AM
philadavephia said...
If the Flyers would play crappy every few years like the Pens do , we'd get higher draft choices like you do, thus replenishing our young talent. But the Flyers choose to play well EVERY year, so chances like this deal for Pronger are necessary. Can't wait to see those Pittsburgh Panzies getting knocked on their duffs next year. Bring it Cindy
6-27-2009 @ 2:54PM
shummey327 said...
Great trade. Now lets see what how many players the stupid azz Flyers have to give up now with their payroll as high as it is. Like I said great trade for a guy who is not the same player as he used to be but will hurt your payroll. So answer something. Is he a regular or a rent a player. Dumb ass Flyers never seem to amaze me. I will Be surprised even if you make the playoffs
6-26-2009 @ 9:42PM
billyp01 said...
87+71=69
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6-26-2009 @ 9:43PM
cct3stii said...
pens and crosby sucks, pitt will do just fine in this trade they needed a stick it in your face d on pronger GO PHILLY !and kick crosby`s a$%
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6-26-2009 @ 10:13PM
Ronald said...
Sissy Crosby better have his head on a swivel when Philly comes calling.
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6-27-2009 @ 10:10AM
Kirks said...
the penguins will crush the flyers the day the flyers win another stanley cup is when hell freezes over
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6-27-2009 @ 10:22AM
philaphillies99 said...
Its hockey, who the hell cares? Its as bad as the NBA.
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6-27-2009 @ 11:06PM
ptw76 said...
Ok pittsburg (emphasis) on Pitts. And I don't care if thats spelled right or not you get my meaning. Cindy must be a relative of Bing, becausew he sings like a little biatch every time he gets hit. Tell mario to get stock in icy hot, so when Pronger destroys cindy here in philly he will have something to rub on his crying azz. Remember the Flyers play the same on the road as they do at home, Not like the pig pens who only get rough at home. Take the stanley cup and (spell this) stick it up your a__
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6-28-2009 @ 12:56PM
sjnick111 said...
i think this is a great trade.
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6-28-2009 @ 10:04PM
hatrick said...
Friggin' great trade for my beloved Ducks!
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6-29-2009 @ 10:44AM
George McBain said...
Going to have to take a bit to figure out if I like the trade or not. Granted, Pronger is great and I hope that he provides us with that spark, but Lupul was one of my favorite players (and, to a lesser degree, Sbisa who is just getting his feet).
It will be interesting to see what happens.
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6-29-2009 @ 3:10PM
halondude said...
Pronger will fit well with the Flyers. Did they give up too much, yes they did. what the flyers need is a Goalie that does not give up rebounds straight to the other team. That killed them last year. Biron is OK but not going to make it to the cup. Find us a great goalie.
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6-29-2009 @ 4:43PM
gwdokken said...
how is bieres contract gone,he didnt go anywhere
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7-01-2009 @ 9:25PM
cct3stii said...
crosby sucks, great trade for flyers, !!!!!!!
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7-02-2009 @ 9:34AM
darci said...
Yeah Crosby sucked and that is why he won the Cup. LMFAO. I guess it must be hard for you Flyers fans to find someone (good enough) on your own team to talk about, so you are all obsessed with one of the greatest hockey players in the NHL. Can't really blame you.