It amazes me that this organization gets criticized time and time again by the same people for being so short sighted but when they finally do something that could potentially put us in a better situation in the future, they (franked) up.

They didn't trade Schenn for Umberger. They gave up an aging power forward with a contract that is going to look real bad in two years. I can almost guarantee that if we had held onto Hartnell the same people criticizing the trade today, would be bashing the organization for not dumping him sooner while he still had some value left.
- Roytastic

Then let's never offer a contract longer than 1 year again, you don't wanna have cap issues that you need to unload.

That's my problem, the return. If it's a salary dump, okay. Nut hell, just trade for the 4th rounder, let CBJ buy out Umberger, and then sign him at a lower salary. Or tell Hartnell you'll trade him if he wants, but you need to shop him around a bit (which I'm assuming they didn't, but may have). If this was the best return they could get, I would have rather kept him and tried at the TDL.
- jmatchett383

If this is in fact the case, I would think you have to keep Hartnell. In my opinion he still had value to this roster. On the other hand the longer you wait, the worse the deal get. The problem is he was still valuable to this team right now.

Is their spaceship roomy enough to take Vinny, too?
- Tomahawk

Good lord, what a mess. The draft and July 1 should be a hoot.

Why was RJ in the dog house in CJB?
- coffee junkie

Not good enough

Not good enough
- PhillySportsGuy

He sucks

poor hartnell never got to settle in
- -davies-

He always seemed a little uncomfortable here

Not good enough
- PhillySportsGuy

He'll look great on our top line. I hear that he skates well.

- JAKEw1234

Too soon.

Anyone see that 16 foot Great White shark off the coast in Brigantine?

He's untradable. With b Richards, spezza, Thornton out there.

Hartnell was the deal to make. And I'm glad they did it.

Gotta hope vinny rebounds next year.
- Just5

dead wood floats to Columbus

If we're talking trading players for draft picks, it's usually a win only for the team trading the picks (except for when Pittsburgh traded for Douglas Murray, he was awful). That said, if it's only a player for a pick, the other thing you get is immediate salary cap space, so it depends on the amount on salary cap space created.
- jmatchett383

well, i realize i am kind of being a Richard here by overstating your own suggested parameter, and i realize its not pertinent when applied to the situation at hand because you didnt generate much current cap space, but cap space as a notion is pretty irrelevant when we are looking at the deal entirely in a vacuum.

He's untradable. With b Richards, spezza, Thornton out there.

Hartnell was the deal to make. And I'm glad they did it.

Gotta hope vinny rebounds next year.
- Just5

I do believe that's a factor. If you can't move Vinny...and that was gonna be a heavy lift...at least you aren't keeping the same roster that couldn't play with him.

Umberger might be able to play with him, and Giroux and Voracek are gonna do their thing if that third guy has a pulse

But if you can't move Vinny, you had to do something

He'll look great on our top line. I hear that he skates well.
- jmatchett383

I think people are going to be very underwhelmed with his play. Everyone expects him to be a strong third line player.

I'm sure I'm late but whatever...

Aaron Portzline @Aportzline
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Kekalainen on Hartnell: "He said 'I'm 32 years old. I have plenty of money. What I want to do more than anything now is win."
2:22 PM - 23 Jun 2014

Too soon.
- Streit2ThePoint

It looks odd, doesn't it?

Then let's never offer a contract longer than 1 year again, you don't wanna have cap issues that you need to unload.
- jmatchett383

thats stark hyperbole and you know it mister.

It looks odd, doesn't it?
- JAKEw1234

It does. I'm sure Tampa fans were saying the same thing for Vinny.

Hard to worry about 3 years from now. Meh. Hartnell isn't a great loss, but Umberger is a bad return with a bad contract.

Flyers would be in better shape if Hartnell was abducted by aliens.
- PLindbergh31

Umberger might be a bad return. He might be a pleasant surprise, too. I could see it going either way. I'm not saying it's a great trade, but let's not play like the Flyers squandered a huge trade asset. They definitely took something of a risk on RJ.

I'm sure I'm late but whatever...
- mayorofangrytown

And Hextall's final words to Hartnell were "See ya Sucka!"

I do believe that's a factor. If you can't move Vinny...and that was gonna be a heavy lift...at least you aren't keeping the same roster that couldn't play with him.

Umberger might be able to play with him, and Giroux and Voracek are gonna do their thing if that third guy has a pulse

But if you can't move Vinny, you had to do something
- AllInForFlyers

this is probably all true, but the fact that VL is staying is sad

I hope he can bounce back but it seems unlikely

I'm sure I'm late but whatever...
- mayorofangrytown

Wait Hartnell feels he will win more on the BJs then in Philly?

That makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Seriously, why was RJ in the doghouse? Anyone have something more intelligent then "he sucks."

Wait Hartnell feels he will win more on the BJs then in Philly?

That makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Seriously, why was RJ in the doghouse? Anyone have something more intelligent then "he sucks."
- coffee junkie

he was injured?

this is probably all true, but the fact that VL is staying is sad

I hope he can bounce back but it seems unlikely
- Marc D

Between VL and Umberger, you're relying on two declining players who are coming off major injuries and very poor seasons.

ignore the score. rekindle the undeniable chemistry

http://video.flyers.nhl.c...102011,2,512&event=CBJ536

Wait Hartnell feels he will win more on the BJs then in Philly?

That makes me feel sick to my stomach.

Seriously, why was RJ in the doghouse? Anyone have something more intelligent then "he sucks."
- coffee junkie

He is probably right...