Jarmo Kekalainen traded a possession anchor, who the team would have bought out if they couldn't move, in R.J. Umberger for a better possession player and point producer in Scott Hartnell.

From Todd Cordel the CBJ blogger

I do not look forward to Hartnell's inevitable game winning goal upon his first return to Philly.
- coffee junkie

Then immediate fight with Luke Schenn upon scoring

Then immediate fight with Luke Schenn upon scoring
- PhillySportsGuy

Suck it Fat Schenn!

Suck it Fat Schenn!
- Tomahawk

Which one? The Richards era or the Giroux era?
- PhillySportsGuy

This one yo

That was not a good hockey trade for the Flyers, optically speaking. And I like Scott Hartnell a lot. I'm a big fan. But CBJ fans/writers might want to pump their brakes a bit.

I wonder what Todd Cordel will write when Hartnell takes his first penalty and falls down with no contact on a line rush.
- johndewar

Immediate near-term, I don't think the trade will look great for us, even though Umby will probably be a bit better than advertised.

By year 3, when Hartsy's gone the way of Brendan Morrow, and the Flyers are awash in new found cap space, I think the optics will definitely be different then.

Bubble wrap. Lots and lots of bubble wrap. Though if they wanna let Rinaldo and Rosehill spend the offseason playing with weapons and matches, I'm cool with that.
- BiggE

(frank) it I'll take some bubble wrap too I'm all over that poop if it comes in a package

Jarmo Kekalainen traded a possession anchor, who the team would have bought out if they couldn't move, in R.J. Umberger for a better possession player and point producer in Scott Hartnell.

From Todd Cordel the CBJ blogger

I do not look forward to Hartnell's inevitable game winning goal upon his first return to Philly.
- coffee junkie

Hartnell only has 31 (180-149) more points over the last four seasons. That is not that much when you consider who Scotty played with and that he was a 1st line power play guy. He also only has 18 (89-71) more goals.

So, I do not think this trade is all that uneven in Columbus' favor in terms of stats. If Umberger gets 20 playing with Couturier I will take that.

Immediate near-term, I don't think the trade will look great for us, even though Umby will probably be a bit better than advertised.

By year 3, when Hartsy's gone the way of Brendan Morrow, and the Flyers are awash in new found cap space, I think the optics will definitely be different then.


- Tomahawk

That's what the trade is all about IMO from the flyer perspective.

That's what the trade is all about IMO from the flyer perspective.
- Just5

I think there is a message being sent to the players, to shake up the locker room.
Berube wants these guys in top shape, to skate 200 feet, and to stop taking so many penalties.

Hartnell was a very popular player, with fans and in the locker room.
Maybe less so with the coach, given the message that Berube is emphasizing.

Hartnell's Corsi stats were padded by playing with Giroux and Voracek most of the time. He may still be a productive player for a few more years, but he's way too error prone with the puck (and with his skates) to be relied on a possession player.

Im 31 and for me desjardins is the best flyers defenseman of my time. One rung above timonen
- Just5

27 years old. Same here. He and Lindros were my two favs as a kid.

Facebook reaction to Lindros: infuriating as always.

With the Leach Clarke Barber line, every time they took the ice I almost expected them to score.

I had that same feeling with the Legion of Doom line.
Watching the games, I couldn't wait for them to get their turn on the ice.

What a great feeling, to just know a goal was coming when they stepped on for their shift.

Jarmo Kekalainen traded a possession anchor, who the team would have bought out if they couldn't move, in R.J. Umberger for a better possession player and point producer in Scott Hartnell.

From Todd Cordel the CBJ blogger

I do not look forward to Hartnell's inevitable game winning goal upon his first return to Philly.
- coffee junkie

Id imagine alot/if not all players metrics would look great playing primarily alongside Giroux/Voracek. This is not to discredit Hartnell's ability and physical presence on that line but you can't provide me any amount of data to persuade my feelings on how frustrating he was in many ways. How many times have we seen his missile-like passes which were impossible to handle or flinging the puck wildly to no one. The falling down constantly is too easy to mention.

I enjoyed Hartnell in his earlier years with the Flyers, no denying the amount of productive lines he was apart of, but getting rid of that contract is a big plus.

As much as people want to immediately rip Umberger, hes known to be a fitness fanatic, something Hartnell has been criticized for multiple times. Im optimistic he can come close to matching Hartnell's production while taking a lot less PIMs and providing better two-way play.

Cordell seems like a young, smart guy eager to learn but it seems as though when he wants to compare two or more players he immediately goes right to metrics. Im sure he's seen enough of Umberger but to rave about Hartnell's possesstion numbers shows me he didn't really watch Hartnell all that much last year.

I think there is a message being sent to the players, to shake up the locker room.
Berube wants these guys in top shape, to skate 200 feet, and to stop taking so many penalties.

Hartnell was a very popular player, with fans and in the locker room.
Maybe less so with the coach, given the message that Berube is emphasizing.
- Marc D

The contract was definitely a "thing", but I think Berube is kinda happy to be rid of him in a way. At least that was the impression I got reading the reports from the STH meetings.

Im 31 and for me desjardins is the best flyers defenseman of my time. One rung above timonen
- Just5

I would go with Pronger. Desjardins was great and had the longevity but Pronger was the best defenseman that I have seen in my era.

With the Leach Clarke Barber line, every time they took the ice I almost expected them to score.

I had that same feeling with the Legion of Doom line.
Watching the games, I couldn't wait for them to get their turn on the ice.

What a great feeling, to just know a goal was coming when they stepped on for their shift.
- Marc D

Yes, I remember that feeling as well with Legion of Doom. Most exciting hockey I can remember.

Suck it Fat Schenn!
- Tomahawk

I would go with Pronger. Desjardins was great and had the longevity but Pronger was the best defenseman that I have seen in my era.
- GOA88

Pronger's stay here reminds me a bit of Forsberg's stay here.

Incandescent talent who came a bit past their prime and did some pretty good things here, but wasn't here long enough to merit "franchise great" status in my eyes.

Opinions vary, I'm sure.

What the heck is MTL doing with Subban? Pay the man! If they lose him over this in a few years I will be shocked and appalled!

Pronger's stay here reminds me a bit of Forsberg's stay here.

Incandescent talent who came a bit past their prime and did some pretty good things here, but wasn't here long enough to merit "franchise great" status in my eyes.

Opinions vary, I'm sure.
- johndewar

Agreed, "What could have been", a memoir of a sad Flyers fan.

Bubble wrap. Lots and lots of bubble wrap. Though if they wanna let Rinaldo and Rosehill spend the offseason playing with weapons and matches, I'm cool with that.
- BiggE

I have a funny feeling that bubble wrap wouldn't be the best idea. Most of these players are pretty OCD about things, and I have a suspicion that a few may be OCD about popping every single bubble on each sheet of bubble wrap.

That's what the trade is all about IMO from the flyer perspective.
- Just5

I think it was just as much about Berube not wanting to lead the league in shorthanded opportunities.

Pronger's stay here reminds me a bit of Forsberg's stay here.

Incandescent talent who came a bit past their prime and did some pretty good things here, but wasn't here long enough to merit "franchise great" status in my eyes.

Opinions vary, I'm sure.
- johndewar

I am just talking on pure talent while he was here. Desjardins best season as a Flyer never matched up to Prongers commanding lead of the team to the cup finals.

The contract was definitely a "thing", but I think Berube is kinda happy to be rid of him in a way. At least that was the impression I got reading the reports from the STH meetings.
- johndewar

Absolutely.

I think/hope that Hexy is clearing out cap space and getting rid of long term contracts so that if an opportunity arrived to sign a number one defenseman in the next few years they will have the space to do it.

They can always make room if a player they want becomes available but having extra cap space makes it easier.

Pronger's stay here reminds me a bit of Forsberg's stay here.

Incandescent talent who came a bit past their prime and did some pretty good things here, but wasn't here long enough to merit "franchise great" status in my eyes.

Opinions vary, I'm sure.
- johndewar

Not sure how anyone could disagree with your sentiment.

Forsberg played 100 games as a Flyer, Pronger played 145. Way too small a sample size to be labeled a franchise great.