NHL Trade Deadine

[barnaby]

Yeah, well that's not really saying much. See Maryanne's post ... Upshall was her favorite and, as you mentioned, he's a disappointment.

Flyers fans are notorious for falling in love with the lunch pail guys who don't, ultimately, bring much to the table.

I mean a salary cap move I can understand, but the trade overall means nothing to this team in terms of winning.

In terms of winning, it allows the Flyers cap space to keep Claude Giroux up. That will help the team. Upshall became expandable with Giroux around. And Carcillo can fill Upshall's role but you'll have the addition of Giroux being able to stay up, now that Briere is back.

Carcillo can play and has some upside. He averaged a point a game in Jr while racking up PIMs.
Carcillo is like Darcy Tucker - a tough player with some skills.

And honestly, I think the Flyers aren't good enough to contend for the Cup anyway. They are still need another solid defensemen, preferably one who can move the puck.

[JPL]

Pens have to hope they make the playoffs first, before they start worrying about where they're going.

Hey don't worry Cindy will just put his Tutu back on and lace up his ballet slippers umm I mean skates and prance and whine his way into the playoffs.

[Ian]

And honestly, I think the Flyers aren't good enough to contend for the Cup anyway. They are still need another solid defensemen, preferably one who can move the puck.

On this we agree. And that's why I was a tad mystified at this move.

We needed a defenseman (or maybe a goaltender) and we got a tough guy, which I honestly think we already have enough of.

[JPL]

We needed a defenseman (or maybe a goaltender)

What is it with the Flyers and Goaltenders That almost always seems to be your weakness. I can go through a list but I can't remember all their names over the last 10 years or so.

[barnaby]

On this we agree. And that's why I was a tad mystified at this move.

We needed a defenseman (or maybe a goaltender) and we got a tough guy, which I honestly think we already have enough of.

They couldn't find a deal they could make for a defensemen because of the cap room issue and then the asking price for some of the defensemen they coveted.

The reason they made the deal is this - picking up Carcillo and losing Upshall is a wash as far as impact on the ice but what they did get is cap room, and more importantly got the cap room to keep Giroux up. And since the dawn of the salary cap in the NHL, cap room is a very important part of the team now.

What is it with the Flyers and Goaltenders That almost always seems to be your weakness. I can go through a list but I can't remember all their names over the last 10 years or so.

You ain't kidding!!
Biron played played well in the playoffs last season, but the last stud goalie the Flyers had was the first incarnation of Ron Hextall.
Since then they have had the likes of such "greats" as Garth Snow, Brian Boucher, and Roman Chechmanek.

I remember one year when local kid Mike Richter was a free agent as well as Curtis Joseph. And the Flyers went an signed an aging and past his prime John Vanbiesbrouk.

[JPL]

I remember one year when local kid Mike Richter was a free agent as well as Curtis Joseph. And the Flyers went an signed an aging and past his prime John Vanbiesbrouk.

You forgot about about 2 of the more notable
Sean Burke and Jeff Hackett

[Ian]

What is it with the Flyers and Goaltenders That almost always seems to be your weakness. I can go through a list but I can't remember all their names over the last 10 years or so.

I have no clue ... it's like a requirement that each Philly team has to have some blind spot ...

Like the Eagles and a running game!

[Pagan]

All I know is that Kunitz and Guerin have paid dividends for my boys....

Playoffs are comin' and they're peaking at the right time.

[barnaby]

And so far the Flyers deal for Carcillo has paid dividends - not so much Carcillo, but the fact that the Flyers trading Upshall and getting some cap room allowed Claude Giroux to stay up with the Flyers. And Giroux has played well and has 11 pts in the last 8 games on a line with Carcillo.