As we inch closer to the 2011 NHL Draft, things are heating up with player movement. In the biggest move of the off-season so far, the Philadelphia Flyers have traded Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Jakub Voracek, a first-round pick and a third-round pick.
However surprising this move may be, it does make sense. The Philadelphia Flyers are in desperate need of a strong number one goalie, and they will look to sign Ilya Bryzgalov, whose rights they acquired from Phoenix two weeks ago, on July 1. But in order to afford the netminder, some salary had to be dumped.
In November, 2010, Carter signed a $58 million contract extension which would have kept him in Philly for 11 more years. Now, it seems, the goal scoring winger will have the opportunity to play alongside Rick Nash and help the Blue Jackets turn things around.
Last season, Carter posted 36 goals and 30 assists in 80 games. His efforts will be a huge bonus to a team that finished with the third fewest goals for in the Western Conference in 2010-11.
What are your thoughts on the Blue Jackets latest acquisition?
Although I like the Blue Jackets, I feel that this is a loss on their end. Carter had one really good season and has tended to under achieve. A goal scoring winger has never been a need for the Blue Jackets as they have always lacked a true #1 center that can set up Nash and co. If the Jackets fail to get a true center, then this will be a huge loss because they also surrendered the draft picks as well. What good is two scoring wingers when you have no one to distribute the puck to them? As for the Flyers, I think they come out as the big winners here. A. They reduce their payroll and create additional flexibility and B. They get a young skater who is still developing who the Jackets probably sold low on. Voracek probably has first line winger potential eventually, and I feel that he could probably be a 70 to 80 point player with time. Finally, assuming the 1st round pick is for 2011, the Flyers get back into the first round after dealing a 1st rounder to acquire Versteeg.
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