ST. PAUL — The crowd inside the XCel Center was still buzzing from a flurry of trades Saturday and Sunday when a 20-year veteran of National Hockey League entry drafts muttered “this is like an old-time draft, with all the deals.”
The Philadelphia Flyers got the ball rolling on Thursday. The Flyers were hardly done there, dealing away Mike Richards to Los Angeles Jeff Carter to Columbus. Voracek, one of countless former Blue Jackets first round picks who has fought with coaches, has untapped talent. After unloading the huge Mike Richards and Carter contracts, the Flyers may also be competing with the New York Rangers for Brad Richards when free agency begins on Friday. Columbus, meanwhile, has also dramatically changed direction. The Blue Jackets need Carter, who was stunned by the trade, to be Rick Nash’s set-up man. It’s suspected the Sharks aren’t finished trading.
The Panthers, who will struggle to reach the NHL’s salary cap floor of $49 million, added Campbell’s heavy contract in a deal for Rusty Olesz. Campbell has five years and $35.714 left on his deal.
That deal wasn’t a complete surprise.
Cousins is an offensively talented prospect, scoring 29 goals and 68 points in the OHL last season for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Yeah, he definitely sounds like someone the Flyers would draft.
4th Round, #116 Overall
Colin Suellentrop, Defenseman
4th Round, #118 Overall
Marcel Noebels, Left Wing
6th Round, #176 Overall
Petr Placek, Right Wing
7th Round, #206 Overall
Derek Mathers, Right Wing
The best prospect they found last season was Brendan Ranford, and that was lucky for the 209th pick.
I’d have rather they drafted defenseman Keegan Lowe rather than pick up Cousins, as there really aren’t any defensemen in the Flyers’ system capable of jumping into a top four position when Kimmo Timonen or Chris Pronger retire.
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