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There are always defensemen who can be obtained to help a team fill its current needs. When the Philadelphia Flyers learned that the Montreal Canadiens had signed holdout P.K. Subban to a two-year deal, they knew that their blue line options would remain limited.
Losing Chris Pronger last season was devastating. Flashing forward from last fall, we then see free agent Matt Carle pocket over $30 million of Tampa Bay Lightning money in the summer. We can’t forget to add the failed foray into the restricted free agent market and the pursuit of Shea Weber during this period of time either.
After moving past the excruciating lockout period, we arrive at “training camp” 2013 and the presence of former Toronto Maple Leafs‘ defenseman Luke Schenn in a Flyers’ uniform (via the James van Riemsdyk deal). The modest off-season additions of Bruno Gervais and Kurtis Foster didn’t spark Nashville Predators‘-like rage in the hearts of general managers across the National Hockey League, but did provided some depth for Peter Laviolette’s team.
The remainder of last season’s defensive contingent and the new guys (minus most of the Adirondack Phantoms who filled in last season) were left to skate through the initial part of this shortened 2012-13 season. That’s what stirred the Subban-to-the-Flyers chatter in recent weeks.
Subban’s new deal helps Montreal, while blue line matters remain static in Philadelphia. As everyone knows, general manager Paul Holmgren has a well-earned reputation for being creatively aggressive.
With plenty of games left to play (in a compressed schedule no less) there are sure to be other rumored men heading to the Flyers in the near future. My guess is that “Homer” will turn at least one piece of scuttlebutt into a defensive fact through some type of trade.
Follow Sean on Twitter @SeanyOB, Facebook, Google+ and read his blog Insight.
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