DAILY RUMORS: Picking Apart a Couple of Jeff Carter Trade Suggestions from the Courier Post

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Lots of speculation in recent days has centered on Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeff Carter, whose name has been a frequent fixture in the rumor mill over the last couple of years as the Flyers continue to live dangerously close to the NHL salary cap ceiling.

Chuck Gormley of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post was among the pundits musing over the possibility Carter might be shopped this summer as the Flyers wrestle with finding enough cap space to re-sign Dan Hamhuis and Braydon Coburn, perhaps land an experienced starting goalie and fill out the remainder of their lineup for next season.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100625/SPORTS04/6250336/1017/sports04/Trade-rumors-find-Carter-once-again

In his attempt to envision some possible trade scenarios however the usually sensible Gormley opted instead for flights of fancy:

“If the Flyers trade for a goaltender, they likely will turn to the Los Angeles Kings , who have no room for prospect Jonathan Bernier, a promising 21-year-old stuck behind Jonathan Quick. If the Flyers include Carter in the deal they might also land Wayne Simmonds, a hard-hitting 21-year-old right wing who scored 16 goals last season.

Or, the Flyers could get really creative and send Carter to the Maple Leafs for defenseman Tomas Kaberle and a first-round pick, then send Coburn to the Coyotes for 33-year-old right wing Shane Doan.”

I cringed reading that because I’ve followed Gormley’s work for some time and he doesn’t as a rule dream up trades which seem more suited for fantasy hockey leagues than the real world.

It’s possible – unlikely, but possible – the Kings might (emphasis on “might”) consider peddling Bernier but everything I’ve heard so far suggests otherwise. He’s a promising goalie, a future starter, infinitely better than current backup Erik Ersberg, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Bernier beats out Ersberg for the role of Quick’s understudy this coming season.

As for Simmonds, he was the deal breaker when the Atlanta Thrashers tried shopping Ilya Kovalchuk to the Kings. Anyone who followed the Kings this past season, especially in their first round series against Vancouver, understands Simmonds value to the Kings going forward.

Besides, if the Kings were unwilling to part with Simmonds for Kovalchuk, why in heaven’s name would they part with him for a lesser player in Carter?

Gormley also overlooked the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have a first round pick in this year’s or next year’s drafts when he proposed revisiting the Carter-for-Kaberle deal, so bang goes that proposal.

Finally, no way the Phoenix Coyotes part with team captain Shane Doan for Braydon Coburn. Coyotes management are trying to build upon last season’s surprising success and won’t do it by trading away the most recognizable Coyotes star in Phoenix.

Lyle Richardson
SpectorsHockey.net
twitter.com/spectorshockey