Flyers Acquire Hamhuis’ Rights-What Do We Think, What Do We Know and What Can We Prove?

The Flyers traded defenseman Ryan Parent back to the Nashville Predators for the rights to Dan Hamhuis and a conditional draft choice. Hamhuis is a pending free agent, due a nice bump from the $2.5mm he received last year. Hamhuis scored 5 goals, along with 19 assists for the Predators last season and was supposedly the focus of trade talks between the two teams at the trade deadline.

Dan Hamhuis is the latest Nashville Predator to be dealt to the Flyers.

Parent was the Flyers sixth defenseman for much of the season, at least when he was healthy. He is a former first round pick of the Preds and was acquired from the Flyers in the Peter Forsberg trade near the 2007 trade deadline, along with Scottie Upshall and a first round pick-which was traded back to Nashville for the rights to Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell. Dizzy yet?

We do know that Hamhuis is a good two way defenseman, with tons of hockey smarts and decent size, although he’s not overly physical. He can be used as a shutdown type defender, doesn’t commit many turnovers coming out of the zone and is a fluid skater.

We also know that Parent lost the trust of Flyers coach Peter Laviolette in the playoffs. Parent was touted as being a future shutdown defenseman, but injuries have hampered his development. He’s had stretches as a Flyer where he looks as if he’s been in the NHL for 10 years. But those have been too infrequent.

One other thing we know about Parent is, Ron Hextall had more offensive upside at age 24 than Parent does. He’s strictly a defensive player, capable of making smart outlet passes and having good mobility.

We can prove that being issued uniform #77 for the Flyers means a short and disappointing tenure in Philadelphia-whether your name is Paul Coffey, Adam Oates, Chris Gratton or Parent.

Now, what do we think…Many, many things. Some interesting, some not.

First, does this sent a clarion call that Braydon Coburn Flyers jerseys will soon be 50% off at the Flyers Fan Shop? It was reported during the season that Paul Holmgren approached Coburn’s agent to work out an extension and either Coburn was insulted by a low offer or he simply wanted to wait until the summer. Regardless, you have to think Coburn wants a deal in the neighborhood of Boston’s Dennis Seidenberg, who just signed a 4 year deal worth $3.25mm per season.  Hamhuis will probably get just north of that neighborhood, perhaps as much as $4mm per year.

With the Flyers fairly close to the cap, it’s hard to imagine a 5th defenseman making over $3mm per year.

What Else could the Flyers be doing to clear space? Guys like Jeff Carter, Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell and Simon Gagne have been mentioned in rumors-some more prominently than others. With a need in net, plus figuring out where to get a reliable 5th defenseman, moving a big contract for draft choices or cheaper young players is a possible route open.

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If the Flyers do deal a center like Carter or Briere for cap room, do they hit the FA market looking for a good scoring line winger that might have a lot of mileage, but comes at a easy cap hit? Ray Whitney, I’m looking at you, buddy.

Could adding Hamhuis lead to re-signing the young and full of potential Coburn and trading veteran Kimmo Timonen away? Timonen has a few years left on his deal, but he has one of those good ol frontloaded contracts that the NHL apparently realize existed only last summer. Timonen’s salary drops dramatically in the final two years of his deal, perfect for a team short on dollars who needs to get over the cap floor.

I’m pretty sure that at some point the Flyers will sign a goaltender to a new contract. My gut says that Dan Ellis…another Predator, will join his former teammate Hamhuis in Philly. Ellis tweeted last night that his favorite movie, Law Abiding Citizen takes place in a pretty cool city…Yeah, grasping at straws, I know.

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Does anyone else think that Stan Bowman woke up after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup sort of like Ed Helms did in The Hangover, when he realized he couldn’t match any sort of offer sheet tossed at his RFA players?

Jesus, this room is saved under my Visa!!!

Anyhow, per Tim Panaccio of Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia, Holmgren and Hamhuis’ agent have touched base on a new deal and talks will begin in earnest Monday morning. Wade Arnott says that “anything is possible” when asked about getting a deal done prior to Friday’s NHL entry draft.

It’s very possible we could see more trade activity prior to the Friday night kick off, since as it stands the Flyers will not be making a choice until the third round-plenty of time for Holmgren to harass other GM’s with trade ideas.