Photo Credit: Zack Hill
As the NHL Trade Deadline has now come to a close you maybe let down that the Flyers did not acquire that big name star player that you were hoping for in order for them to make a push for the playoffs. With that being said Chuck Fletcher (the Flyers General Manger) did not make any wrong moves either, (by feeling pressured to over pay for someone that would just be a rental).
Yes, most of the Eastern Conferences power house teams acquired players that should not only fill the gaps in their lineups, but should produce on a nightly basis for their respected clubs. For instance, the Pittsburgh Penguins added Jason Zucker, Patrick Marleau, and Conor Sheary, while the Washington Capitals added Ilya Kovalchuk. Other Metropolitan Divisional teams in the Carolina Hurricanes added Vincent Trocheck, and the New York Islanders added Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Although, the Flyers did not acquire the level of player some of these other teams did, Fletcher did manage to fill some of the team’s holes in the lineup with some more than capable veteran players.
With the addition of (6’1″ 205 pound) Nate Thompson from the Montreal Canadiens, Chuck was able to add some much needed grit to the lineup. Thompson who has and is still willing to square up with the league’s best heavy weights will take on the role as the teams policeman, one that they so desperately needed. To go along with his toughness Nate is known to be a great locker room guy. Thompson tends to make practices a blast by telling jokes, and pulling tricks such as un screwing water bottle lids on the bench; In the same breath, taking the time to go over something with a younger player when they don’t seem to grasp the coaches concept. Nate is sure to be a fan favorite the first time he drops the gloves against an opposing rival at home. Costing the Flyers just a 5th round pick in 2021, and the rest of his $1 million salary this year. The Flyers got quite the bargain for the added reassurance one of their stars safety come playoff time.
Now looking at the addition of Forward Derek Grant (whose trade this websites creator and lead writer Jamey Baskow predicted before the deadline), just might be one the deadlines most underrated trades in all of the NHL. Grant is 6’3″ 206 pounds; he plays both Center and Wing, which allows Head Coach Alain Vigneault the ability to utilize him any way he sees fit. Grant’s size, strength and scoring ability with will add much need depth to the teams bottom six forwards. Before he even steps onto the ice in Philadelphia he will already be the teams 6th leading scorer with 14 goals on the year. Bringing Derek abroad allows the team to send some under producing guys back to the minors where they will benefit from playing more minutes in a setting where they can continue to grow as a player themselves. Grant often plays in the dirty areas in front of the net, and along the boards which allows him to collect some tough goals. Something both of these players bring is their ability to play on the Penalty Kill and win faceoffs, which should allow the teams aging Captain Claude Giroux to have some much needed rest.
These two players acquired by Chuck Fletcher may not be fancy, but they were needed. Chuck did the best he could with the cap space he had (slim to none). The only expendable piece the team would have probably liked to get rid of (defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere) hurt his own trade stock with a recent knee injury requiring surgery and of late with his play in a conditioning stint with the teams AHL affiliate the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Shayne’s $4.5 million salary was probably a lot to swallow for most teams at this time of year as well. Fletcher did comment that he received calls on Shayne, but said he didn’t want to mess with the team’s depth at defense (which is code for; teams weren’t offering Fletcher what he wanted for Ghost). Not feeling the pressure to add a star player when every other contending team in the East was, Fletcher may have seemingly just left room for possibly one of the best deadline acquisitions without having to give up anything at all, Flyers own Center Nolan Patrick! Patrick seems to be inching closer and closer to a return this year; Nolan is not only practicing with the team but is often traveling with them, as well. With the hopes to start his own conditioning stint with the Phantoms sooner rather than later; Patrick may just be the missing puzzle piece the Flyers are still in need of to contend for Lord Stanley’s Cup this year!
