Flyers’ General Manager Chuck Fletcher was left with a gaping hole on the blue line when Matt Niskanen officially announced his retirement one day before the NHL Draft was set to commence. Niskanen was a very reliable Right-Handed Defenseman that was on the top pairing, while being paired with a work-horse in Ivan Provorov.
Is he easy to replace? Oh heck no, and Fletcher stated “Good luck” with trying to find a replacement for Niskanen. However, with free agency slated to open tomorrow (Friday October 9) there is one way to replace Niskanen without getting into bidding wars for such, as most teams will throw all types of high priced money towards players to fill their needs. The easiest way for Fletcher to obtain Niskanen’s replacement is via trade with the Las Vegas Golden Knight’s, in particular Alec Martinez.
Martinez, 33-years-old, is a Left-Handed Defenseman that can play the right side, as most saw in the 2020 NHL Playoffs. The Knights are trying to shed some salary, so this is the easiest way for them to do it. Martinez is entering the last year of his six-year deal (2020-21), and has a cap hit of $4 million. The good thing is he would not need protection for the expansion draft (If Fletcher chooses not to) that is looming following the 2020-21 season, as well, as he will be a UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent) at year’s end.
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This Knights Defenceman is reliable, and plays really sound two-way hockey. He is a strong and well-balanced skater. Martinez posseses solid puck-moving and passing skills. He is not afraid to be physical as he stands at 6’1, and weighs 209 pounds.
Martinez, plays a simple mistake free game, much like Mark Friedman does. He needs to shoot the puck more, but he would pair nicely with Ivan Provorov, or at the very least be a middle pairing Defenceman for Alain Vigneault and the Flyers.
It will be a tall task to replace the leadership, and on ice tutelage that Niskanen possessed. However, this may be the cheapest and easiest way for Fletcher to replace Niskanen. With the Knights looking to shed salary ASAP (As soon as possible) maybe it will only take a prospect and a pick to do such (Just a guess), maybe an NHL player.
Get buflien ex jet to come out of retirement cheap
Trade sanhiem to his home town team for Laine sign pererangelo team would be Stanley cup champs next year
Peterangelo yes
Peterangelo provorov Myers hagg Braun zamula trade ghost too
Giroux coots vorechek laine Hayes koneckny linblom frost Nak JVR Laughton pitlick