Janne, we will miss ya.
Days after acquiring defenseman Janne Niskala from Nashville for forward Triston Grant and a seventh round pick in 2009, the 26 year old was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a sixth round choice in the 2009 draft. The trade could have something to do with the rumor that Niskala demanded a one-way contract or would head back to Finland to play, something the Flyers would be insane to provide. A one-way contract means the player remains in the NHL nomatter what, and can not be sent down to the minors.
One in, one out.
General Manager Paul Holmgren spent little time replacing Niskala by acquiring similar European defender Tim Ramholt from the Calgary Flames for forward Kyle Greentree. Twenty three year old Ramholt is 6.01, 194 lbs. and recorded four goals and 20 assists in 77 games for the Quad City Flames of the AHL in the 2007-08 season. Ramholt has standout speed and a budding aggressive game that led to him amassing 73 PIM in 77 games. He has puck handling potential but has showed little consistency, which may keep him as an AHL mainstay.
No bargaining chips to be found.
The Flyers acquired underperforming Washington Capitals’ defenseman Steve Eminger at the 2008 entry draft for the 27th overall selection. Eminger, a restricted free agent, was set to field offers from other teams if the Flyers did not sign him before the July 1 deadline. If Eminger was not signed by the Flyers, they would essentially have givin the Capitals a first-round pick for free, thus making the signing of Eminger almost mandatory and leaving the Flyers with little to no bargaining chips. Well, the Flyers finished the job by signing Eminger to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million. To some 1.2 is a steep number for a a player yet to prove his NHL meddle, but because it is only a one-year deal, the Flyers could absorb their losses quite easily if Eminger doesn’t stack up.
Phila.Bright 