You can’t say the Flyers were held completely out of the 2010 NHL entry draft.
As the first round of the draft came to an end in Los Angeles on Friday, the Flyers got their usual draft-day ink by trading the rights of defenseman Dan Hamhuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third-round selection in the 2011 entry draft.
Hamhuis’ rights were acquired from the Nashville Predators, five days ago, in exchange for young Flyers defenseman Ryan Parent.
Twenty-seven year old Hamhuis and the Flyers were at odds over a new contract which had the blue liner rumored to be asking for upwards of $5 million a year. Hamhuis will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
With the money aimed at Hamhuis now freed up, it is expected that the Flyers will target a high-priced goaltender. Philly was rumored to be close to a deal with the San Jose Sharks for the rights of 34-year-old backstop Evgeni Nabakov.
I woulda rather let him walk than trade with Pittsburgh. I am infuriated. And all of this talk of Nabokov makes me sick. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Looking at this logically, it makes a bit of sense.
1. Hamhuis wanted too much money.
2. Pitt offered more than the Flyers expected to get from anyone else.
3. If Nabby is acquired, he can sign a 35-plus contract which will lower his cap hit due to incentives and retirement clauses. *maybe
If you could get Nabby for $3.5-4, Michael Leighton for 1.5-2 or Tim Thomas for a player AND $5 mill per, which would you do?
Out of the bad options, it seems like Nabby may be the least bad.