The break up between the Flyers and the coveted but soon-to-be unrestricted free agent defenseman Dan Hamhuis, was suspected to be about money. Maybe even his role in the defensive game plan.
But according to Hamuis’ agent Wade Arnott, the split had nothing to do with the contract.
“We did not present a framework for a contract to Flyers at any point, nor indicate any salary demands,” Arnott told ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun.
That opens a rather interesting can of worms.
The Flyers, by all accounts, wanted Hamhuis on their blue line very badly. They wanted him at the trade deadline last season and they wanted him to start the 2010-11 campaign. General manager Paul Holmgren spoke with optimism about young defenseman Ryan Parent’s future, only to ship him to Nashville for a simple chance to ink Hamhuis. Then, without warning, Philly sent the veteran rear guard to Atlantic Division rival Pittsburgh for a third-round selection in the 2011 draft.
If Arnott hadn’t presented contract demands to the Flyers on behalf of his client, what was he waiting for? It was rumored that Hamhuis was extremely interested in hitting the free agent open market which begins on July 1 and possibly landing in a Canadian city. Was Arnott stalling for his client? Or did the Flyers simply want to go in a different direction with an expensive goaltender?
Only Holmgren knows.
Phila.Bright 