Big Week : Forsberg a Flyer

Todd Pinkston done for the season, Phillies only a few games out of the wild card spot, Madden coming out on Tuesday, it's been a busy week for Philadelphia sports. The biggest stories, to me of course, are the Flyers signings and trades this past week. This NHL offseason has been fast paced and exciting, exactly what the NHL needs to bring the loyal fans back. The number of players switching teams is not a surprise, a salary cap is in place and two years worth of free agents make this a very large market. The Flyers' agressiveness in this market is also not a surprise. First I'll look at the Flyers moves and then opine on the state of the team and league.
1) sign Derian Hatcher : Hatcher will be 36-37 years old when his contract expires. The NHL does not have an option in their CBA to buy players out at a reduced rate, like in this offseason, so there is a certain degree of risk in this signing, however, Hatcher's history with Ken Hitchcock, as well as his reputation of being a fierce, hard hitting defenseman will make him a fan favorite and barring injury, this will be a great addition.
2) sign Mike Rathje: Even better, Rathje is two years younger than Hatcher, and is another big body on the blue line. A lot of talent and playoff experience.
3) sign Chris Therien: I guess this move rules out Freddy Meyer's chances of making the opening night roster, I can't understand why Therien would want to come back and be a seventh defenseman again, unless his opportunities were seriously limited elsewhere. Of course, Therien loved being a Flyer, and is a cool guy, and signed for the veteran minimum, so this also counts as a good move.
4) sign Peter Forsberg: Wow. Yes, there have been many times that I have wondered, what if the Lindros trade never happened? Where would the Flyers be? Would they have won a Cup? Those questions are purely theoretical. Factual is the statement that Peter Forsberg is the most talented and most highly sought after free agent on the market during this monster offseason. That Forsberg is actually excited to come play here is even better. Obviously this is a big plus for the Flyers
5) trade Danny Markov: If it is true that he wants to play out his contract and return to Russia, then he is the right guy to dump to bring in the big defensemen. Dropping Markov signifies strategy on the Flyers part, at least the confidence in Pitkanen and Sidenberg to move the puck around on the power play. The right decision.
6) trade Jeremy Roenick: The laws of the land won't let the Flyers keep all of the good players, and these same rules forced Forsberg to leave Colorado to join the Flyers, so someone big had to go. Roenick was a great Flyer, and fun mouthpiece for the Flyers and the NHL. JR was still a great player in 03-04, he scored the series winner against Toronto, one of the most exciting goals in Flyers history, and his heart can not be questioned. But I'll still take Forsberg, an equal injury risk, over Roenick simply due to talent.

more to come...