On the Philadelphia Flyers …
- Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly: The Vincent Lecavalier – Luke Schenn trade to the Kings cleared $4 million in salary cap space for the Flyers. The trade gives they more flexibility to move players back and forth between the minors and clears a roster spot on their backend where they had to many. It gives the Flyers some cap room before the February 29th trade deadline.
“The biggest thing it does for us is give us some flexibility cap-wise,” the Flyers’ general manager said. “To do what we need to do. We were handcuffed there for a while … gives us the flexibility to bring anybody up from the minor leagues we want.
“Obviously, Andrew MacDonald is there. Sam Gagner is there. And some of our prospects. It gives us flexibility the rest of the year to do what we want to do. We get an asset and third-round pick … it alleviates our jam on the back end. It un-muddies the waters somewhat for our hockey club.”
GM Ron Hextall said that he and Kings GM Dean Lombardi had been working on the deal for the past three weeks.
On the Los Angeles Kings …
- Rich Hammond of the OC Register: The Kings had targeted areas in training camp that might need upgrading during the year.
“We identified, even in training camp and moving forward, certain areas that we thought we might want to upgrade as we were watching our team this year,” Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said on a conference call.
- Frank Seravalli: The Kings made it clear that they could not do the trade unless Vincent Lecavalier would agree to retire at the end of the season. Wasn’t possible with Anze Kopitar and possibly Milan Lucic needing contract extensions.
On the Columbus Blue Jackets …
- Aaron Portzline: Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen said last night that nothing else was “on the horizon.” Portzline doesn’t think that the Blue Jackets are done.
- Aaron Portzline: Hearing that the Rangers have called the Blue Jackets again about winger Cam Atkinson. Atkinson is becoming a favorite of coach John Tortorella.