Trade speculation is swirling around the Flyers’ Schenn brothers, plus an update on New York Islanders winger Kyle Okposo.
Schenns on the block?
Could one of the Schenn brothers be dealt by the Flyers?
CSNPHILLY.COM: Among Greg Paone’s storylines to watch during the Philadelphia Flyers preseason is the status of defenseman Luke Schenn, who could be dealt to make room for one of their younger blueliners. While Schenn hasn’t become the top-pairing defenseman he was envisioned to be when drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, the 6’2″, 229-pounder is still a physical rearguard who only has a year left on his contract worth $3.35 million. Paone also speculates veteran Mark Streit could be a trade candidate, but doubts a rival club will bite on Andrew MacDonald’s $5 million cap hit for the next five years.
NJ.COM: Randy Miller claims the Flyers have been trying to dump Schenn’s $3.6 million cap hit for the past two years, suggesting it could happen before the regular season. He doubts the Flyers will get more than a third-round pick, but claims management is desperate to turn the page on the June 2012 deal that brought Schenn from Toronto to Philadelphia in exchange for winger James van Riemsdyk.
NBC SPORTS: Mike Halford welcomes Luke’s brother Brayden Schenn to the NHL rumor mill, citing comments by Flyers GM Ron Hextall which seems to suggest Brayden might not have a long-term future in Philadelphia. Halford notes Schenn has spent all of preseason thus far skating on a “fifth line” with two AHL players. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent next summer, but the club seems reluctant about inking him to a long-term extension.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Flyers are sitting with just over $70 million in cap payroll, leaving them little room to add promising youngsters from within their system. Of the Schenns, Brayden seems to have the most trade value, but moving him could hurt their scoring depth. Luke seems the more likely trade candidate, given the Flyers depth in promising blueliners. The Boston Bruins, who just lost Dennis Seidenberg to back surgery for eight weeks and could also have Zdeno Chara on the sidelines following an upper-body injury suffered in recent preseason play, could become a trade partner.
Update on Kyle Okposo.
NEW YORK POST: Brett Cyrgalis reports New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo admits it’s a “different feeling” to hear his name in recent trade rumors after having had job security with the club for the past several years. Eligible for unrestricted free agency next summer, the 27-year-old Okposo is motivated to have a strong performance in his contract year. While the Islanders have some depth at forward, Cyrgalis notes that hardly makes Okposo expendable. Islanders coach Jack Capuano praised the winger for his leadership and what he brings to the team. Cyrgalis believes it’s up to GM Garth Snow to decide if trading Okposo is the best thing for his club now or if he’ll work toward re-signing him.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t understand why some pundits feel Okposo could be a goner during preseason or early in the regular season. Unless one of the Isles young forwards steps up and sends Okposo tumbling down their depth chart, trading him could hurt their offensive punch. I understand it’s his UFA status next summer and the possibility he could prove too expensive to re-sign that driving the speculation. However, the best time to trade Okposo is near the Feb. 29 trade deadline, and then only if the Isles are either out of playoff contention or he’s lost his spot on their top-two lines. Their chances of returning to the playoffs, and perhaps advancing past the first round, are better with Okposo in the lineup.
Just about every team has its “albatross” contract – MacDonald’s is Philadelphia’s anchor around their neck.
The Schenn contract is not in the same league of bad, but I still see him as a piece with negative value, i.e., you trade him for a dump coming back the other way.
The Flyers are one of those teams like Boston that are mid-way to nowhere and they need to decide on a long-term plan.
Very true, but what makes the Flyers so special is it seems they have by far the most untradeable or borderline untradeable contracts in the league. Macdonald, Lecavalier, Umberger, Streit, Gagner and the Schenns. Thats a lot of money spent on pure garbage.
I wish there was a like button.
I’m not sure I would include Streit in that group. He is 37, 38 in December but he is still a solid offensive Dman. Top 10 almost every year for Dman.
I would. Since coming into the league Streit is a collective -56 playing for Montreal, NYI and Philadelphia. He may have offensive capabilities but is a liability when trying to defend. Much like Joe “Uh-Oh” Corvo.
Those NYI and Montreal teams weren’t all that good when Streit was playing for them, and Philly is just kinda treading water, so I don’t think I would put too much stock in that +/- statistic
Normally I weouldn’t. But have you watched him in his own end or misplaying a check in the neutral zone? No thanks.
And again, as you pointed out, he’s 37, about to be 38. His best years were spent being one of the only beacons of light on otherwise abysmal teams. The fact that he’s still one of the better defensemen on the Flyers speaks both to his ability, as well as mismanagement of that team haha
I’m with George, no way I want Streit on my team for $5.25 mill per year.
How is Streit untradeable?
He put up 52 points as a dman last year, only has this year and next on his contract at $5.25 per.
Not bad for a top 3 dman on pretty much any team.
I could be wrong but don’t think the Bruins would be looking for another 5-6
D-Man, this team is loaded with them. If they can’t move some cap space and trade for a top 2 or 4 I say they just should go with the kids for this season. Next season if the young D -Men they have didn’t play well then they will have about
$22-23 mil in cap space to rebuild the D
100% agree with you Joe. Lets see what Miller, Morrow and Irvin can do.
Agree with you guys on playing the kids. Chara is so slow now I think they are better without him. Do you guys think it would be a good season to tank and go after Mathews along with San Jose’s pick. Clear some cap space and rebuild next year. Kelly,Eriksson,Chara, and Siedenberg could be moved at the deadline for more picks and prospects.
No chance of a tank with leaders like Chara and Bergeron on the team. Even if they were to try they aren’t finishing worse than Ari, Tor,NJ or Car.
What kind of picks would you expect to get for those four? 5th rounders – at best.
There won’t be any tanking and probably won’t need to. As far as trading such players, each one will fetch a lot more then the 5th rounders’ that George suggest. Kelly would bring back the least and I do believe they would get a 3rd round pick for him. He is a solid pk, good in the dot and excellent in the room.
Luke Schenn: He is a prime example as to why MLSE has to change the way they build hockey teams. I personally believe Schenn could have become something better than he is now if only the Maple Leafs had given him the proper time to develop. Instead they rushed him simply because he was one of the few exciting things the Maple Leafs had at the time having just entered the changing of the old guard. I hope that Schenn can find success elsewhere in the NHL.
Okposo: I get that he is a pending UFA, but given the fact this is one of the best New York Islanders teams since the 80’s, I would be shocked if Garth Snow didn’t exhaust every effort in an attempt to re-sign him. Until Strome, Dal Colle, Barzal develop further, Snow’s goal should be to keep Okposo. I find he works well with Tavares and ha sfinally proven his worth.
I still remember when Luke Schenn was drafted as I was watching the draft with my father. Pierre McGuire mentioned something along the lines, and paraphrasing, “he’s big, he’s tough, he has little offensive potential and he will be in the NHL for 15 years.”
I remember turning to my father and stated flatly, “the Leafs have drafted a Luke Richardson clone”.
After all these years, it seems like accurate statements from both McGuire and myself.
I remember McGuire talking about Schenn. He said some in juniors called him the “human eraser”.
i remember lucic saying wheres this human erasor?
What the Bruins REALLY need is Dan Boyle…
Lol! nice try
Schenn is an average defenseman. Really no better than a 3rd pairing player who doesn’t fit Dave Hakstol’s system that is designed to have his D swarm, attack and transition the puck. A trade to Boston for a 4th round pick would be nice as it helps both clubs. And, as a Flyers fan, could open up a roster spot for Shayne Gostsibehere or Robert Hagg this season.
I thought McGuire was gonna cry for joy when the Leafs drafted Luke Schenn.
Also, remmeber the Leafs really wanted Brayden Schenn instead of Kadri?
Which player is better at theis point in their careers?
So far I’d call it a trade-off. In 274 games played Schenn has 58 goals and 76 assists for 134 points with 146 penalty minutes, adding 3 goals and 9 assists in 18 playoff games.
Kadri, in 250 games played, is marginally better statistically with 64 goals and 88 assists for 152 points and q134 penalty minutes, adding 1 goal and 3 assists in 7 playoff games.
Does Kadri get more pp time than Schenn?
yes 2nd line duty as with kadri
you are correct they are very similar
Buf to the Bruins makes little sense. 30 year old defenseman, in the last year of his current deal that will be looking for a big payday next July. Just what the Bruins need, another over 30 defenseman looking for a long term deal who is bound to break down before the contract is completed.
I still think the Bruins should have traded Chara two years ago and reaped the rewards of trading the name. Hindsight is always 20/20 though I guess
Hindsight indeed – Chara was the king of Boston at the time though would have been tough to move him when he was on a high.
Still, to this day as a leafs fan I would take Luke Schenn back. Plop him in the third pairing and let him watch over the team. I would gladly make a trade with phili for both schenns. I would be sending some sort of salary the other way and a prospect. Just for fun I’ll mock one,..
To Toronto, both schenns
To phili, bozak, Brennan and frattin. Maybe Toronto throws in a forth or fifth rounder to make it more appealing.
Toronto is in a position right now to take flyers on guys like them to see if they can work things out in Toronto (like they have with all their signings this year and the ptos). Toronto gets slower but tougher on defence and they rid themselves of bozak…replacing him with Schenn.
Not sure there is any value there for Philly, it might just be better for them to keep the schenns. I’d say braden is better then bozak and that is the only half decent player in that deal, also philly gets next to no cap relief by taking on Bozaks contract. Perhaps something like lupol and a pick and prospect. I get that luke has next to no value but I think his brother still has some value on the trade market, that trade really only works for the leafs.
Austin Matthews missed the draft by 2 days this year. If he had of been eligible where would’ve he ranked?
3-5 id guess
I’ve heard he would’ve went both 2nd and 3rd overall. Seems like a lot of teams put him in the Eichel realm.
Sorry not both but “either”, you know what I mean.