07-08 Philadelphia Flyers Off-Season Thread

[dis12]

http://flyers.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=366860

Flyers Acquire Niskala from Nashville  Philadelphia Flyers Jun 24, 2008, 12:02 PM EDT 
Janne Niskala led Milwaukee (AHL) defensemen with 44 points this past season. (Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have acquired 6'0", 200-pound defenseman Janne Niskala (YAH-nee NIHS-kah-lah) from the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Triston Grant and their seventh round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren.

Niskala, 26, recorded 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points and 81 penalty minutes in 80 regular season games for the Predators' American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, this past season. He led Admirals defensemen in goals (19, second among AHL defensemen) and points (44, tied for 11th among AHL defensemen). He was also a member of the bronze medal-winning Team Finland at the 2008 IIHF World Championships in Halifax and Quebec City.

Prior to joining the Predators organization for the 2007-08 season, Niskala played parts of the previous seven seasons with teams in top European Leagues, including Lukko Rauma (Finland - 2000-01 through 2004-05), EV Zug (Swiss - 2005-06) and Farjestad (Sweden - 2006-07). He registered 72 goals and 92 assists for 164 points and 369 penalty minutes in 296 regular season games over his final six seasons in Europe (2001-02 through 2006-07). He has led his team's defensemen in goals in each of his last five seasons. He led Swedish Elite League defensemen in points with 49 (19G,30A) during the 2006-07 season.

Niskala was drafted by Nashville in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

nice short life in O&B....he was just traded to Tampa for a 6th rounder in 2009.

[SD_Eagle5]

Apparently he told the Flyers he wanted a one-way deal or he was signing in Europe

[BigEd76]

Tampa Bay isn't going to have any draft picks left next year with all these trades they're making...

[dis12]

minor league deal:

traded D Denis Gauthier and 2010 2nd rounder to Kings for D Patrik Hersley and LW Ned Lukacevic.

[BigEd76]

why are they trading 2nd-rd picks for AHL players?

[Seabiscuit36]

the hersley kid supposedly is a legit prospect.  But i have no idea why they are giving up seconds like they are nothing

[SunMo]

because then they don't have to buy out Gauthier and they get his entire contract off their books.  and apparently Hersley has some decent NHL skills.

[rjs246]

Does he have computer hacking skills?

[SunMo]

he draws a mean liger

[rjs246]

Hersley gets billed as a 2nd or 3rd line NHL d-man by Hockey Futures. Very good defensively with some offensive upside. Pretty solid prospect from the crap I quickly read just now.

[Rome]

Punching distance!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

As evidenced by Richards, Lupul, and Upshall; girls only like guys who have great skills.

I heard Hersley is pretty good with a bowstaff.

[BigEd76]

The Flyers signed a Finnish defenseman that didn't play in the NHL last year (after a few years in Colorado)

Ossi Vaananen

1 yr, $1M

[SD_Eagle5]

Flyers sign Glen Metropolit presumably as their new 4th line center. Played with the Bruins last season and had decent numbers for a 4th liner (11 G 22A)

Flyers also signed Nate Raduns

[Seabiscuit36]

I like the Ossi and Metropolit signings.  Ossi was a very good young player who got into a serious accident, hasnt really looked the same.  Apparently he was the best Dman in the SEL, and a one year 1 million dollar deal is pretty damn good.  Metropolit can be a pesty guy, good signing for the 4th line