Injury reports have been happening ever since the NHL season started on January 19, but the team suffering the most from players hurt is the Philadelphia Flyers. The flyers didn't have Danny Briere for the first four games, where the team went 1-3. When Briere came back, Scott Hartnell went down with a broken foot, and will be out for another three to four weeks. Andrej Meszaros hurt his left shoulder a few days after Hartnell, and he will miss a month of hockey. Zac Rinaldo also missed four games due to a puck striking his ankle in the second game of the season against the Buffalo Sabres. The latest injury is forward Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds was elbowed in the head by Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine, who was suspended for three games by the NHL safety committee. Simmonds was ruled with a concussion but is looking to return for the weekend. With all these injuries, Paul Holmgren has been on the phone with GM's, and in a couple weeks look for someone new rocking the Orange and Black sweater. Lets take a look at some players that Holmgren could possibly make a play for.
Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames) - Iginla is a name that has been floating around the Flyers organization since 2010. He would bring energy to a team that isn't scoring alot of goals. From 1998 to present time, Iginla has scored 25 goals or more including six seasons with 35 or more, two seasons with 40 or more, and two seasons with 50 or more goals. At the age of 35, Jarome can still skate fast, score plenty of goals, and would be a nice presence in the locker room. How could the Flyers get him? Back in 2010 it may have taken a big package to acquire the sniper, but now it may only take a young guy and a draft pick. Scott Laughton was sent to juniors after five games in the NHL. His time in Philly may be short, as he is said to be apart of the package to deal to bring in a scorer. In my opinion, I'm pulling the trigger and getting Iginla to Philly, especially if Brayden Schenn, or Sean Couturier isn't included in the trade.
Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks) - Perry is a goal scorer at ease, and would easily get along with Giroux and Briere on line 1. Perry is another right handed sniper that has great puck movement, and could fill the stat sheet every night. I think the Flyers should wait to get Perry, considering he will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and he would probably cost a little more than what it would take to get Iginla, being that he is only 27 years old. Perry would be a nice mid-season pickup, but if i'm Paul Holmgren, I get someone that will cost less, and then go for Perry at the end of the year.
Bobby Ryan (Anaheim Ducks) - Corey Perry's teammate and a Cherry Hill, New Jersey native. Ryan, like Iginla has been on the Flyers radar for quite some time. You could compare Ryan to Jeff Carter by the way he skates, and how hard of a wrist shot he has. He's a play maker that the Flyers need. A man who can open up defensemen and get Claude Giroux and company the puck, with his finesse passing. Ryan is only 25 years old, and it would probably take Brayden Schenn, Scott Laughton, and a draft pick to acquire him. Although the package is high, if Paul Holmgren made a risk it all trade, he could bring Ryan and Perry to Philadelphia for the price of Schenn, Laughton, high draft pick, and probably Matt Read. Ryan hasn't proved that he is a top player in the NHL, so with that being said the Flyers should only go for him if the price is right.
There are a few other names out there. Brenden Morrow of the Dallas Stars, Ryan O'Reilly of the
Colorado Avalanche, and Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks. Getzlaf would be the easy choice here, given that he is tall, big, and can score from all angles. Morrow is the captain of the stars, and his shown capability of winning an MVP, but injuries have hurt his value. O'Reilly is a young prospect that hasn't had a chance to show the NHL what he's all about, because of a contract dispute.
Jarome Iginla is the best choice for the Flyers at this point. There's no need to trade your two top sophomores for a guy that will be a free agent at the end of the season. A defenseman may be added this season to help out, but don't expect any big named star. The main goal is getting Shea Weber to Philly at the end of this season. With all this being said, I expect in a week or two for Paul Holmgren to announce a trade that will help the offense, and get this team on the right track to the playoffs.
- Jimmy "the Fish" Forte (beat writer for the Sports Goombahs)
- Twitter: @jimmyforte28
- Facebook: Sports Goombahs
