Is anyone else a little surprised by this trade from the standpoint of both teams? Usually you see teams trade from their strengths to improve on their weaknesses but this deal almost seems reverse. The Flyers seem to have some depth on D, even if they have injuries, there are guys in the AHL able to step in. In fact, they cited their wealth of Dmen as a reason for trading Timonen to Dallas last week.
Adversely, the Blackhawks seem short on experienced Dmen, yet trade one of their more experienced ones. I see how Eager might help them a little but to take from a weakness to shore up on an area where they are not as weak?
Maybe a precurser for something else I guess, but to me, it seems odd for both teams.
Thoughts?
2007-12-19 03:15:55 · 6 answers · asked by Bob Loblaw 7 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Don't get me wrong, I think this deal does help the Flyers in that Vandermeer will give them alot of ice time on the back-end-probably 20 minutes a game-just still seems odd, I guess moreso from the standpoint of the Hawks than the Flyers though.
2007-12-19 03:29:07 · update #1
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/rumors/post/Flyers-trade-Eager-to-Chicago-for-Vandermeer;_ylt=AlY6tz7fu9EYHCPYufCI9DV7vLYF?urn=nhl,58529
2007-12-19 03:30:24 · update #2
Lubers- I didn't think the Hawks were lacking in toughness and Eager loses an awful lot of fights anyway (mostly all). Plus, Vandermeer can be a relatively tough cookie anyways.
As far as the depth, having guys like Picard and Gauthier, who just last year were NHLers, is IMO having pretty good depth. Not like they have to bring up some over the hill player or someone with no experience. Guys like those two can certainly cover off a void, which IMO is having depth.
2007-12-19 05:23:15 · update #3
Even with his (Vandermeer) UFA status coming up, the trade deadline seems like a better time to look at dealing him.
2007-12-19 05:24:29 · update #4
Are the Blackhawks lacking toughness? I have to question the fact that they trade an every day defenseman for a player who has zero points and is a -8 on the season (19 points, -21 in 111 NHL games).
I think the deal makes more sense from the Flyers standpoint. Hatcher has been in and out of the lineup. Timmonen just missed a couple of games. Alexandre Picard, Denis Gauthier and Lars Jonsson are their top three defensemen down on the Pharm. I guess I disagree with you about their depth. All three have had an opportunity with the big club over the last few years and haven't been able to stick.
EDIT: Bob, good point about the depth. That's sort of the glass half full/half empty view of things. Could this maybe be the precursor for Rathje announcing his retirement?
2007-12-19 05:05:27 · answer #1 · answered by Lubers25 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't make much sense from the Hawks perspective, they traded a serviceable defenseman when they admittedly short on veteran serviceable defense for a tough guy. It seems to me there may have been cheaper tough guys out there.
From the Flyers perspective I am not sure, Eager wasn't doing much and Vandermeer gives them another option on defense. You are right they traded one dman away to go trade for one now.
In all honesty none of the guys in either trade have been or ever will be any sort of impact player so I guess it is just a shuffling of pawns.
2007-12-19 03:49:16 · answer #2 · answered by cdn24fan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hey Bob, I don't really get this one either. Your points about the trade with Dallas are pretty valid. I mean their strength of D is why they made that deal last week. At least that is what was said at the time. I agree Eager is a solid at 20 minute guy, but I would have liked to have seen possibly another 3rd of 4th line winger instead.
2007-12-19 03:33:37 · answer #3 · answered by jeffwar03 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Vandermeer is an unrestricted FA after this season, so this may have partially been a move to get something for him instead of losing him for nothing at year's end. And my guess is that the Flyers felt Eager was pretty expendable since they have no shortage of toughness. Besides PIM, he hasn't done much.
2007-12-19 03:33:27 · answer #4 · answered by Craig S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe that it's a bad deal for Chicago but who knows. With W.W.W. gone the team is going a new route and everything has been positive and Dale Tallon knows his stuff. Finally they moved Pullford out and looks to be promising. Here in Chicago Mr. Wirtz's nickname was "Dollar Bill" and if you follow hockey you know this to be true. Chicago will rise again and soon. The best all time sweater the "Indian Head" in hockey and probally all sportz.
2007-12-19 03:43:52 · answer #5 · answered by kic's 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Didnt see that trade! Post a link to it for me plz?
OK, I agree, makes no sense, unless Chicago is in the midst of trading for a defenseman from elsewhere.
Perhaps, they want to move Byfuglien back to defense? Has been on wing for a few games. Not sure!
2007-12-19 03:27:46 · answer #6 · answered by NIPS® 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋