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Vinny, Brad, and the Flyers

June 16, 2007, 10:55 PM ET [ Comments]
Tim Panaccio
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Vinny Lecavalier is going no where. Neither is Brad Richards.

A number of you have emailed me at Hockeybuzz and the Inquirer about what the Chris Gratton deal means to Tampa Bay.

Was Gratton a prelude to something larger involving Lecavalier or Richards.

I wondered about it myself.

There has been rampant speculation this past week about the Bolts moving a player because of spending dollars and whether the Flyers were the procurers.

They have the No. 2 pick overall in a weak draft.

For months now, the Flyers _ as an organization _ have been wavering on whether to trade this pick in a larger deal for an established NHL player.

The organization is split. Some say, go for it. Others say, keep the pick.

After numerous conversations with other GMs and board of governors, I am convinced that Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren has hung a sign on his door for this draft in Columbus that reads, “Open for Business.”

The Fly Boys would like to trade this pick along with current players (possibly Joni Pitkanen) for an established NHL player.

Someone who can help them either on defense or at forward. Someone who is NOT going to be available in free agency.

On Friday, after doing some laborious yard work, I called Bolts’ GM Jay Feaster about the Vinny rumors. Incredibly, Jay was doing yard work himself.

That we both carry our cell phone while we trim hedges, dig flower basins, etc. , shows you our dedication to hockey. Or more likely ... we both are paranoid about missing something and have green thumbs, as well.

Anyway, Feaster confirmed my suspicions that the Flyers had indeed inquired about Lecavalier and Richards in recent weeks.

Feaster met with club owner William Davidson in May and secured the necessary funding for the Bolts next season on the assumption the salary cap rises to at least $49 million.

Davidson has a Stanley Cup. Big Bill likes the way it looks and sounds in social circles. He wants another.

He told Feaster he would give him whatever funds were necessary to retain Lecavalier and Richards. When I asked Lecavalier at the NHL Awards ceremony two weeks ago about his immediate future, he seemed uncertain he would be back in Tampa.

The Fly Boys wanted Vinny. They ain’t gonna get him.

“If we hadn’t gotten the okay on the budget for this season, then we would talk about trading the big guys,” Feaster told me, presumably covered in potting soil like myself. “We won’t be moving our big guys.”

The Gratton trade last week is unrelated, Feaster said.

“Gratton brings us something we don’t have right now, but it has nothing to do with moving our guys,” Feaster told me.

Flyers’ GM Paul Holmgren is intent on shaking things up at the NHL Draft. He wants to trade the No. 2 pick and retain the No. 23 pick overall.

I feel confident the Flyers have prepared a Group II offer sheet for Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek. Now that Darcy Regier has been re-upped in Buffalo, the pressure is on him to try and get Vanek to re-sign before June 25 when offer sheets go out.

A number of league sources have told me that no less than three clubs were preparing to attack Buffalo which is wounded prey in terms of salary cap going into free agency.

The Fly Boys want to make something happen. They failed with Tampa Bay in recent weeks. But Homer wants to make his mark.

This is Homer’s time to show this is his club �" not Bob Clarke’s.

The upcoming draft could be Holmgren’s signature event. Or maybe June 25.

That aside, the Flyers made a pitch for Lecavalier and were turned down. You have to applaud their effort.
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