Quick Hits: July 2, 2021
1) Yesterday, the Nashville Predators, who are looking to trim some cap hits/term from their payroll traded veteran winger Viktor Arvidsson to the LA Kings for a 2021 second-round and a 2022 third-round pick.
LA undeniably took on risk in the trade for the 28-year-old Swede. After he was injured on cross-check by St. Louis' Robert Bortuzzo (which resulted in a four-game suspension for the defenseman) in Nov. 2019, he has not looked as effective over the past two seasons compared to his previous standards. He has three seasons left on his current contract, carrying a $4.25 million cap hit.
While there is risk involved for the Kings, players of Arvidsson's caliber -- a speedy two-time 30+ goal scorer who has scored 10 career shorthanded goals among his career 127 tallies, strong career takeway vs. giveaway ratios (including an outstanding 37-19 ratio in the Stanley Cup playoffs), and has topped 60 points twice in his career -- are not often available in trades that involve neither first-round picks nor NHL roster players.
Arvidsson's name came up a few months ago in Flyers-related rumors when the team was said to be one of the clubs pursuing Predators' defenseman Mattias Ekholm (who is now said to be more likely to sign an extension with Nashville than to pursue unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2022). Supposedly, the Predators were also looking to move out Arvidsson's contract in a multi-piece deal if they dealt Ekholm.
The Flyers have a need to get a little bigger and more physical up front -- two needs that the 5-foot-9, finesse-oriented Arvidsson would not fill. However. they also could use more speed, a little more scoring on the wings, another strong puck possession forward and a counterattacking goal threat on the penalty kill. Arvidsson, if he returns to form, would have checked the latter set of boxes for the Flyers and is capable of doing so for the Kings.
Cap-wise, however, it would not have made much sense unless the Flyers freed up space, plus there are more pressing needs to address with their cap dollars.
2) Yesterday was Canada Day; our neighbor to the North's celebration of the Constitution Act of 1867 and the establishment of a single dominion of Canada. Last year on the Flyers' official website, we celebrated Canada Day with a breakdown of the 68.9 percent of all players in franchise history who hail from Canada. We went province-by-province and selected all-time Flyers starting lineups by province. While some of the data and details need updating (and some typos I made fixed), the article itself is pretty much an evergreen for a July 1. For more, click here.
3) Prior to the Expansion Draft, the NHL Draft and the start of free agency season, we are doing an "Offseason Inventory" series on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. The first part of the series went live yesterday: The Young Core. Next up: Players on the comeback trail.
4) Today in Flyers History: On July 2, 2001, the Flyers traded center Daymond Langkow to the Coyotes in exchange for a 2003 first-round pick and a 2002 second-round selection. What became of the picks?
The Coyotes' 2002 second-rounder was packaged by the Flyers along with left winger Ruslan Fedotenko and the Flyers' own second-round pick (subsequently flipped to Dallas and used on goalie Tobias Stepan) in exchange for the fourth overall pick of the 2002 Entry Draft. The Flyers used to pick on defenseman Joni Pitkà¤nen.
The 2003 first-round selection acquired by the Flyers turned out to be the 11th overall pick. Philadelphia used the pick to select Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds center Jeff Carter.
5) The Flyers' video production department outdid themselves in creating a 16-minute tribute video to Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Joe Watson, which was shown at the conclusion of the recent Flyers Alumni Weekend festivities at the 2021 Alumni Golf Invitational on Monday. The video features not only a slew of archival video and photos of the elder Watson but also video messages recorded by brothers Jimmy and Jerry, former teammates Bob Kelly, Bob Clarke, Bill Barber, Bill Clement, and Paul Holmgren among others. Bernie Parent also sent a video message on the eve of Alumni Weekend.