Bromance Rekindled

After a tumultuous year, the couple that has been together since they were teenagers have found each other again.

 

If the Kings weren't already "Flyers West" with all their former flyers players and coaches, it could get even more uncanny.

The scorecard;

-Dean Lombardi, Kings GM, former Flyers scout

-Ron Hextall, Kings Assistant GM, nearly 500 games played for the Flyers

-Terry Murray, Kings coach until early this season, former Flyers coach

-John Stevens, interim Kings coach, former Flyers coach

-Active players: Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Justin Williams

Then there's this nugget from Bob McKenzie this morning: "Why trade Brown? IMO, LAK like Brown as "player," not as enthused about Brown as captain. IMO, only matter of time til Mike Richards gets C."

In short order the Kings could be a team coached by John Stevens, captained by Mike Richards, with Jeff Carter as their leading goal scorer.  Sound familiar?

Carter Trade II 

If you're keeping score at home, the return the Blue Jackets received for Carter is a mid-first round pick and Jack Johnson.  The return the Flyers received was a high first round pick, Jake Voracek and a 3rd round pick.  Columbus did well to salvage a trade that has been disastrous for them, but the Flyers can be pleased they got more value and appear to have sold high on Carter.

In on Brown

Both Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie say the Flyers are involved in talks for Brown, so I'm going to take it as truth.  Dustin Brown is the captain of the Kings, is generally good for 25 goals and 60 points, and hits everything that moves.  The question is, can the Flyers afford his cap hit this season?  Brown's cap hit of just $3.125 is generally very desirable, but the Flyers are already up against the cap this season.  If the Flyers were to trade JVR+ for Brown, they would still need to trim ~$1.5m elsewhere on the roster.  Ironically, making this trade would increase cap space for the Flyers next season as JVR's cap hit rises to $4.25 next year.

The Flyers roster this season doesn't have any clear holes anymore, so a trade for Brown is bordering on gratuitous, though it would make the Flyers a better team this year and next.  Either way, only a few more days of the trade rumors before the deadline.  Until then, JVR will probably be very nervous.  Also, FWIW, Pierre LeBrun wrote on ESPN.com this morning that a few weeks the Flyers were talking JVR for Jack Johnson, but obviously it didn't happen (perhaps due to JVR's concussion?).