A Deadline Seller That Bought

The Philadelphia Flyers, enduring their worst season in the team's 40-year history, sold off Peter Forsberg, Kyle Calder and Alexei Zhitnik at the trade deadline. However, some raised eyebrows when the Flyers traded their 2nd round pick (essentially a late 1st) in the 2007 draft for Martin Biron. As a Flyers fan though, the reason was quite simple.

The Flyers have gone through struggles this season at every position. Early in the season, the team had trouble scoring, and beyond that the defensemen looked like they were skating in ice cream. Shoddy goaltending was amplified when the team finally started to play better. Robert Esche was hurt, Antero Niittymaki (I'm probably his biggest fan) between making great saves began to give up puzzling goals and waiver pickup Michael Leighton, well...he is now on his 4th team this season. It was starting to become apparent, especially after a 6-5 OT loss to the Devils, that it wouldn't hurt to find a better goalie too.

Enter Martin Biron, a member of the long-hated Buffalo Sabres, was deemed to be part of the solution by Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. The Flyers could have waited until the July 1 free agency period and sign him for nothing, but why wait until July to look to next season? A team with a lot of assets within the organization, I'd say the draft pick is worth it for the extra 4 months the Flyers will have to sign him. And from all indications, Biron seems to be enamored with the fact the Flyers gave up an asset because this is the guy they want. And with this, Flyers Nation is not only excited for next season, but we're all looking forward to a team that won't be an easy out for the last month of the season. And as a season ticket holder of a last place team, that's all I ask.