[villavelocity]

http://www.hockeybuz...hp?post_id=8072

VILLA

[FlyersHockey1967]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/ne...182&hubname=nhl

Quote

The Philadelphia Flyers have dipped into the free agent market a little early, thanks to the Nashville Predators.

Because of Nashville's uncertain ownership future and an expected tight budget in the coming year, the Predators arranged with the Flyers to give them exclusive negotiating rights to two coveted free agents - defenceman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell.

Sources tell TSN the Flyers have now signed both Hartnell and Timonen to long-term contracts.

Hartnell, who was scheduled to become a free agent on July 1, signed with Flyers on a 6-year, $25.2 million deal for a cap hit of $4.2 million per year.

The Flyers also agreed to terms with Timonen on a 6-year, $37.8 million contract for an annual cap hit of $6.3 million.

In exchange for giving up the rights to the two free agents the Predators knew they would not be able to sign, Nashville received back its own first round pick that it gave to the Flyers as part of the Peter Forsberg trade.

''We expected both Scott and Kimmo to be among the most sought after at their respective positions when the unrestricted free agent marketplace opens on July 1, and it did not appear as if we were going to be able to sign either player before then,'' said Predators executive vice president/ and general manager David Poile. ''That being said, we received a first-round pick for the exclusive right to negotiate with two players who ultimately could have hit the market in two weeks.''

''Timonen was our team captain this past season and an All-Star,'' added Poile. ''Hartnell is a young player that we drafted, inserted in our lineup at age 18, and saw develop into a 25-goal scorer. Both of these players have been important contributors to our franchise's success and we wish them the best going forward.''

Two words: Highway robbery!

[DesertRat]

Hartnell's salary just rai$ed the bar for a lot of other free agents. Nashville wasn't going to sign either of those guys and they get a 1st round pick instead of nothing in return. They could have done way, way better, but, if you ever saw the movie, "Major League", that's what may be happening in Opryland.

[lafountain]

I agree, this may be Nashville's way of making the team so nobody wants to go watch it so he can stay below the 14,000 paid attendance average.

[lafountain]

With the fact that the draft pick was the one that Nashville gave to Philly earlier this year, in the end the Forsberg deal becomes this.

Forsberg for Upshall, Parent, Hartnell, Timonen and a 3rd rounder.

And now with Forsberg probably not re-signing with Nashville, that deal looks really good for Philly.

[Mach_9]

Upshall, Parent, Hartnell, Timonen and a 3rd rounder.

Forsberg for 2 months and an early playoff exit.

[lafountain]

Mach_9, on Jun 19 2007, 01:44 PM, said:

Upshall, Parent, Hartnell, Timonen and a 3rd rounder.

Forsberg for 2 months and an early playoff exit.

I am thinking that from a Nashville fan point of view, this is a really bad deal.

[LordStanley1893]

Philly is rebuilding quite quickly. Good pickups for them but overpaid (especially for Hartnell).

[ZoomZoom18]

lafountain, on Jun 19 2007, 07:24 PM, said:

I am thinking that from a Nashville fan point of view, this is a really bad deal.

I'm thinking the same thing, if I'm a Predator fan right now, I'M TICKED!!! I can't believe Hartnell got the money he did...