The Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers made the first
significant trade of the off-season on June 6, as the Flyers shipped forward
Ryan Potulny to the Oilers in exchange for defenseman Danny Syvret.
The 23-year-old Potulny, who was drafted by the Flyers in
the third round of the 2003 entry draft, has spent the past three season split
between the Flyers and their AHL farm team the Phantoms. During that time he’s
played 44 NHL games, notching 7 goal and 14 points.
Syvret, 22, was the Oilers third round pick in the 2005
entry draft, and has spent the last three seasons split between the Oilers and
their farm system. He has 26 NHL games under his belt over two seasons but
spent all last season split between Springfield and Hershey in the AHL.
This looks to be a good depth-improvement deal for both teams.
The acquisition of Joni Pitkanen, Sheldon Souray and #### Tarnstrom (since departed) and the emergence of Tom Gilbert pushed Danny Svyret well down the Edmonton depth chart. Worse, Svyret fell out of favour last year on the farm. The Oilers released him midseason to the Spengler Cup in hopes of him finding his game. When that didn't work, Springfield swapped him to Hershey, and the change of scene helped: He had 12 points in 27 games with the Bears, compared to 8 points in 36 games with the Falcons.
Reports were that the Oilers were uninterested in re-signing Syvret as an RFA, given the depth on the blueline and Svyret's lack of size. So getting SOMETHING out of the mix is better than letting him go for nothing.
The Oilers have a logjam at forward too, but Ryan Potulny provides some inexpensive depth in the event a deal cannot be reached with Curtis Glencross and/or Marty Reasoner, or if the club elects to make a 3-for-1 swap to bring in a top-line talent.
It is surprising that Syvret, the former captain of the Memorial Cup bound Knights, was supposed to have leadership qualities but turns out to have attitude problem.
Good depth for BOTH teams? You gone meshuggah on me? Potulny is considered one of the Flyers' best prospects where as Syvret isn't but a blip, a player cast off to antoher AHL team. Syvret is an extreme longshot to make the NHL where as Potulny has plenty of offensive upside. Watching some Phantoms games, he needs to become a better defensive player in order to make the bigs. Also, several of his points come on the PP which he's unlikely to see at the NHL level.
My only guess here is that these are reparations for the rape of the trade of Pitkanen and no-knees Sanderson for Lupul and "C" Smith.
But this is about as lopsided of a deal as you'll ever see. Just look at the respective GM's comments - EDM really excited, PHI made a move out of necessity. What that means to me is a mystery - since when does a team need a longshot prospect in need of an attitude adjustment? I don't need a whirling case of Giardiasis. Likewise, the Flyers don't need this bum.
This makes no sense. Potulny actually has value. Syvret doesn't. If Homer wanted blueline depth, then why not make a trade for an equally valued prospect? I'm stymied.
I'm not aware of Danny Syrvet being accused of having attitude problems. (Are you perhaps confusing him with Robbie Schremp?)
Although eligible for the Draft in 2003, Syvret wasn't selected until 2005 when he was an overage junior (aged 20), mainly due to his lack of size. The post-lock-out NHL may be "small-man friendly" but it's still hard for a smaller defensemen to make the cut.
He may have NHL skills, but Syvret's going to have to play bigger than his height if he wants to make the show full-time.
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on June 7th at 10:09 AM.
Potulny is not considered one of the Flyers best prospects. He has not been all that impressive in his several calls ups and has no chance to make the flyers team which is deep at center with Briere, Carter and Richards in front of him. he is strictly an offensive player so the 4th line was not a fit.
Hey, don't hold back, chum, tell me how you REALLY feel!
I think this is a deal that will ultimately work out for both clubs, but we've got to admit that neither player is going to make a significant impact at the NHL level right away (if at all).
Paul Holmgren said to the media earlier today, "Ryan was a good player for our organization, but this was a deal based on a need, as we added depth to our defense." (Hmm, sounds like HE thought it was a good depth move...)
Danny Syvret appears to be the second coming of John Slaney: great minor leaguer, servicable pinch-hit NHLer. Again, Syvret needs to play above his size if he wants to contribute at the NHL level on a regular basis. Most likely, you've got a very solid addition to the Phantoms.
Meanwhile, Ryan Potulny certainly isn't leaping ahead of anybody on the Oilers depth chart unless some bodies are moving out the door. If there's a fourth-line vacancy to fight over, maybe he's got a shot at the roster, but he's most likely part of the second wave of training camp cuts on their way to Springfield.
As for the Pitkanen trade, I knew what you were getting in Jason Smith, but youth must be served; Matt Greene was ready for the next step. And I'm glad that Joffrey Lupul was able to turn his game around. I would have preferred he'd done so in Edmonton, but I think the hometown pressure was too much for him.
As for Pitkanen, I'd like to see him for a full, healthy season in Edmonton silks. When he was healthy, he looked like dynamite.
Both players are RFAs, and it was a modest salary-savings move by the Flyers.
Syvret made $567,000 last year, while Potulny made $647,000 (both with two way contracts), so they're essentially equally cheap to qualify.
Reports were the Oilers had no interest in qualifying Syvret with all the depth they've got on defense, so it was a good deal to get something in return for an asset they were otherwise going to discard.
I think this trade reinforces the idea that the Flyers plan on Ryan Parent making the team full-time this upcoming season and Syvret will take Parent's old place in the organization of "8th Defenseman/Phantom." I think Potulny needed a change of scenery as he was being dropped further down the depth chart.
Syvret was shuffled off to Hershey at the end of last year in exchange for Potulny's brother presumably he got into trouble with Buchberger. Kevin Prendergast has said that Danny is finished with the Oilers' organization and needs to move on.
As for the Pitkanen trade, it looks pretty even right now. Flyers got a good veteran d-man on his last legs for one year in exchange for a a decent utility forward on his last leg for one year. Flyers won that part. Lupul showed no more than a decent second line scorer but Oilers won this part with a race horse d-man. Oilers won this trade and got the best player
Depth move??? This kid will be playing in Wheeling before Halloween. You can say what you want, but it doesn't change the fact that the Oilers received a serviceable player where as the Flyers received a mess.
Again, if Homer has a need for a defenceman, why not get one? I don't think he did. He traded for an ECHL-calibre player.
This is trading away a decent midrange prospect that could be a fine addition to some subsequent deal in exchange for a tosser who isn't that good and complains about his deserved lack of playing time.
To compare Slaney, der Alte Hase, a player who was a great fit as he helped tutor players at the AHL level, to Syvret is about as awful as a comparison out there. If that is case, I'm the Messiah.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
