Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren is looking to improve
his blueline corps this season and at the draft made a small but perhaps
significant step in that direction by obtaining Steve Eminger and the 84th
overall pick from the Washington Capitals for the 29th overall pick.
The 24-year-old Eminger was until this past season
considered a key part of the promising young Capitals team but saw little
action this season (only 20 regular season games) and was often a healthy
scratch but when pressed into service in the Flyers-Capitals first round
playoff series played well, obviously well enough for Holmgren to add him to
his roster.
This move should give Eminger a chance for a fresh start and
could work out to both his and the Flyers benefit.
Yet another mesmerizing move from Homer. No offence to Eminger, but he is not worth a first round pick - never in a million years is he worth a first round pick.
Eminger is a 7th defenceman. One should never trade a 1st round pick for a 7th defenceman. Not to mention, he's an RFA who made $1MM last year. I don't see how he's even a cap-friendly 7th defenceman. I'm stymied. This is even worse than the Danny Syvret move. Miserable.
That's two strikes on Homer. Three if you count that he drafted Garrett Klotz last year. Sheesh.
Yeah...he's done a terrible job since taking over for Bob Clarke. They only went from worst in the league to the confrence finals. Give the guy a break. He probably knows a little more about these players and hockey in general than you THINK you do.
Considering Eminger 'learned' to play professional hockey at the hands of Brendan Witt with a has been goalie behind him, he does ok. Look to see him get some guidance from a true defenseman and I think he'll be ok. Every team needs 6, right? A top 4 on the caps - Green, Morrisson and who else did they have? Poti - ok, but spotty. Erskine, needs polish, sure can let the wingers behind him to score. Pothier who? SCHULZ????? He was playing instead of Em? Whose wife or daughter did Eminger sleep with and dump or get busted? Prev year he showed a lot of promise, all he did last year was pull splinters from his arse. He pissed someone off - they didn't have the defensive talent to sit him. Not saying he's a great defenseman, but what/who was he playing with?
But, to the FLYERS? How am I going to reconcile that one?
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.
