Flyers Trade Rumors

"General manager Paul Holmgren confirmed yesterday that the Flyers are one of many NHL clubs auditioning to sign Fabian Brunnstrom, the 23-year-old free-agent forward with Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League. Holmgren contacted his agent, J.P. Barry, last week."

"According to a report in Saturday's Globe and Mail, the Flyers are among eight NHL teams being considered by Swedish phenom Fabian Brunnstrom, a 23-year-old forward who has drawn comparisons to Washington Capitals rookie star Nicklas Backstrom."

"Just because the Flyers are immersed in the chase for the Stanley Cup doesn’t mean that team officials aren’t thinking about the future. When general manager Paul Holmgren was asked about unrestricted free agent Fabian Brunnstrom he replied with an emphatic, “Yes, we are very interested.”"

"If Tortorella gets bounced in the off-season, and that's a strong possibility with Tampa's ownership changing hands, he won't be out of work long. It's believed the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and the Ottawa Senators are ready to at least speak to Tortorella if he becomes available."

"Holmgren said he's begun contract talks with Jeff Carter's agent, Rick Curran, but that a new contract is not imminent. Carter is scheduled to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and could receive an offer sheet from another NHL team if he is not signed by then. Holmgren did not seem threatened by that possibility a month ago, but now that Carter has 28 goals he might be wise to get Carter signed before someone else sets his price tag at $5 million this summer."

" How the free-agent avenue plays out for Toronto will be interesting to watch. The Leafs don't have a history of landing a big fish, and in the John Ferguson era, the best player added was goalie Vesa Toskala, who came via trade. There remains talk that one restricted free agent who could get an offer sheet is Philadelphia Flyers winger Jeff Carter, who would have been a Leaf had Tomas Kaberle waived his no-trade clause last month. "

"There are several coaches on the hotseat as the regular season winds down; as many as 15 could be looking for work if their teams don't make the playoffs or underachieve in the post-season... There have been no contract talks between the Senators and Wade Redden, but that doesn't mean there won't be before he's set to become an unrestricted free agent July 1."

"The Edmonton Journal reported yesterday that Flyers captain Jason Smith will sign with New Jersey this summer as an unrestricted free agent. The Flyers have not extended his contract and, according to Western scouts, tried unsuccessfully to move the defenseman at the trade deadline."

"If the Flyers make the playoffs, Stevens deserves to remain the Flyers' coach. If they don't, he doesn't."

"Rampant leaguewide speculation has the Jackets making a draft-day run at San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau, but it's possible -- even likely -- that Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson will check on the availability of others, including Daniel Briere of Philadelphia, Patrick Elias of New Jersey, Scott Gomez of the New York Rangers."

"Jason Smith remains unsigned beyond this year, the last year of his contract, and there are serious questions whether he will get another contract with the Flyers. So, the Flyers do need to address their defense. But what Luukko meant was the Flyers didn't lose any of their high-end young talent for a guy they might not be able to sign and might not make that much of a difference on the eventual outcome of this season. "

"The 6-foot-1, 195-pound forward, who will be an unrestricted free agent after the season, could turn out to be nothing more than a rental player. He didn't commit when ask whether he would re-sign with the Flyers. He didn't have a no-trade clause with Tampa Bay, either."

" Kings D Rob Blake could be dealt to the Avs, although he has refused to waive his no-trade clause ... There has been talk in NHL circles that the Senators may again ask D Wade Redden if he's interested in moving. Listening to Murray lately, that seems highly doubtful. Redden killed a deal to the Sharks for D Matt Carle and a draft pick earlier this month ... The Sabres have to make a decision on D Brian Campbell, who's also set to become an unrestricted free agent. "

"Given the circumstances, they need help, and Dan Boyle (Tampa Bay) and Brian Campbell (Buffalo), two as yet re-signed blue-chip defensemen, were still available yesterday afternoon, as were forwards Vaclav Prospal and Brad Richards, of Tampa."

"Earlier lobbying for Richards by teams such as Columbus and Philadelphia might pay off (the Jackets could offer him a spot on a line with Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev), but expect stronger Cup contenders such as Anaheim to get involved by today. One or both of Ottawa and Montreal, which seemed set to face off over Hossa, could change gears and pursue Richards."

"Richards' name has been most often linked to Columbus and Vancouver, with Montreal, Philadelphia and Edmonton also believed to have interest in acquiring the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, with Columbus believed to be the front-runner should Tampa Bay decided to trade Richards."

"Meanwhile, the 6-foot-3-inch Carter could be a nice fit for the Bruins, both for his size and touch, but they don't have that Kaberle-like blue liner to offer in return... It's that kind of package that gives Chiarelli some legit clout with Atlanta GM Don Waddell when talking a swap for Marian Hossa, but it's too much to yield if Hossa, age 29, doesn't first agree to a long-term deal (sign-and-trade agreement)... A couple of other top offensive performers rumored to be available: Alex Tanguay (Calgary) and Martin Havlat (Chicago)."

"The Flyers remain in the hunt for 23-year-old Nashville defenseman Ryan Suter, sources say. The Predators have been scouting the Flyers for two weeks, and Suter is drawing attention. . . . The Flyers still would like a crack at Tampa's Dan Boyle, who will be unrestricted this summer, but forget about Lightning forward Brad Richards."

"Every team looking for players is also looking for wingers and defensemen, just like the injury-riddled Flyers. They are loath to offer any of their younger players in trade, although there is an increasing sense that, if they do, it could be Jeff Carter who is moved."

"Peter Forsberg was asked by a newspaper in Sweden if he would attempt a comeback next season if the free-agent center fails to land with an NHL team by next week."

"Peter Forsberg reinjured his right foot recently while trying to strengthen it, according to a source in Sweden who is with the center. The source said that was why Forsberg said he was still not 100 percent. The source said he doubted that the free agent would recover in time to sign with a team by the Feb. 26 trade deadline."

"A week ago, the Rangers and every other interested party seemed to be out of the running for Dan Boyle, who at the time appeared poised to sign a long-term deal with Tampa Bay. Now, however, the impending free-agent defenseman may be available, for The Post has learned that despite the Lightning's desire to lock up Boyle, little if any progress has been made toward that end... The Post has learned that in addition to the Rangers, the Flyers and Sharks have been closely monitoring the situation, with the Penguins and Senators recently joining the queue."

"And so it isn't really over, after all. Just a day after his agent started calling teams and telling them Peter Forsberg would be unlikely to come back to the NHL this year, the superstar Swede said yesterday that he hadn't actually made up his mind."

"The Flyers are closely watching negotiations between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dan Boyle. Boyle will be a free agent at the end of the season and the Lightning is trying to re-sign him. If that does not happen, the Flyers would be in the mix of teams willing to take a shot at a deal. A Boyle trade would not come cheap and it also would require the Flyers knowing they could sign him."

"The Flyers have called up Ryan Parent, who is adding some mobility to the defense, but they need a more permanent fix. Some big-name defensemen are expected to be available, including Tampa Bay's Dan Boyle. But the Lightning still are trying to re-sign him, and even if he does become available he is going to be a free agent this year."

"Kaberle, McCabe and Pavel Kubina all have insisted they won't waive their respective no-trade clauses. But that did little to derail a Sun Media report from the GMs meetings in Naples, Fla., that the Philadelphia Flyers are making a big pitch for Kaberle."

"The Bruins, Rangers, Senators, Ducks, Sharks and Flyers have all made a pitch for D Brian Campbell, who the Sabres would prefer to keep... Devils D Karel Rachunek is about to be dealt. He was a healthy scratch yesterday vs. the Hurricanes."

"To a man, the Flyers echo Stevens' words about tighter play, accountability and cohesion. Yesterday, Stevens said he saw no erosion of faith in him by the team, a contention backed by a few observing parties. Former Flyers defenseman Chris Therien, now a Comcast commentator, still hangs out with such veterans as Hatcher and Mike Knuble."

"He will bring them scoring and he will bring them stature. But Forsberg will not bring them the identity that they so desperately seek. After the collapse of last season, after the hopes and the hiccups this season, they need to find that themselves - Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Scottie Upshall, Scott Hartnell, all of them. That does not mean acquiring Forsberg would be a mistake, because it would not be. It is still worth doing."

"The Flyers might be surprised to know there is a new team in the hunt for Peter Forsberg: the Minnesota Wild."

"The Flyers are considered the frontrunner in the sweepstakes, as Forsberg eliminated another top team – Anaheim. However, one report had Chicago offering Forsberg a three-year deal in the neighborhood of $11 million."

"There was no shortage of NHL scouts in the Wachovia Center press box Thursday night, lending to more trade speculation involving the Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning."

"With the Peter Forsberg situation possibly being resolved as early as this weekend, one rather frivolous question arises: If Forsberg returns to the Flyers, does he ask for his old No. 21 back?"

"The NHL set up a media conference call Wednesday afternoon with four general managers — Atlanta's Don Waddell, Anaheim's Brian Burke, Philadelphia's Paul Holmgren and Detroit's Ken Holland — to address the buildup to the general managers' meetings in Florida next week. Waddell answered a range of questions, although most centered on his plans for Marian Hossa. He echoed his stance that the priority is to sign Hossa to a contract extension and that there is no deadline to get a deal done."

"Is today the day? According to sources close to Peter Forsberg, the Swedish center is ready to announce a decision on whether he will return to the NHL. The Flyers have not been informed of such, according to club president Peter Luukko. "

"The Peter Forsberg decision is going to be at least another week coming. That was the word yesterday as the Flyers were dealing with the extended loss of a top defenseman, the looming trade deadline, and another concussion to Simon Gagne."

"There is no news on the possible re-signing of free-agent center Peter Forsberg, the Flyers said. 'Until we actually know he is coming back to the NHL, that's sort of a moot point,' Holmgren said... Toronto's Tomas Kaberle has a no-trade clause, but if he waives it, the Flyers would be suitors, along with many other clubs."

"Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Sunday it could be another week before Peter Forsberg makes a decision on whether his right foot is strong enough to allow him to return to the NHL."

"On Sunday, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren disclosed he had spoken to Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, on Friday, and the conversation produced news of yet another delay on the part of the Swedish superstar. The unrestricted free agent says he needs a minimum of seven more days before he commits to a return to the NHL."

"Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren isn't optimistic Peter Forsberg will become a Flyer again this week."

"The Phillies' position in offering Ryan Howard less money than Adam Eaton to play baseball this season is that this is how their business runs. The Flyers' position in pursuing talented-but-injury-suspect Peter Forsberg goes like this: Aw, what the hell, it's just money."

"At the risk of having my Professional Opinion Spouter's license revoked, I'm going to go ahead and use the 'W' word to describe my gut feeling on this Peter Forsberg situation. Wrong."

"It really is this simple: If, at the trading deadline, your team had a chance to acquire Peter Forsberg for nothing but cash, would you want to do it? Of course you would."

"Let's set the record straight: I like Peter Forsberg. Even at 34 I believe he can be a tremendous asset to a team with a chance to contend for the Stanley Cup."

"The Flyers' pursuit of a puck-moving defenseman became a little more urgent Saturday when Braydon Coburn tore a ligament in his buttocks in the first period of a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers... Among the defensemen believed to be on the trading block are Toronto's Tomas Kaberle, Buffalo's Brian Campbell, Tampa Bay's Dan Boyle and Filip Kuba and Los Angeles' Brad Stuart."

"Holmgren said he had not heard from Peter Forsberg on whether he was healthy enough to commit to playing and for whom he would play if he returned... A source in Europe said Forsberg's only decision now is whether he can play. If so, Forsberg is expected to sign with the Flyers."

"All was quiet on the Peter Forsberg front on Friday. So quiet, in fact, that Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said he had 'no idea' what was going to happen next."

"With Peter Forsberg closing in on a decision over whether to return to the NHL this season or wait until next, Flyers chairman Ed Snider said Thursday he is placing his trust in the Swedish superstar to make the right call. "I'd like to think Peter Forsberg has gone through hell and would never come back if he thought he had to go through that again"

"The Peter Forsberg sweepstakes continued yesterday with word that his decision is imminent and that the star center has narrowed down his list of suitors. According to league sources last night, Forsberg is expected to decide in the next few days if he can actually play and what team he wants to join. "

"On a night when the Flyers lacked for panache in a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, the bigger news was that some familiar sizzle may be just off the horizon. It looks as though the Forsberg Follies are a step closer to a return engagement at the Wachovia Center. Peter Forsberg's camp eliminated a number of teams yesterday, and the Flyers expect a decision from the free agent by the weekend."

"The Flyers may be the favorites, but the Avs remain in the hunt for Peter Forsberg, and the list of their competitors keeps shrinking. Like game-show hosts, Forsberg and his agent, Don Baizley, have been eliminating contestants for the past week. The good news for the Avs is they haven't gotten a call."

" Reports from across the league are trickling in. Peter Forsberg has apparently said thanks but no thanks to Dallas, Nashville, Detroit, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Calgary. Unofficially, that would leave Philadelphia , Colorado, Anaheim, Vancouver, Chicago and Ottawa still in the running for the Swedish star's services. "