Forsberg traded to Nashville
So as most of you know by now, Peter Forsberg was traded to the Nashville Predators this evening. Who did the Philadelphia Flyers get in exchange? Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent, a first round pick, and a third round pick.
”There is a time and a place to step up and make a big move,” said Predators general manager David Poile. ”We felt it was the time and it was the place. We’re thrilled to get (Peter Forsberg). We gave up a lot to get him, but we feel it’s worth it. This franchise has been built on draft picks so it’s not easy to give them or our good prospects up, but it was time to take a chance and do it a little differently.”
TSN’s Bob McKenzie breaks down the trade:
But here’s the bottom line for both teams.
Forsberg was expendable and the Flyers took a future consideration package from Nashville that was, by far, the best offered to them.
And Nashville has more than enough depth and emerging prospects that they can afford to roll the dice on a potential high impact Cup clincher.
As for the teams that lost out on the Forsberg sweepstakes, now keep your eye on the St. Louis Blues. Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin never looked so good.
Before I get to the round up of what other bloggers are saying, how will this impact the Detroit Red Wings?
Well, the Wings were supposedly one of the leading candidates to land Forsberg. Obviously that didn’t happen and he instead went to the #1 team in the Western Conference and the team ahead of the Wings in the Central Division (admittedly, by only one point). GM Ken Holland will have to look elsewhere for an offensive threat. Hopefully, we’ll make some waves by the trade deadline and not acquire a Cory Cross type like last season.
The race for the Central Division is going to get tougher on the Wings part with five games still remaining between Nashville and Detroit. The Wings need to win the division, in my opinion, because I don’t like who we would face as a number four seed. As of right now, we would face San Jose in the playoffs and that terrifies me.
Personally, Forsberg would have been a great addition to our Swedish team had he remained healthy. I don’t know about you guys, but I get stressed out enough just think about Hasek and his injury-prone body. I couldn’t imagine my stress levels had there been both Forsberg AND Hasek to worry about. Plus, I still get to call Forsberg Floppa. I know many of you call him Foppa, but I personally like Floppa.
Holland told the Detroit News that the Wings did make an attempt to the Forsberg, but the asking price was too much.
“We made a pitch,” general manager Ken Holland said, “but they (the Flyers) got themselves an offer they liked. Nashville got itself a very talented player.”
The Wings were interested in Forsberg but weren’t interested in trading so much of their future.
“Nashville essentially traded away three first-round picks,” Holland said.
The Blog Round-Up
James Mirtle believes that while the deal wasn’t bad for either team, the Predators got more out of this trade because of how Forsberg will help the team on and off the ice.
I like this move from the Predators’ perspective. There are a handful of teams for whom this deal makes sense, and Nashville’s one of them. With the best record in their conference and a good bet to hold home-ice advantage throughout the postseason, the Predators now boast an incredible seven players with 40+ points.
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This isn’t to say Philadelphia didn’t make out well. In a lost season, with only 20+ games remaining, the Flyers simply need to sell commodities for future assets, and they did that here in getting Parent alone.
Eric McErlain at Off Wing Opinion brings up a very valid point that this trade will hopefully inject some excitement into Nashville and get more fans into the arena.
That’s a heck of a price to pay for what may amount to an 8-week rental, but it’s a trade that’s sure to electrify the fanbase in Nashville and help pack fannies in the seats come playoff time.
Andy Grabia at Battle for Alberta wonders how this trade will impact what other Western Conference teams will do before the trade deadline.
Peter Forsberg has been traded to the Nashville Predators. Was it too steep a price? Depends on whether he stays healthy, I guess. The effect it will have on the rest of the Western Conference will be interesting. Will it trigger more moves? I’d imagine that the Red Wings, at least, are now going to be more aggressive in improving their roster.
IwoCPO at Abel to Yzerman added his two cents about the trade:
Kulfan didn’t say if Holland made the statement while rocking back and forth in the fetal position, sucking his thumb and staring at the upside-down Petr Klima poster on his office wall.
DD Captain Khan (!) makes a good point in his blog that if you’re looking for the best of a bad situation, consider this: we’re probably going to see the Duckies or the team we don’t speak of (San Jose) in the first round, so seeing Floppa headed to the heart of hockey apathy is not the worst that could have happened.
Mike Chen talks about the trade at The Battle of California:
Now, I was well aware that Nashville was as much as a favorite to win the Cup as our beloved California teams. But getting Peter Forsberg without touching their roster — and the fact that Forsberg has looked much better over the past ten games than he has all season — is just, well, kind of unfair (said in the least whiny way possible). Assuming Forsberg’s as healthy as he says he is, the Preds are getting a guy who never disappears during the playoffs. Don’t forget the year when he missed the entire season, only to lead the playoffs in scoring without even going to the Cup finals.
Jes Golbez at Hockey Rants thinks this move makes Nashville look like a pretty sweet team come playoff time.
Talk about selling the mansion to rent a cottage!! The Preds are obviously going all-in on a straight flush like the Carolina Hurricanes did last year.
With some serious offensive firepower up front, and great goaltending, the Predators are one scary looking team at the moment. They are already 2nd overall in goal scoring and sport the best goal differential in the league (+55).
If this move doesn’t generate some ticket sales and excitement in Nashville, just give it up and move the frickin’ team!
Let’s not also forget that the Flyers get a great return on a guy they signed as a free agent and were likely to lose… that’s a lot for ‘nothing’.
JJ at Canucks Hockey Blog adds his two cents about the trade:
As a Canucks fan hoping for a good, long playoff run, I say, “F***”. With Forsberg in the lineup, the Nashville Predators just got a heckuva lot better. Any lineup with Forsberg, Arnott and Legwand down the middle, and Sullivan, Kariya, Dumont and Erat down the wings is downright scary.
On the flip side, I’m glad Nonis wouldn’t - and didn’t - overpay for him. In Canucks terms, the Nashville Predators gave up Luc Bourdon, Ryan Kesler-ish, plus first and third round draft picks for Peter Forsberg. As good as this Canucks team has been, I don’t think anyone would be upset that the Canucks didn’t acquire him at that price.
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5 Responses to “Forsberg traded to Nashville”
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February 16th, 2007 at 1:18 am
So, um, good luck winning that Central Division and everything.
February 16th, 2007 at 2:10 am
Must. Win. Northwest.
February 16th, 2007 at 11:17 am
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February 16th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Nashville was already a cup contender before this Forsberg deal. Philly got the best deal here. The only reason to get him is to prevent other teams from getting him. Philly did well to stock their youth pool here. Considering Forsberg’s health status and the huge risk, I’m surprised the Flyers got as much as they got. Upshall and Parent are prospects that have shown potential, so that’s a good start. Draft picks are draft picks, and the Flyers got two early ones which is good. The Flyers have given themselves 4 opportunites here to manufacture 4 good players at the cost of a player who wasn’t going to do anything for them this year, not bad. As for Forsberg- A young Forsberg could recover from his multitude of injuries but not now. No way he lasts an entire playoff run. The gamble will not pay off for Nashville. They still have a good team and thats why he is just gravey for this team. He will be there for some games. Will this be enough? I doubt it. He’s either a deal maker or a deal breaker-though Nashville has just risen in the CUP sweepstakes. 50/50 with Peter as far as him being there for every playoff game.
February 26th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Mike Chen, JJ, and Rjman48- Thanks for your comments! I thought it was ironic that Forsberg scored his first goal with the Preds against the Wings in overtime…