Tampabay.com blog on the Flyers/Lightning trade

Color me Not Happy to see the following observation in this blog post about the Downie trade, from tampabay.com:

Downie is expected to report to AHL Norfolk.

Oh, great. He's gonna kick butt all freaking season long for a major divisional rival. :headdesk: :headdesk: :headdesk: Just what the Phantoms need. Siiiiiiigh...

Article on the Downie trade from the Flyers site

Here's the coverage on the Flyers site concerning the trade of Steve Eminger and Steve Downie for Matt Carle.

Phantoms win in Manchester in Shootout, 3-2

I just got home and checked the box score of tonight's Phantoms game in Manchester. Even with the absence of Steve Downie, we managed to eke out enough scoring to win in a shootout, 3-2. Here are some (admittedly slightly belated) Pregame Press Notes. I'd have liked to post them sooner, but I've been battling Computer Gremlins for a large part of the day.

Here is the box score of the game from the AHL site.


Both the goals we scored in regulation time came on the PP. I'm pleased to see that we're continuing to make teams regret taking penalties against us. With the way that some officials call, shall we say, a generous number of infractions per game, being able to capitalize on the powerplay will make the difference between wins and losses. (So will the ability to kill penalties successfully, which we've also been doing well of late.)

I don't think we're getting any players back from the Downie trade. We traded a Flyers defenseman plus Downie for another defenseman, whom I presume will be going to the Flyers. All I can say is that now the Flyers have one less than the maximum number of contracts allowed (50), because we gave up two players and got one back.

I see Marty Murray is still with the Monarchs. Now THERE'S a player I wish we could get back. The Flyers lost him on waivers a couple seasons ago when we tried to call him up. He was excellent as a Phantom and boy, did losing him from our lineup hurt. Darn LA for claiming him, then sending him down.

Oh, speaking of people getting sent down, I sincerely hope that Downie remains with the Tampa Bay parent club. I want this both for Downie's sake, and for the Phantoms' sake as well. If the Bolts send him to their farm team, he'll be in Norfolk, which is one of our divisional rivals. The LAST thing we need to see is a guy who's a freaking scoring/assisting machine at the AHL level in Norfolk, tearing it up all season long. I'm gonna want to HURT SOMEBODY if that happens, mark my words.

The game recap hasn't been posted yet. I'll be back to provide a link to it when it becomes available.

Steve Downie traded

I just got this text message from the Flyers' automated update service:

Flyers acquire defenseman Matt Carle from Tampa Bay in exchange for Steve Eminger and Steve Downie. More information on philadelphiaflyers.com.

I can't begin to describe my disappointment at losing Downie. I was looking forward to seeing him develop on the Phantoms, then play for the Flyers.

Best of luck, Steve! Your fans here will miss you!

Tim Ramholt traded to Nashville for Josh Gratton

I haven't seen this on the Flyers or Phantoms sites yet, but it's made an appearance on a couple of Flyers boards.

The attached quote is from Kukla's Korner, which at the moment doesn't seem to want to load for me.

From the Nashville Predators PR staff:

Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired forward Hugh Jessiman from the New York Rangers in exchange for future considerations, and defenseman Tim Ramholt from the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Josh Gratton.

Jessiman, 24 (3/28/84), was the Rangers’ first pick (12th overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft held at the Sommet Center. The 6-6, 231-pound right wing has spent the past three-plus seasons with Hartford (AHL) and Charlotte (ECHL), amassing 119 points (57g-62a) in 217 professional games. A season ago, he posted AHL career highs in goals (18), assists (24), points (42), games played (71) and penalty minutes (154) with Hartford. The New York, N.Y., native played three seasons at Dartmouth (ECAC) before joining the Rangers.

Ramholt, 23 (11/2/84), was also selected in the 2003 Entry Draft, being selected in the second round (39th overall) by Calgary. The 6-1, 195-pound blueliner played his first two North American professional seasons in 2006-07 and 2007-08 with the Flames AHL affiliates in Omaha and Quad City, and appeared in one game with Calgary on Nov. 29, 2007. The Zurich, Switzerland native was traded to the Philadelphia organization on June 30, 2008, and has played seven games for the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2008-09. Prior to playing in the AHL, Ramholt spent three seasons (2001-03, 04-05) playing in Switzerland, and spent the 2003-04 season with Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Welcome back, Josh!

I have to admit to being a little surprised by this move, though. I wasn't expecting us to trade a defenseman for a forward. Unless Hersley's coming off the injured list, we're going to be plugging along with the bare minimum of six D (Bartulis, Ratchuk, Guenin, DeSantis, Syvret, Curry).

If the Flyers decide to plug Gratton into their lineup, we can expect to see Downie back with the Phantoms. Otherwise, we're adding some experience to the Phantoms, which given the amount of youth on this team might be helpful. Unlike prior years, we're not overloaded with veterans, so we can afford to add someone to the roster with some experience under his belt.

Stay tuned. When I see the Flyers/Phantoms sites report on this trade, I'll link to the information.

Flyers trade Ned Lukacevic

According to this article on TSN, The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired defenceman Andrew Alberts from the Boston Bruins in exchange for 22-year-old forward Ned Lukacevic and a conditional draft pick in 2009.

Wow, that was quick. Two games into the season, and Coach Paddock has to start shuffling forward lines already.

As Alberts is likely to be going to the Flyers, to help their injury-depleted blueline, I don't expect to see the Phantoms getting anyone from this trade.

Well, that's one way to alleviate some of the logjam caused by NOT HAVING AN ECHL TEAM to send our on-the-bubble guys to. Now we'll have one more roster slot to let those on-the-bubble guys make their case, again, for sticking with the Phantoms when we eventually shift guys to an ECHL affiliate (which will presumably happen sometime during this lifetime).

Good luck, Ned! Be well, and even though you're with the Bruins now, be sure to beat the heck out of all of Philly's rivals when you play against them! :)