[Chris]

Thrashers send Coburn to Flyers for Zhitnik

Next season is looking exciting for Philadelphia Flyers fans. The team picked up yet another young prospect on Saturday night, this time from the Atlanta Thrashers.

Braydon Coburn was sent to Philadelphia in exchange for veteran defenseman Alexi Zhitnik.

34-year-old Zhitnik was acquired earlier this season from the New York Islanders in exchange for Freddy Meyer. He has scored 23 points in 60 games with both teams in 2006-2007.

Coburn, 21, was the 8th overall pick in the 2003 entry draft. The 6-foot-5, 220 pound defenseman has four points in 29 games with Atlanta this season. He has five points in 38 career NHL games. Coburn has also recorded 11 points in 15 games this year with the Atlanta Thrashers' farm club, the Chicago Wolves.

It is unclear when and where Coburn will make his Philadelphia debut.

Stay tuned to TFH for more updates.

[eleven24]

Paul Holmgren should be arrested right now because earlier in the week he robbed Nashville, and now he just held up Atlanta. (Two hockey hotbeds, by the way)

Parent and Coburn are going to be the Flyers answer to Crosby and Malkin for many, many years. Two solid stay at home defensemen who can skate very well, and hit very hard. As much as we all may not want to admit it, Sidney Crosby is going to be twice as dominant in the future as he is now & if the Flyers have any remote hopes of a Cup they will need to get past him & the Pens.

Homer is certainly pointing the ship in that direction. Just take a look at how stacked this team is with young, talented players...

D - Ryan Parent. 2005 1st Round, 18th Overall. 19yrs old.
D - Braydon Coburn. 2003 1st Round, 8th Overall. 22yrs old.
D - Joni Pitkanen. 2002 1st Round, 4th Overall. 23yrs old.

C - Mike Richards. 2003 1st Round, 24th Overall. 22yrs old.
C - Jeff Carter. 2003 1st Round, 11th Overall. 22yrs old.
C - RJ Umberger. 2001 1st Round, 16th Overall. 24yrs old.
C - Steve Downie. 2005 1st Round, 29th Overall. 19yrs old.

RW - Scottie Upshall. 2002 1st Round, 6th Overall. 23yrs old.
RW - Andreas Nodl. 2006 2nd Round, 39th Overall.
RW - Claude Giroux. 2006 1st Round, 22nd Overall. 19yrs old.

And then we'll also have...
2007 1st Round FLYERS (projected 1st-3rd overall)
2007 1st Round NASHVILLE (projected 18-28th overall)

Then there are also guys like Potulny, Eager, Ruzicka, and Picard. The only thing Homer still needs to do is land us a goalie to go along with all of these blue-chippers... because I don't think Nitty is it.

[Rex]

Thanks Alex.

Hopefully this will all turn out good.

[Hextall_Fan88]

Originally Posted by eleven24

Paul Holmgren should be arrested right now because earlier in the week he robbed Nashville, and now he just held up Atlanta. (Two hockey hotbeds, by the way)

Parent and Coburn are going to be the Flyers answer to Crosby and Malkin for many, many years. Two solid stay at home defensemen who can skate very well, and hit very hard. As much as we all may not want to admit it, Sidney Crosby is going to be twice as dominant in the future as he is now & if the Flyers have any remote hopes of a Cup they will need to get past him & the Pens.

Homer is certainly pointing the ship in that direction. Just take a look at how stacked this team is with young, talented players...

D - Ryan Parent. 2005 1st Round, 18th Overall. 19yrs old.
D - Braydon Coburn. 2003 1st Round, 8th Overall. 22yrs old.
D - Joni Pitkanen. 2002 1st Round, 4th Overall. 23yrs old.

C - Mike Richards. 2003 1st Round, 24th Overall. 22yrs old.
C - Jeff Carter. 2003 1st Round, 11th Overall. 22yrs old.
C - RJ Umberger. 2001 1st Round, 16th Overall. 24yrs old.
C - Steve Downie. 2005 1st Round, 29th Overall. 19yrs old.

RW - Scottie Upshall. 2002 1st Round, 6th Overall. 23yrs old.
RW - Andreas Nodl. 2006 2nd Round, 39th Overall.
RW - Claude Giroux. 2006 1st Round, 22nd Overall. 19yrs old.

And then we'll also have...
2007 1st Round FLYERS (projected 1st-3rd overall)
2007 1st Round NASHVILLE (projected 18-28th overall)

Then there are also guys like Potulny, Eager, Ruzicka, and Picard. The only thing Homer still needs to do is land us a goalie to go along with all of these blue-chippers... because I don't think Nitty is it.

agree'd. i dont want to see all this excellent potential go to waste. we need a goaltender for next season. Nitty is not getting the job done, and Esche can be dealt for a 3rd or 4th round pick. Leighton or Nitty can be our backup to a proven #1.

[Hyperfried]

This makes me much happier. I'll admit, Zhitnik was actually a good player to have, but now we're looking toward the future, and this is going to get us back on the fast track.

[CrueL]

I was not surpriced about Zhitnik trade...Sorry,guys,but I think our GM - he is a little bit crazy.At first was Forsberg and now Zhitnik.And what we got...Some young suckers,wish potential can open after some years.And what we're gonna do all this years?Just wait?

[Geddy_G]

I dunno man ... Snyder says he doesn't know the word "rebuilding" ... Puh! Personally I think this was a bad move, but time will tell. Another big slow d-man ... It's been proven time and time again that big isn't the way the NHL is moving - speed and quickness wins. Honestly I think they would have been better off with Meyer. I really liked the way he played - perfect for the new look NHL. We'll see.

[tmcc]

Originally Posted by CrueL

I was not surpriced about Zhitnik trade...Sorry,guys,but I think our GM - he is a little bit crazy.At first was Forsberg and now Zhitnik.And what we got...Some young suckers,wish potential can open after some years.And what we're gonna do all this years?Just wait?

Exactly.

[bedrock]

when Meyer was dealt to the Isles for Zhitnik, I thought it was a bad trade for the Flyers.
Zhitnik has been known not to show up to every game, his giveaways, and his age works against him. However after some thought it seemed logical. Bring in a veteran D with a chance it may help turn the team around, if it does not we have a player that would bring a hefty price come trading deadline. Look at it this way We get a potential top 4 D in Coburn for Meyer a top 6 D via high priced aging D Zhitnik. Great trades for Holmgren.
Next lets deal Hatcher, Sandy, Calder, York and 1 of the goalies for more prospects and another 1st rounder this year. It will give the team a bargaining chip in case they do not get top pick in the draft lottery for a shot at Cherepanov, If they don't there is still and Alzner or Van Riemzdyk available. More important lots of $$$$ for free agents next season to make the Flyers a very competetive next season with a lot of talent in the system

[Hextall_Fan88]

None of this will help if we don't secure a goalie for next few seasons.. Sorry guys, but Nitty has simply not gotten the job done. Yes, he is injured and playing on cortisone shots, but he seems like the type of goalie who gets rattled pretty easy. During a losing streak, his confidence is crap and the team does even worse. He could be a backup to a goalie, and play maybe 20-25 games for us next season. We should deal Esche, keep Leighton as a 3rd stringer with the Phantoms and deal a 1st rounder and perhaps a prospect like Potulny or Ruzicka for a proven goalie. Sorry, but the Flyer's problems every year since the prime of Hexy's career, has been goaltending. Look at Edmonton, or Calgary before them. Kipper and Rollie did a great job in the playoffs and they're one of the main reasons they made it that far. Esche had his time in 2003-04, but he'll never be the same.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Hextall_Fan88

None of this will help if we don't secure a goalie for next few seasons.. Sorry guys, but Nitty has simply not gotten the job done. Yes, he is injured and playing on cortisone shots, but he seems like the type of goalie who gets rattled pretty easy. During a losing streak, his confidence is crap and the team does even worse. He could be a backup to a goalie, and play maybe 20-25 games for us next season. We should deal Esche, keep Leighton as a 3rd stringer with the Phantoms and deal a 1st rounder and perhaps a prospect like Potulny or Ruzicka for a proven goalie. Sorry, but the Flyer's problems every year since the prime of Hexy's career, has been goaltending. Look at Edmonton, or Calgary before them. Kipper and Rollie did a great job in the playoffs and they're one of the main reasons they made it that far. Esche had his time in 2003-04, but he'll never be the same.

I agree, and I believe that Holmgren knows this. Look for us to do something with Esche at the deadline, and go after somebody then or early in the offseason. It was always Clarke that screwed us with his "goalies aren't important" slogan. Hopefully, Holmgren realizes that this isn't the way to run a hockey team, and rights the ship with a big signing/trade before next season rolls around.

[Hextall_Fan88]

Originally Posted by Chris

I agree, and I believe that Holmgren knows this. Look for us to do something with Esche at the deadline, and go after somebody then or early in the offseason. It was always Clarke that screwed us with his "goalies aren't important" slogan. Hopefully, Holmgren realizes that this isn't the way to run a hockey team, and rights the ship with a big signing/trade before next season rolls around.

yep, and I'd like to see the move come either right now before the deadline, or like you said, very early in the offseason.

[bedrock]

Don't think Esche or Nitty can be faulted in most of the loses granted Some games the goalies don't show up, other games they are left to mercy of the defensive zone mistakes
Buffalo needs help big time up front
Sandyand another free agent forward,and a goalie to Buffalo for Biron and a high 2007 choice or prospect.

[CrueL]

I think we need to keep Robert Esche.I really like his acrobatic style,and his incradible glove saves.He just need a time for be number 1 again,like he said...
And about Zhitnik...he was very good for the Flyers,i think...Of cause,he is not a young guy,but he helped to team on the power play,he has a good slapshot...

[Hextall_Fan88]

Originally Posted by CrueL

I think we need to keep Robert Esche.I really like his acrobatic style,and his incradible glove saves.He just need a time for be number 1 again,like he said...
And about Zhitnik...he was very good for the Flyers,i think...Of cause,he is not a young guy,but he helped to team on the power play,he has a good slapshot...

I disagree about Esche. He's past his prime. His best years were 2003-04 and he's never been the same since. What we need is a goalie who can hold us in game on a consistent basis, just like Luongo in Vancouver. He's been absoulately amazing over there and hasn't given up too many weak goals. Esche has had his bright spots this season, and I like his intensity, but in the end, he isn't doing the job.

About Zhitnik, I would have liked to keep him around for another year or two. He played a very hard game and had an amazing shot on the powerplay. Coburn, from what I hear, isn't anything near to what Parent is projected to be. He'll still be about a top 4 or 5 defenseman, but he's still a long ways away in getting there. This move benefits us for the future, but what about next season? If we don't go out and get some veteran defensemen during the offseason to steady our young guys, playoffs will be very far away indeed.

[Hextall_Fan88]

Originally Posted by bedrock

Don't think Esche or Nitty can be faulted in most of the loses granted Some games the goalies don't show up, other games they are left to mercy of the defensive zone mistakes
Buffalo needs help big time up front
Sandyand another free agent forward,and a goalie to Buffalo for Biron and a high 2007 choice or prospect.

No, they can't be faulted for a lot of games, but we need a goalie who can save us in those times where we do give up those huge chances. Nitty and Esche are anything but that. They play well when their defense plays well. Look at Vancouver and Luongo. Without him, they'd have last place in the Northwest and far away from a playoff spot.

[tmcc]

Well I do like the deal for Coburn. Homie seems to realize, even though he doesn't say the Flyers are a rebuilding team, that they are certainly in a rebuilding phase. And I like it.

Does anyone think if the team improves enough over the offseason that Niitty and especially Esche could get back into their old (good) forms?

[TrojanDan46]

I like the deal from any standpoint, rebuilding or not, Zhitnik was a decent player on the PP...but he didnt get much done 5 on 5.

IMO he seemed like he really didnt care whether he played a good game or not. He is a good offensive defensemen but thats not what we need, we need mobile defensive D-men like Coburn is supposed to turn out to be.

My thoughts on Coburn is that he will turn out to be a 2nd pairing guy, but he is huge and mobile according to his scouting report and thats just what we need - Hatcher but faster.