Wild get a dealin'

[JiriHrdina]

The Minnesota Wild are pleased to announce the acquisitions of Freddie Norenna, Keith Ballard, and Ryan O'Mara.

The trio join the club in 2 seperate deals. The first sees the Wild sent backup goalie Nick Backstrom to Philly for Norenna and Ballard.

The second deal sees Bryan Berard headed to T-Bay for prospect Ryan O'Mara.

GM Grant commented:

"We felt the time was right to deal Backstrom in order to realize a good return. The Flyers stepped up with precisely the type of deal we wanted, a capable inexpensive backup for the next 2 seasons and a good young player. However, this move put us above our roster limit so Bryan was a victim of the numbers game and had to be dealt. Ryan Omara is a prospect we like a lot, and actually targetted that draft year."

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Regarding the Flyers move:

This was a trade Mooney was destined to make, I'm sure he will finally sleep nicely after all those tough nights knowing Hasek was the teams only goaltender going to next year. Overall I like this move both ways. Grant gets a cheap backup with solid ratings as well as a good young Dman in Ballard.

The Flyers had a surplus of good young Dmen and filled their massive hole in net by adding a starter next year in Backstrom. Obviously it came at a price but he managed to add a starter without losing a player like Pronger.

Great deal for both sides though, good job getting this big one done!

For the O'Mara Deal:
Good return for a guy on his way out the door, O'mara is a solid prospect, nothing spectacular but a good asset in return for an old UFA.

[moon]

The Philadelphia Flyers are pleased to announce that they have added Niklas Backstrom. Backstrom was acquired from the Minnesota Wild for Fredrik Norrena and Keith Ballard. Backstrom is expected to the the long term goaltending solution for the Flyers with the 42 year old Hasek not expected to be in the teams long term plans. Backstrom is a proven starter and is expected to improve this teams goaltending now and for the seasons to come. His hefty 1.2 million salary will be a burden but one that GM moon feels he can work around.

Keith Ballard is a very good young defenseman and is tough to give up but with the young guys we have their and a top guy in Pronger we felt it was a postion of strength for the club and one in which we could solve our need for a goalie for next season. Fredrik Norrena has been a great back-up for us this year often matching Hasek's numbers and playing more games than your average #2 guy. However, he is a back-up and was a guy that we realised would be involved in a deal for a starter. We wish them both luck in the future whether it is with the Wild or any other Howe conference team.

With the addition of Backstrom and GM moon's constant shopping and bitching about Hasek you might think that the Dominator's days in Philly are numbered, well you would be correct. Unless we decide to keep him in which case you would be wrong!

As usual the Flyers GM has no idea what he is doing and will always be looking at new ways to confound his fans and make his team great! Talks of more deals coming from Philly are rampant but with this lazy GM you never know what you are going to get.

(Disclaimer: If any of this makes no sense then I ask all of you to come over to my house and spend couple nights trying a "new" plan to get a 1 year old to sleep through the night. I wouldn't call it the let him cry method so much as the scream, scream, scream while dad falls asleep on the floor method. Oh and yes the screaming is coming from me, not him.)

[flambers]

Great deals for both teams.....

[Hanna Sniper]

O'Marra is a real nice pickup, you have the depth to progress a player like him

[droopydrew19]

Omarra spending some time in the ECHL this season had Tampa wondering if he will end up being a career minor leaguer. Berard should still have a couple od good seasons in him.... we hope

[Hanna Sniper]

Without question Drew, Like I said above. The wild have so much depth in the prospect part of the game that someone like O'Marra with ease. The odds on whether or not he does wont change on whomever owns him but on the Wild right now he has the freedom to be forgotten about and not relied, If it doesn't pan out for the Wild it's really no big deal and was worth the chance,

For the lighting, now it comes down on how well Berard will do for you for the remaining 9 games of the season. Since it's doubtful he was acquired for those remaining 9 games the question is what you can do with him before April 1st and will he get a 4+ million offer sheet from the Lightning.

At the end of the day, you have to take the NHL player and go from there and thats what you did... now just work this for you so it ends up bring something more then 9 games. BUT that 9 games may also be more the O'Marra ever see's

[HelloHockeyFans]

Backstrom is a very nice pick up for the Flyers

[Goffie]

Solid deal for both teams...Flyers did a great job picking up a #1 for next year, and Grant got a good backup and a good young dman.