January 16, 2007

ESPN.com

The struggling Philadelphia Flyers have frequently popped up in the rumor mill this season, but over the past week the trade speculation surrounding the club has intensified.

First came unsubstantiated rumors of the Flyers shipping defenseman Joni Pitkanen to the Edmonton Oilers for forwards Joffrey Lupul and Raffi Torres, which was dismissed as nonsense by Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. Nevertheless, subsequent reports suggest the Flyers may be shopping Pitkanen.
Next came yet another "Peter Forsberg wants out of Philly" rumor, this one starting in the Montreal media during the Flyers-Canadiens game last Thursday, regurgitating the same speculation of Forsberg wanting to leave even though he and the club have denied such talk in the past.

Still, a report in Sunday's Camden Courier-Post suggested the Flyers might try to move Forsberg by the deadline if they cannot work out a contract extension with him by the end of the All-Star weekend, which will only keep his name in the mill for weeks to come.

The latest rumor came about when Holmgren claimed goaltender Michael Leighton off waivers from the Nashville Predators, leaving the club with three netminders and sparking rumors that either Robert Esche or Antero Niittymaki might be on the block.

Holmgren denied this, claiming he picked up Leighton as insurance in case one of his two oft-injured regular goalies were sidelined, but that hasn't put an end to the chatter.

There is reason to suggest the Kings might be interested in Esche now that both their regular netminders are on the injured reserve list, but given his poor performance this season the only good fit he might make for Los Angeles is within their salary cap.

According to a report in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer, a Flyers source claims the Kings have not contacted them.

The reason for the increase in Flyers rumors is because their league-worst record all but ensures they'll miss the playoffs for the first time since 1994, and with the trade deadline only six weeks away conventional wisdom suggests a team in their situation will start dumping salaries.

Perhaps they will, but it remains to be seen if Forsberg, Pitkanen or Esche will be part of any potential deals.