PHILADELPHIA — Exit Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.
Welcome to Ilya-delphia.
In two shocking trades, the Flyers hit the reset button on a team only a year removed from a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, dealing forwards Richards and Carter, and signing goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Gone is Richards, their team captain.
Out is Carter, their leading goal scorer.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren cleaned house — and cleared needed salary cap space to sign Bryzgalov to a reported $51 million, nine-year deal. The Flyers acquired the rights to Bryzgalov, 31, this month in a deal with the Coyotes.
The Flyers shed over $100 million in salary — and a combined 314 goals and 692 points from the duo — in Thursday’s deals that sent Richards to the Kings and Carter to the Blue Jackets.
“This had nothing to do with the financial (part) at all,” Holmgren said. “What we did (Thursday) was make two good hockey trades.”
Richards said he was shocked. Carter declined comment and his agent said there was “total disappointment.”
Richards, once viewed as the next Bobby Clarke, was traded for forwards Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and a second-round pick. Carter fetched forward Jake Voracek and the club’s first- and third-round picks from the Blue Jackets.
Before Thursday, the Flyers didn’t have a pick until the third round. Now, they’ll pick eighth overall tonight.
Richards has nine years left on a 12-year extension he signed in 2007, and Carter agreed in November to a $58 million, 11-year pact.
A Vezina Trophy finalist in 2009-10, Bryzgalov went 36-20-10 with a 2.48 goals- against average and seven shutouts last season, but had some shaky moments as the Coyotes were swept from the playoffs by the Red Wings in Round 1.
Richards, 26, had 23 goals and 43 assists last season, while Carter, 26, had 36 goals and 30 assists.
Sharks re-sign Setoguchi
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Sharks agreed to a $9 million, three- year deal with forward Devin Setoguchi, who was eligible to become a restricted free agent July 1.
“I couldn’t be happier right now,” Setoguchi said. “San Jose is such a great place to play.”
Setoguchi got paid $1.8 million last season when he got off to a lackluster start before finishing with 22 goals and 19 assists in the regular season.
Footnotes.
The Bruins will begin defense of their Stanley Cup title against the Flyers in Boston as part of an opening- night tripleheader Oct. 6. The Canadiens visit the rival Maple Leafs, and the Canucks close out the night when they host the Penguins.
• The NHL salary cap is going up again, climbing to $64.3 million, an increase from $59.4 million.
The Associated Press
