MatthewFlames
Registered User
Calgary (CP):
Despite a league best 8-2 in their last ten, the Flames have traded away defenseman Dan Boyle and forward Richard Zednik, along with minor league defenseman Brett Lebda, in a cost cutting move to ensure the franchise meets payroll for the remainder of the season.
In return, the Flames get younger - much younger - replacing Boyle with Francois Beauchemin, who is 5 years younger and 2.1 million dollars cheaper. With the emergence of Paul Martin as the teams leading defensive scorer (in fact Boyle was third amongst defenseman on the team in scoring), Boyle became the victim of the cost cutting. Beauchemin has scored 19 points this season, 2 more than Boyle.
The Flames also continue to change the make-up of the team - adding defensive assets. Coming in is defensive forward Jay Pandolfo to shore up one of the leagues worst penalty kill and young defenseman Alex Picard. Picard, who is only 21, replaces Lebda on the depth chart. Lebda has a bright future, but the Flames felt they have too many similar defenseman, and Lebda would be no better than ninth on the depth chart and would be asking for close to a million dollars as an RFA this off-season.
Also coming to the Flames are a 4th round draft pick in 2007 and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Despite a league best 8-2 in their last ten, the Flames have traded away defenseman Dan Boyle and forward Richard Zednik, along with minor league defenseman Brett Lebda, in a cost cutting move to ensure the franchise meets payroll for the remainder of the season.
In return, the Flames get younger - much younger - replacing Boyle with Francois Beauchemin, who is 5 years younger and 2.1 million dollars cheaper. With the emergence of Paul Martin as the teams leading defensive scorer (in fact Boyle was third amongst defenseman on the team in scoring), Boyle became the victim of the cost cutting. Beauchemin has scored 19 points this season, 2 more than Boyle.
The Flames also continue to change the make-up of the team - adding defensive assets. Coming in is defensive forward Jay Pandolfo to shore up one of the leagues worst penalty kill and young defenseman Alex Picard. Picard, who is only 21, replaces Lebda on the depth chart. Lebda has a bright future, but the Flames felt they have too many similar defenseman, and Lebda would be no better than ninth on the depth chart and would be asking for close to a million dollars as an RFA this off-season.
Also coming to the Flames are a 4th round draft pick in 2007 and an undisclosed amount of cash.
