In preparation to re-tool their roster with the 2010 NHL Entry Draft less than a week away, the Philadelphia Flyers swapped defensemen with Nashville Predators. They acquired the rights to pending free agent Dan Hamhuis for Ryan Parent.
Philadelphia also received a 2011 conditional draft pick from Nashville in the trade.
The Flyers have until July 1st to sign Hamhuis to a contract, otherwise he will hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.
"Our intention is to get him signed prior to [July 1], and that is what our aim is at this point in time," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in the team's official news release. "The sooner that we get going on trying to get this done, the better."
Hamhuis has been a solid defenseman in his six National Hockey League seasons, all with the Predators. In 483 games, he accumulated 161 points (32 goals and 129 assists) in that span. Holmgren does like the potential of Hamhuis strengthening what is already regarded as one of the top defense corps in the league.
"Dan Hamhuis is a good all-around defenseman," Holmgren said. "He's a guy who can play lots of minutes and he can play in a lot of different situations, from power play to killing penalties. He is another athlete we'd like to add to our team to continue to improve our defense."
Meantime, Parent was the opposite when it came to his overall health. He was a disappointment in 102 games over four seasons with the Flyers. Injuries sidelined him for stretches at a time and never gained a permanent spot in the lineup. Ironically, Parent heads back to the team that drafted him. The 2005 #18 overall draft pick was sent along with Scott Hartnell to Philadelphia in the Peter Forsberg trade on February 15, 2007. Parent has just 1 goal and 6 assists with 36 penalty minutes so far in his young career.
In the event the Flyers sign Hamhuis, don't be surprised if they have to pay him in upwards of at least $5 million per season.
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