The semi-big news out of Newark heading into Thursday night's game between the Devils and the Flyers was that Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner had been asked to waive his no-trade clause. He did, and was a healthy scratch for the game. Earlier in the week, the Flyers temporarily cleared some salary when they waived Michael Leighton and assigned him to the Phantoms (although there was obviously more to that move that dumping salary). At one point in the game, Anthony San Filippo of the Delaware County Daily Times tweeted that Paul Holmgren had not been in the Flyers' suite during the game.
Then, in the second intermission, CSN anchor John Boruk pointedly mentioned that the Flyers might be trying to trade for Langenbrunner, and Tim Panaccio has a team source saying the Flyers are indeed interested.
A look up and down the Flyers' roster doesn't show many areas of real need, but if they could pick one element to add, it'd probably be a right wing with some playoff experience. Langenbrunner certainly has that. But would the Devils trade him to a division rival? If so, at what cost?
At 35, Langenbrunner has been a part of several successful playoff runs on two different teams—the Dallas Stars and the Devils, including winning a Stanley Cup with each. Playoff production is perhaps what he's best known for, with 12 game-winning goals in the postseason highlighting career numbers that include 33 goals and 86 points in 137 appearances. His current season isn't much to judge him on, but that's true of every Devil right now. He topped 60 points in both of the last two season, the two highest totals of his career.
Langenbrunner is in the final year of a contract that sees him earning $2.8 million this season. We're not sure what acquiring his services would cost the Flyers, but if the price is high, I don't expect the Flyers to stay interested for long.
There aren't too many players the Flyers would be interested in trading from the current roster, which has put together among the most goals in the NHL so far this season and continues to flip-flop with the Penguins for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Panotch's article mentions James van Riemsdyk, although only as someone the Devils should want. I don't see any benefit in trading a young player with a ton of potential for the services of a playoff-tested veteran on the downslope of his career. JVR is also under control through next season with a cap hit less than $2 million. He's a keeper, and he's playing hot right now. If anyone's closer to the block, it's Nik Zherdev, though there aren't many teams who would deem a guy projected to score 27 goals expendable, although that figure is based on Zherdev playing regularly.
If no current Flyer were in a deal for Langenbrunner, the Flyers would have an even bigger logjam in their forward lines.
The Devils loudly tossed Langenbrunner onto the trading block and would like to shed salary during this hellish season, so they may want a haul heavy in draft picks in return. Hopefully not too heavy if Homer is indeed involved... We wouldn't mind seeing the Flyers pick in the first round this year, but with a guy like Langenbrunner, there could be multiple suitors lining up for his services in time for the playoffs, which could inflate his trade value.
But sitting at or near first place at any given time, do the Flyers need to make any moves at all?
[Update: Sam Carchidi says the Flyers are believed to have offered a third and a fifth.]
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