Flyers nearing deal for defenseman Dan Hamhuis

by Eric Schwartz

Tuesday March 2, 2010 

Flyers nearing deal for defenseman Dan Hamhuis thumbnail

It appears as if the Flyers have a deal in the works.

Things looked to be heading in that direction yesterday when the team place Riley Cote and Danny Syvret to the waiver wire in a salary cap clearing move. The team also put injured goalie Ray Emery on the long-term injured list, opening up an addition roster spot.

Philly.com’s Frank Seravalli said that according to a league source the Flyers are close to trading for defenseman Dan Hamhuis, of the Nashville Predators – a move that would solidify the back line.
According to Seravalli, the Flyers will have cleared $2.652 million on yesterday’s moves and taking on Hamhuis would only cost the team $2 million.

As for what type of player the Flyers would be acquiring, Seravalli describes Hamhuis as “a stay-at-home defenseman with an eye for bone-crunching hits. In 462 NHL games, he is exactly even in the plus/minus category. Averaging almost 22 minutes per game during his career, Hamhuis also has been one of the NHL’s most durable players. He has missed only nine games in six full seasons.”

This is a move that can only help the Flyers. The Penguins – as they seem to do at this time every year – made themselves better yesterday by trading for defenseman Jordan Leopold.

Meanwhile, the streaking Senators added veteran defenseman Andy Sutton today.

Bringing on Hamhuis doesn’t necessarily put the Flyers in the same class as the defending champion Penguins, but it is a step in the right direction.

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