The Reshaping Has Begun

Paul Holmgren decided to flex his muscles for the first time this season, dealing the subpar semi-goon Steve Downie and spare defenseman Steve Eminger to Tampa for defenseman Matt Carle.

If this move was intended to upgrade a defense suffering the loss of two key skaters and which is in the bottom third of the league, awesome. If this deal is some kind of veiled message to the club to start performing better, I fail to see the threat.

Carle is now with his third organization in less than three seasons. He was the 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner out of the University of Denver, where he was part of back-to-back national titles in 2004 and 2005.

He jumped to the NHL late in the 05-06 season and scored 11 goals two years ago with the Sharks. In the offseason, he was shuffled to Tampa Bay in the deal for Dan Boyle, but with the logjam of bodies there coupled with the immediate need for help on the backline, Carle comes to Philly in time to face his former team on Saturday.

I don't know the genesis of any expectations for Downie, but after all the crap died down from the McAmmond incident I guess the Flyers found out he wasn't anything more than an inconsistent third-or-fourth liner. With Arron Asham and Glen Metropolit performing well and the inexplicable inclusion of Jared Ross, Downie was locked out.

Even though he spent one month as a Flyer, I'm still not sure exactly why Holmgren acquired Eminger in the first place. However, it worked out because the club stockpiled so many bodies than Homer did not have to give up a prime draft pick or another Phantom to get equal value in a trade.

In the short run, the Flyers did take care of a problem that I'm not sure John Stevens was able to see at first: the lack of defensemen plus Danny Briere's absence created too much of a defensive strain on key forwards.

It's another plus for Holmgren - a clear need was created and the problem was addressed quickly.

Coming into tonight, the Flyers have lost two in a row after a four-game win streak, to clubs (Edmonton and Ottawa) which use speed. In each setback (5-4 on Sunday and 4-1 on Thursday) the Flyers clearly had trouble containing players who use the center of the ice, pinpoint passing and react to the puck instead of playing a predetermined zone or dump-and-chase.

Carle, presumably, gives the defense more speed to match opposition speed. He also provides a less hesitant shot on the power play.

I'd also like to see more positive indicators in the talks to get Brendan Shanahan here.

Shanny, being a veteran with his ear to the ground and friends in high places, might not take too kindly if he hears that the discussions are nothing more than an organizational ploy to get the Flyers to play better; still, the fact that the gravelly and serious Holmgren said the talks were serious sends a signal once again that good changes are once again within reach.