The Philadelphia Flyers have sent defencemen Chris Pronger and Nicklas Grossmann to the Arizona Coyotes for centre Sam Gagner and a conditional draft pick.
Pronger’s contract and Grossman traded from Philadelphia to Arizona for Sam Gagner a conditional draft pick.
— Kevin Allen (@ByKevinAllen) June 27, 2015
Pronger, who hasn’t played since the 2011-2012 season, carries a cap hit of 4.9 million, which the Coyotes can use to reach the salary cap floor. His playing days are over, so this is strictly a cap related move. This also gives the Flyers more cap flexibility going into next season.
Coyotes take Chris Pronger’s contract for cap reasons. Big hit, small actual salary. BOS was considering something similar with Marc Savard.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 27, 2015
Grossmann, acquired by the Flyers from the Dallas Stars in the 2011-2012 season, is a steady defensive defenceman that can help mentor the young core in Arizona. He doesn’t produce much offensively, but his best production has been in both of the last two seasons, reaching 14 points in both of those years.
Gagner has been involved in a number of trades recently, briefly going to the Tampa Bay Lightning then straight to Arizona. He put up a respectable 15 goals and 41 points last season despite the Coyotes not being a playoff contending team. Gagner’s numbers could improve playing on an offensively driven Flyers team.
Not everyone was pleased with the move however, with some questioning how the NHL can allow this type of trade and calling it Salary Cap circumvention.
Once again the @NHL allows dubious moves to enable teams to get around the salary cap. This time, it’s the #Flyers on the #Pronger contract.
— David Olinger (@David_W_Olinger) June 28, 2015
More to follow.
Main Photo
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 07: Nicklas Grossmann #8 of the Philadelphia Flyers takes the puck in the first period against the New York Islanders on April 7, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
