The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to trade Jakub Voracek to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Cam Atkinson. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was one of the first to break the news.
Im not sure what else is involved here — if anything — but there’s a Cam Atkinson-Jakub Voracek deal being worked on between Columbus and Philadelphoa
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 24, 2021
Flyers Trade Jakub Voracek
After spending 10 seasons as a staple on the right-wing in the Flyers lineup, Jakub Voracek returns to the team that originally drafted him.
The soon-to-be 32-year-old is coming off a 43 point campaign, where he managed nine goals and 34 assists. Voracek has been a long-time feature on Philadelphia’s top line, and rightfully so, having never put up sub 50% possession metrics in his 13-year career. He posted a sharp 58% Corsi this season in just under 17 minutes of average ice time. Voracek carries a steep $8.25 million cap hit on a contract that lasts another three seasons.
Blue Jackets Trade Cam Atkinson
The Blue Jackets will also be sending out a 10-year veteran of their team in this trade, with Atkinson headed to Philadelphia. He has long been considered one of the best players in Blue Jacket’s history.
Atkinson is also a 32-year-old right-wing, albeit a slightly smaller, less productive counterpart compared to Voracek. He has spent his entire career in Columbus, and has a career-high of 69 points in the 2018-19 season, compared to Voracek’s stellar 85 point campaign in 2017-18.
Atkinson played a major role on the Blue Jackets this past season, with an average of just under 19 minutes of ice time per game. His 15 goal, 34 point season wasn’t quite on the level of prior season totals. He carries a cap hit of $5.875 million for the next four seasons.
Atkinson for Voracek is one for one.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 24, 2021
What This Means for the Future
Neither team made the playoffs this season, so this move appears to be an effort to mix up both squads. The Flyers are getting the less skilled player in Atkinson, but the acquisition will represent about $2.375 million in cap savings. For a team that is looking to win right now, those cap savings will come in handy as they finish their roster construction. The Flyers will deem the extra year on Atkinson’s contract worth it, in exchange for immediate cap relief.
The acquisition of Voracek by the Blue Jackets further reshapes a roster that was woefully inadequate last year. Voracek is the third addition in recent days, joining Jake Bean and Adam Boqvist, with likely more to come.
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