Pronged

This is a dangerous trade. I don't love it, even though Pronger is perhaps a good pickup. He's perhaps the dirtiest player in the league, which will likely help the flyers who showed a real lack of grit vs. Pittsburgh.

This is also the type of player the flyers didn't have on this playoff run that they had the previous year, in the form of Hatcher. Hatcher kept opposing forwards on their toes and Pronger will likely do the same and prevent the collapsing technique that the baffling supposedly good skating d-men employed this post season. You would think good skaters can take more chances, but that was not the case.

In regards to the trade itself, it is hard not to think that the flyers gave up too much. Pronger, probably is better than Jaybo, but he was not as much in demand. Flyers didn't even swap equivalent salary. So, Anaheim dumps salary, and essentially picks up a sure NHL d-man, a 20+ goal scorer and 2 1st round picks? Holmgren has lost his mind on his last few trades. the Carcillo trade, where he lost his shirt and now this.

Holmgren got a lot of credit for the quick turnaround of this team, but the truth is, that the team was likely headed for a turn around regardless. A trip to the conference finals, was largely lucky and became the measuring point for the team, despite the fact that if anything they are merely the second best team in their division and a 4-5 team in the conference.

Holmgren also didn't address the players on the blueline that he needed to dump. Carle and Jones are still here and most likely will be here when the season starts.

In contrast to the Phillies, who should've spent money this off season, the Flyers spent money and lost draft picks. Perhaps the current state of the Phillies mismanagement of the rotation scared Holmgren and he felt he had to make a move in the off season.