Adding Kris Versteeg what's not to like

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren does it again with what this blogger terms a ‘Holmgren Signature Move’, striking 2 weeks before the deadline. Before the desperation level among NHL GM’s reaches a fever pitch during the trade deadline’s proverbial 11th hour, Homer sends a first and third round draft pick in the upcoming draft to Brian Burke and the Toronto Maple Leafs for Kris Versteeg, an exciting and gritty player with a Stanley Cup ring. The deal made sense for both GM’s, as both teams walked away with fair value towards their respective clubs needs, a rarity in today’s NHL trading landscape.

Holmgren isn’t ever adverse to adding vets, but if Holmgren has shown us anything, it’s his willingness to add pieces to this team that make sense for the present and the future.

This latest deal to add Versteeg is no exception. Potentially one of Homers finest moves, it makes sense on a variety of levels, let’s take a look:

Holmgren has added a winger that finally gives Mike Richards a sorely needed LEGITIMATE scoring linemate. A high motor, in your face, pain in the ass, type. A player with a real scoring touch, a player that will help a struggling PP, and a player who is a real shorthanded scoring threat that can eat up valuable PK minutes giving other forwards a rest. How critical will that be come playoff time? Let me answer that for you – VERY.

So, why else does it make sense? Not to be lost in all of this is Versteeg’s age, 24 (he turns 25 in May), and the fact he is still under contract for next season (before reaching RFA status), carrying a very manageable 3 million dollar cap hit. Why is that significant? Because Versteeg now becomes a very important piece of this forward group, and immediately can be considered a ‘core’ forward. Holmgren said as much about the deal:

"Kris is an exciting young forward. He's 24 years old and he'll fit in with our group of players here. He's a quality forward that can play in a lot of different roles for your hockey team. He can move up and down our lineup. He can kill penalties. He can play on the power play. We think he's a guy that over the last few years, particularly in Chicago, has really blossomed into a good forward and we think he's going to be a really good addition to our team."

Make no mistake, Flyer fans, Kris Versteeg is going to be here for the foreseeable future. He makes a deep team ever deeper, and rounds out the forward group nicely.

For all the naysayers, armchair GMs and Capologists, and those with (horribly misplaced) concern about giving up a first and third for Versteeg’s services, I can assure you, it will be ok.