Flyers trade Kevin Marshall to Capitals for Matt Ford
by Travis Hughes on Feb 2, 2012 5:22 PM EST
in Philadelphia Flyers News
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Kevin Marshall had his NHL opportunity in the Philadelphia Flyers organization, but in the end, he failed to stick on a depleted blue line, outgunned by Marc-Andre Bourdon and sent back to the Adirondack Phantoms.
Paul Holmgren apparently saw enough in the 10 NHL games Marshall played this season to realize he wouldn't be a contributor for the team over the long-term, as as a result, the Flyers' second round pick from the 2007 draft is headed south to the Washington Capitals.
In exchange for Marshall, the Flyers have acquired minor league forward Matt Ford. Ford, 27, was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 8 of the 2004 NHL Draft, and he never signed with the organization.
He began his professional career in 2008-09 following a four-year college career at the University of Wisconsin and he's mostly been an AHL player since, although he has played 37 games in the ECHL. Ford's never played in the NHL. Not even a sniff. At age 27, it doesn't seem like he has much of a shot at that, either.
This is strictly an AHL move with little consequence on the Flyers. Marshall had some upside, but the Flyers apparently do not think it's all that high. I didn't think he was awful or anything during his time in the NHL this season -- not noticeably worse than Bourdon, at least -- but with his contract up at the end of the season, it appears as though his time was short here anyway.
We'll always remember Marshall's victory dance, but this seems like a classic case of getting something in return for a piece that would have walked for nothing in July. Hopefully Ford, also a UFA in July, can contribute to the Phantoms out a bit and add some veteran presence. He's played in Hershey so he knows all about winning in the AHL, and maybe he can bring that to Glens Falls.
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Paul Holmgren apparently saw enough in the 10 NHL games Marshall played this season to realize he wouldn’t be a contributor for the team over the long-term
Short-term view of the past, again? Ford is having his best season (28 pts in 39 games, after 42 in 76 last year), and Marshall struggled in his brief stint.
I have to think the 22-year-old has a better chance of making it to the NHL than the 27-year-old, so this move seems unequal. But only in a “0.03 is more than 0.008” kind of way.
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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Suck it, Phaneuf
Kevin Marshall Tribute!!
We’ll miss your dance moves, Marsh.
Awaiting the return of the G-stache
"There’s more to life than being really, really, really good at hockey."
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Suck it, Phaneuf
I don’t really get it, for two reasons.
1. Not that I thought Marshall was destined for some particularly excellent future, but even if he wasn’t, it looks like this Ford guy isn’t really either, and it seems like we’ve got more depth in the young forwards area than we do the young defensemen area.
2. If it was just an AHL move, I’m not sure why you decide to get rid of the longest-tenured player on the Phantoms.
That, and his dance moves.
But hey, I guess someone else knows better than I. Here’s to you, Mac Miller’s biggest fan.
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Feb 2, 2012 5:29 PM EST reply actions
I believe the longest tenured Phantom is actually Kalinski; the only one left who was a Phantom in Philly besides Oskars Bartulis. Since Oskars had a longer NHL look and is on a one-way contract and Kalinski’s is two-way, I’d lean toward giving Kalinski the official honor.
Warning: Arguing the NHL CBA with me could be hazardous to your mental health. Proceed at your own risk.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 2, 2012 10:03 PM EST up reply actions
Let me correct myself: McManus tweeted earlier that he had played the most games as an ADIRONDACK Phantom.
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Feb 3, 2012 1:33 AM EST up reply actions
Haha, I think of tenure in years, I suppose.
Warning: Arguing the NHL CBA with me could be hazardous to your mental health. Proceed at your own risk.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 3, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
Sounds like a move to make the Phantoms better on offense. They’ve received solid goaltending and when the Flyers D is healthy they have a sick defensive corps but we’ve really depleted their potential forward corps this season. The Flyers obviously think that Bourdon and Gustafsson are both more useful to the Phantoms and have more potential to stick with the Flyers in the long term. No big deal, nothing to see here.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Feb 2, 2012 6:01 PM EST reply actions
Well, idk about “better on offense”. He was never a scorer. A role player at best in the WCHA for four years, scoring 21 goals in 124 games.
Oh OK, well there goes that.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Feb 2, 2012 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
Phantoms offense has definitely been suffering. For the Phantoms this does make sense. We have plenty of depth on the blue line and extremely thin on offense.
As a Phantoms fan first, this is totally crushing. Marshall was a HUGE fan favorite. Everyone loved him. He was the longest tenured Phantom by a lot. Really does suck though.
We have plenty of depth on the blue line and extremely thin on offense.
It’s just interesting, because while I don’t for a second doubt that this is true at the AHL level, the Flyers seem to have such little defensive talent in the farm system.
by everybodyhitswoohoo on Feb 3, 2012 1:36 AM EST up reply actions
I think we have too many guys who can’t pull it off on an NHL third pairing but are great on an AHL first pairing. Same deal with Leighton I guess.
Simon Gagne AND Mike Richards may move between towns, wear new jerseys and call different arenas home but, at the end of the day, they will both always be Philadelphia Flyers.
One day Sean Couturier will win the Conn Smythe. You heard it here first.
by PursuitOfLappyness on Feb 3, 2012 3:44 AM EST up reply actions
Urgh. This is a terrible move. Effin’ Homer.
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