Tigers#1
06-13-2002, 12:54 PM
Flyers get Handzus, Esche for Boucher, pick
PHILADELPHIA -- Goaltender Brian Boucher, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago, was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday.
The Flyers got center Michal Handzus and goaltender Robert Esche in exchange for Boucher and Nashville's third-round pick in this month's draft. The Flyers acquired that pick from the Predators in a trade for defenseman Andy Delmore last year.
''We picked up a big 6-foot-5 center who is, in our opinion, the complete package,'' Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said of Handzus. ''He can play both ends of the ice, make plays and can score goals. He will be a real top addition up front for us.''
Handzus had 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points in 79 games last season. He was a member of the Slovakia team that captured the gold medal at the 2002 World Championship Tournament. He also played for Slovakia in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
In four years with the Coyotes and St. Louis, Handzus has 58 goals and 88 assists for 146 points and 141 penalty minutes in 272 games.
Boucher, Philadelphia's first-round pick in 1995, was 18-16-4 with a 2.41 goals-against average last season. He primarily served as a backup to Roman Cechmanek.
In three seasons with the Flyers, Boucher compiled a 46-38-12 record with a 2.45 goals-against. He was 11-8 with a 2.06 goals-against in the playoffs, including an 11-7 record his rookie season when the Flyers lost in the Eastern Conference finals to New Jersey in seven games.
''We weren't happy with the situation in goal here,'' Clarke said. ''I don't think that either goaltender was happy with their own role on the team. We understood that Brian wants to be a No. 1 goalie and Cechmanek feels that he has earned the right to be No. 1. I don't think that either one was very comfortable last year, although neither one of them gave us any problems.''
Clarke said Esche will back up Cechmanek. He was 6-10-2 with a 2.72 goals-against in 22 games last season. In parts of four seasons, Esche has compiled an 18-24-6 record, three shutouts and a 2.97 goals-against in 58 games.
Handzus, a fourth-round pick by St. Louis in 1995, went to Phoenix last year in a trade that sent Keith Tkachuk to the Blues. He was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward following the 1999-2000 season.
PHILADELPHIA -- Goaltender Brian Boucher, who led the Philadelphia Flyers to within a game of the Stanley Cup Finals two years ago, was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday.
The Flyers got center Michal Handzus and goaltender Robert Esche in exchange for Boucher and Nashville's third-round pick in this month's draft. The Flyers acquired that pick from the Predators in a trade for defenseman Andy Delmore last year.
''We picked up a big 6-foot-5 center who is, in our opinion, the complete package,'' Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said of Handzus. ''He can play both ends of the ice, make plays and can score goals. He will be a real top addition up front for us.''
Handzus had 15 goals and 30 assists for 45 points in 79 games last season. He was a member of the Slovakia team that captured the gold medal at the 2002 World Championship Tournament. He also played for Slovakia in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
In four years with the Coyotes and St. Louis, Handzus has 58 goals and 88 assists for 146 points and 141 penalty minutes in 272 games.
Boucher, Philadelphia's first-round pick in 1995, was 18-16-4 with a 2.41 goals-against average last season. He primarily served as a backup to Roman Cechmanek.
In three seasons with the Flyers, Boucher compiled a 46-38-12 record with a 2.45 goals-against. He was 11-8 with a 2.06 goals-against in the playoffs, including an 11-7 record his rookie season when the Flyers lost in the Eastern Conference finals to New Jersey in seven games.
''We weren't happy with the situation in goal here,'' Clarke said. ''I don't think that either goaltender was happy with their own role on the team. We understood that Brian wants to be a No. 1 goalie and Cechmanek feels that he has earned the right to be No. 1. I don't think that either one was very comfortable last year, although neither one of them gave us any problems.''
Clarke said Esche will back up Cechmanek. He was 6-10-2 with a 2.72 goals-against in 22 games last season. In parts of four seasons, Esche has compiled an 18-24-6 record, three shutouts and a 2.97 goals-against in 58 games.
Handzus, a fourth-round pick by St. Louis in 1995, went to Phoenix last year in a trade that sent Keith Tkachuk to the Blues. He was a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward following the 1999-2000 season.