FlyersWIRE: News and notes

March 7, 8:20 PMPhiladelphia Flyers ExaminerFrank Seravalli

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Thanks, but no thanks.

WOW.

It has been a while. Sorry for the delay, I've been a busy guy.

Thank God I'm back. And thank God that Kyle McLaren will not be in Philadelphia. EVER.

The Flyers rescinded their second deadline day deal on Friday when they realized that McLaren, who came over to the Flyers from San Jose in exchange for a 6th round pick, was so out of shape that he couldn't play.

The move may have been a savvy one. Maybe. McLaren has, after all, played in 715 NHL games during his career. He is a big hitter - something that the Flyers lack.

But he was demoted to the AHL this season, because like Denis Gauthier's situation with the Flyers, the Sharks didn't think he was worth the salary cap hit he was due. He played in 17 games for the Worcester (Mass.) Sharks this season.

But he failed a physical on Friday and the trade was nullified.

Good thing, because it had the bigger potential to be a bust. Just like the McLaren deal, the Flyers have this penchant to give away draft picks. See: Flyers trade Scottie Upshall and a 2nd round pick in 2011 to Phoenix for Dan Carcillo.

One question: WHY?

I wouldn't trade Upshall for Carcillo straight up. Let alone throw in a very valuable second rounder. Carcillo, the league leader in penalties, doesn't have a third of the skill Upshall possesses.

Maybe the Flyers just knew that the second round pick two years from now wouldn't pan out. Just a hunch.

Carcillo wasn't impressive on Thursday and took his first (of many) penalties tonight against Nashville.

Here are some other things to get you through the weekend, since the Flyers are expected to have a very quiet Sunday:

• Check out my story in today's Philadelphia Daily News, chronicling Danny Briere's latest in-and-out again saga.
• How about Marty Biron's two highlight-reel saves against the Predators on Saturday? Couple those and a string of solid starts, with Antero Niittymaki's performance on Thursday, and tell me who the starter is come playoff time.